Michael Sharvell-Martin (2 February 1944 – 28 October 2010) was a popular British television and stage actor whose career spanned more than three decades. He was a familiar character actor on British television screens, guest-starring in several prime time dramas and comedies during the 1970s and 1980s.

Early life

Sharvell-Martin was born Michael Ernest Martin in

Herne Bay Herne Bay is a seaside town on the north coast of Kent in South East England. It is north of Canterbury and east of Whitstable. It neighbours the ancient villages of Herne and Reculver and is part of the City of Canterbury local government ...

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

, and trained in stage management at the

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is a drama school in Bristol, England. The institution provides training in acting and production for careers in film, television and theatre. BOVTS is an affiliate of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama. ...

. His acting debut was in 1965 at the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham. He adopted the stage name Michael Sharvell-Martin because there was already an actor called Michael Martin.

Career

Sharvell-Martin was mainly a supporting cast actor and is best remembered for his many appearances in the long-running television series '' Dave Allen at Large''. He also had a recurring role as Trevor Botting in the television situation comedy '' No Place Like Home''. During his career he made numerous guest appearances in television programmes such as ''

The Benny Hill Show ''The Benny Hill Show'' is a British comedy television show starring Benny Hill that aired on the BBC and ITV (from 1969) between 15 January 1955 and 1 May 1989. The show consisted mainly of sketches that were full of slapstick, mime, paro ...

'', ''

Dad's Army ''Dad's Army'' is a British television British sitcom, sitcom about the United Kingdom's Home Guard (United Kingdom), Home Guard during the World War II, Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft (TV producer), David Crof ...

'', ''

Terry and June ''Terry and June'' is a BBC television sitcom, which was broadcast on BBC1 from 1979 to 1987. The show was largely a reworking of '' Happy Ever After'', and starred Terry Scott and June Whitfield as a middle-aged, middle-class suburban couple ...

'', ''

Yes Minister ''Yes Minister'' is a British political satire sitcom written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn. Comprising three seven-episode series, it was first transmitted on BBC2 from 1980 to 1984. A sequel, ''Yes, Prime Minister'', ran for 16 episodes fro ...

'' and ''

Murder Most Horrid ''Murder Most Horrid'' is a British black comedy anthology series starring Dawn French. It was broadcast on BBC Two for four series runs, in 1991, 1994, 1996 and 1999. Created by Paul Smith, who also co-created '' Colin's Sandwich'' (with Terry ...

''. He also appeared in two episodes of the BBC's department store sitcom ''

Are You Being Served? ''Are You Being Served?'' is a British sitcom created and written by executive producer David Croft (Croft also directed some episodes) and Jeremy Lloyd, with contributions from Michael Knowles and John Chapman, for the BBC. Set in London, ...

'' in the 1980s. His stage appearances included several

West End West End most commonly refers to: * West End of London, an area of central London, England * West End theatre, a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London, England West End may also refer to: Pl ...

comedy farces and numerous pantomime roles regularly as the dame at the Theatre Royal Windsor .

Selected filmography

* '' Quest for Love'' (1971) - Says "Hello Trafford" (uncredited) * '' That's Your Funeral'' (1972) - 1st Policeman (Motorway) * '' Ooh... You Are Awful'' (1972) - Jackson (uncredited) * '' Go for a Take'' (1972) - Leopard Man' Director * '' Rentadick'' (1972) - Removal Man * '' Kadoyng'' (1972) - Pander - Willoughby * '' The Love Ban'' (1973) - Bra Factory Designer * '' Love Thy Neighbour'' (1973) - Police Constable * ''The Best of Benny Hill'' (1974) - Lower Tidmarsh Hospital Doctor / Rev. Peter Wilby / Various * '' Frightmare'' (1974) - Barman * '' Not Now, Comrade'' (1976) - 2nd Russian Official * '' No Place Like Home'' (1983-1988) - Trevor Botting

Personal life

Sharvell-Martin married Linda Hind in 1967 and the couple had two daughters. In the early part of 2010 he was diagnosed with

cancer of the oesophagus Esophageal cancer is cancer arising from the esophagus—the food pipe that runs between the throat and the stomach. Symptoms often include difficulty in swallowing and weight loss. Other symptoms may include pain when swallowing, a hoarse voic ...

and died on 28 October 2010 at

Wincanton Wincanton ( or ) is a small town and electoral ward in South Somerset, southwest England. The town lies off the A303 road, a main route between London and South West England, and has some light industry. The town and electoral ward has a popul ...

Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lor ...

References

External links

* 1944 births 2010 deaths English male television actors English male stage actors People from Herne Bay, Kent Deaths from cancer in England Deaths from esophageal cancer Male actors from Kent {{England-actor-stub