... RICHARD WARING One of the last doyens of British situation comedy writing has died. He first burst upon the enter tainment scene when, at the age of eight, he appeared at a local fete, billed as 'Brian Barton- Chappie the Wonder Boy Conjuror and Ventriloquist', short ly followed by an appearance, dressed in one of his mother's frocks, and singing Why Am I Always A Bridesmaid? During the war, ...

... MARILYN SMITHWICK A talented and glamorous actress. Marilyn Smithwick was a wonderfully warm and sunny per sonality. Anglo-Irish by birth, she spent her early years in southern Africa with her parents Colonel and Mrs Harold Smithwick. After a year in Sienna learning Italian, she trained at LAMDA from 1967-1970. The early part of her career was spent in the theatre. One of her early successes ...

... BARRY GRIFFITHS Barry finally left the stage he loved so much late on Thursday, November 10. His career had begun in weekly rep in his home town of Wolverhampton. From there he moved to Pitlochry Festival Theatre and on to Sadler's Wells. He returned to the Midlands with what was then the Midland Theatre Company, soon to move into the first ever provincial reper tory theatre the Belgrade, ...

... Robert Nesbitt Stylish and sophisticated, quali ties reflected in his productions, Robert Nesbitt was the doyen of West End producers and directors. Ever urbane and courteous, he spent a lifetime presenting the biggest stars in the business in Chariot revues, George Black hits, Pigalle floorshows, Las Vegas and New York productions, London revues, Palladium pantomimes, 25 Royal Variety ...

... COLIN HINDMARSH I his Aussie entertainer died last year after a short illness in London. 'Alive with Colin Hindmarsh' so said the calling card. And, alive you came when he was on stage, or else. No long faces or he was likely to tell you get to down to the pub down the street or squirt you with his water pistol. Bom in Weston, a small coal mining town near Newcastle, New South Wales, Colin ...

... LARRY GRAYSON One of the most idiosyncratic comedians in British variety, Larry Grayson, died suddenly at the age of 71 on January 7. Like American comedian Jack Benny, he perfect ed a style of 'camp' and was a master of timing. Grayson on stage was a true craftsman, uttering his immortal catchphrases such as: Shut that door and I've come over all limp. Stories of characters such as ...

... Peter Cook Widely regarded as one of Britain's greatest comic geniuses, Peter Cook, who died on January 9 at the age of 57, was a master of satire and the founder of all British comedy since the sixties. As such he was a kind of godfather to younger comedians, all of whom held him in awe. His was a one off wit and he was just as funny offstage, usually to be seen in a bar over a bottle of ...

... JOHN OSBORNE John Osborne, who died on Christmas Eve aged 65, always had a soft spot for The Stage. Raymond Marriott, our senior crit ic for many years, was particularly encouraging to the young Osbome when Look Back In Anger was pro duced. This was greatly appreciat ed by the playwright and they had a warm personal association. Perhaps this was why The Stage was never the recipient of ...

... NORMAN BEATON Actor Norman Beaton who died on December 13 at the age of 60, was one of those unique perform ers, in the vein of America's Sidney Poitier, who managed to scale classical roles, light come dies, commercials and at the same time bring a strong sense of dignity to the profession. Of course his nationwide pop ularity rests with the television sit coms The Fosters and the highly ...

... MICK RODGER Australian director Mick Rodger has died in Brisbane aged 51. Bom in Crewe, his family migrated to Australia in 1954. He graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1965. In Adelaide he both acted and directed for the University Theatre Guild and appeared in the original produc tion of Hal Porter's The Professor. He then went on to Balliol College Oxford, leaving there for the ...

... Harold Fielding adds: Micnaei says aoove. jane did two shows for me. Actually she did three including the first Two Ronnies Revue at the London Palladium. Ronnie Barker who attended the auditions was quick to spot her comedy qualities which of course made her ideal for their show. It was always a pleasure to have Jane in a show because she was wildly enthusiastic about everything and as she ...

... NORRY GILROY A popular figure among the theatrical community in the west of Scotland, Norry Gilroy, 74, has died in hospital at Glasgow. A Londoner, bom within sound of the proverbial Bow Bells, he lived in Tooting and Staines, and went north to Glasgow 12 years ago. Taking up residence in Newton Meams, he was active with his wife, actress/singer Myra Crichton Gilroy, in the work of the ...