Christopher Robin Parkinson (25 October 1929 – 7 May 2022) was an English actor known for his comedy roles. He was the second actor to portray Monsieur Ernest Leclerc in ''

'Allo 'Allo! ''Allo 'Allo!'' is a British sitcom television series, created by David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd, starring Gorden Kaye, Carmen Silvera, Guy Siner and Richard Gibson. Originally broadcast on BBC1, the series focuses on the life of a Frenc ...

'' (22 episodes: series 7 to 9), after the death of Derek Royle. He was also the narrator of '' Button Moon''.

Career

Parkinson began his career in December 1957, appearing in ''The Imperial Nightingale'' at the

Birmingham Repertory Theatre Birmingham Repertory Theatre, commonly called Birmingham Rep or just The Rep, is a producing theatre based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England. Founded by Barry Jackson, it is the longest-established of Britain's building-based theatre ...

, then joined the company at the

Belgrade Theatre The Belgrade Theatre is a live performance venue in Coventry, England. It was the first civic theatre to be built in Britain after the Second World War and is now a Grade II listed building. Background Coventry was the fastest growing city in ...

in his native Coventry. He made his first film appearance as the jeweller's assistant in ''

Billy Liar ''Billy Liar'' is a 1959 novel by Keith Waterhouse that was later adapted into a play, a Billy Liar (film), film, a Billy (musical), musical and a Billy Liar (TV series), TV series. The work has inspired and been featured in a number of popul ...

'' (1963), followed by such titles as '' The Family Way'' (1966), '' They Came from Beyond Space'' (1967), '' Twisted Nerve'' (1968), ''

Catch Me a Spy ''Catch Me a Spy'' is a 1969 comedy spy thriller novel by George Marton and Tibor Meray. Adaptation In 1971 it was turned into the film ''To Catch a Spy'', also released as ''Catch Me a Spy'', starring Kirk Douglas, Marlène Jobert and Trevor ...

'' (1971), '' Alfie Darling'' (1975) and '' George and Mildred'' (1980). His TV appearances included roles in ''

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 ...

'', '' It Ain't Half Hot Mum'', ''

Terry and June ''Terry and June'' is a BBC television sitcom, 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, Terry and J ...

'', '' The Young Ones'', ''

The Kenny Everett Television Show ''The Kenny Everett Television Show'' is a comedy sketch show broadcast on BBC1 from 24 December 1981 to 18 January 1988. It was presented by its main performer Kenny Everett, who wrote the material with Barry Cryer and Ray Cameron. Later in 198 ...

'', '' Thriller'', '' Shelley'', ''

The Dick Emery Show ''The Dick Emery Show'' is a British sketch comedy show starring Dick Emery. It was broadcast on the BBC from 1963 to 1981. It was directed and produced by Harold Snoad. The show was broadcast over 18 series with 166 episodes. The show experien ...

'', ''

On the Buses ''On the Buses'' is a British television British sitcom, sitcom that was broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV from 1969 to 1973. It was created by Chesney and Wolfe, Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe, who wrote most of the episodes. It spawned thr ...

'', ''

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? ''Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'' is a British sitcom which was broadcast on BBC1 between 9 January 1973 and 9 April 1974. It was the colour sequel to the mid-1960s hit ''The Likely Lads''. It was created and written, as was its predec ...

'',

The Gaffer (TV series) ''The Gaffer'' is an ITV (TV network), ITV Sitcom, situation comedy series of the early 1980s, that starred Bill Maynard and was written by businessman Graham White. It was made for the ITV (TV network), ITV network by ITV Yorkshire, Yorkshire ...

, (as the Vicar, in 'The Candidate' episode), and ''

The Liver Birds ''The Liver Birds'' is a British sitcom, set in Liverpool, North West England, which aired on BBC1 from April 1969 to December 1978, and again in 1996. The show was created by Carla Lane and Myra Taylor. The two Liverpudlian housewives had me ...

''. He also played Desmond, the love interest of Miss Jones, in ''

Rising Damp ''Rising Damp'' is a British sitcom, written by Eric Chappell and produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV, which was originally broadcast from 2 September 1974 until 9 May 1978. Chappell adapted the story from his 1973 stage play ''The Banana ...

'' and a taxi driver in '' The Professionals'' (series 2, episode 8: ''A Stirring of Dust''). In addition, he narrated and provided voices for the ITV television series '' Button Moon''.

Personal life and death

Parkinson was born on 25 October 1929 in

Coventry Coventry ( or rarely ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands county, in England, on the River Sherbourne. Coventry had been a large settlement for centurie ...

, Warwickshire. He attended

King Henry VIII School, Coventry King Henry VIII School is a coeducational private day school located in Coventry, England, comprising a senior school (ages 11–18) and associated preparatory school (ages 3–11). The senior school has approximately 574 pupils (of which 167 a ...

and, after

National Service National service is a system of compulsory or voluntary government service, usually military service. Conscription is mandatory national service. The term ''national service'' comes from the United Kingdom's National Service (Armed Forces) Act ...

with the Queen's Royal Lancers, the Birmingham School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art. He married Patricia Rogers in 1956 and had three daughters, one of whom, Sarah Parkinson (1962–2003), was a writer-producer of radio and television programmes and was married to comedian

Paul Merton Paul James Martin (born 9 July 1957), known by the stage name Paul Merton, is an English comedian who is best known as one of the two regular panellists on the television show '' Have I Got News for You''. Known for his improvisation skill, M ...

. Parkinson died on 7 May 2022, aged 92.

References

External links

* 1929 births 2022 deaths Male actors from Coventry English male television actors {{UK-screen-actor-stub