Derek Benfield

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Derek Benfield (left) (1972)

Derek Benfield (* 11. March 1926 in Bradford , England ; † 10. March 2009 in Esher , England) was an English actor and playwright .

Life

Benfield was born in Bradford in the northern English county of Yorkshire in 1926 as the third of four children of a journalist and attended Grammar School in neighboring Bingley . After graduating from school he did his military service between 1944 and 1946 and took part in the Second World War during this time , first in a regiment in his native Yorkshire, the "Green Howards", then as a radio announcer for the British Forces Broadcasting Service .

After his time in the military, he studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London - where he received the Gertrude Lawrence Award for his portrayal in Terence Rattigan's “French without tears” - and from 1948 worked in ensembles in various city theaters among others in Salisbury , Worthing and Preston , later engaged in London's West End . From the mid-1950s he was seen in numerous productions on television, especially in series on the BBC .

Benfield's first own play, "The Young in Heart", appeared in December 1953. Since then, his plays have been and are being translated into numerous languages ​​and across Europe at major theaters with well-known cast, in England with Arthur Lowe or Tim Brooke-Taylor , in France with Marc Camoletti . In total, Benfield wrote over 30 predominantly comedic plays , which can still be found in the programs of major German publishing houses such as Rowohlt .

Derek Benfield died on March 10, 2009, the eve of his 83rd birthday, in a hospice in Esher, southern England, near London.

Benfield was from 1953 until his death with the actress Susan Lyall Benfield, geb. Grant, married, he during his engagements had met in Preston; the couple last lived in London and they have a son and a daughter together.

Stage plays (selection)

(The titles of the German translations are listed below; the year of publication refers to the titles of the original versions in brackets.)

  • The once three of love (Mixed company) , 1975
  • In der Klemme (in an earlier translation also: Türschlosspanik; Caught on the hop) , 1977
  • KILLE KILLE (in an earlier translation also: Horror frei Haus; Beyond a joke) , 1979
  • Love-Jogging (Touch and go) , 1982
  • You of all people! (Look who's talking) , 1983
  • Two left - two right (Bedside manners) , 1986
  • A twin seldom comes alone (Flying Feathers) , 1987
  • With a toe in the water (A toe in the water) , 1989
  • Ready, steady, lo ... ve (Anyone for breakfast) , 1991
  • In or out (Up and running) , 1994
  • Bad day, wrong door (Do not lose the place) , 1996
  • Dear Second Hand (Second time around) , 2000

Filmography (selection)

watch TV

  • Return to the Lost Planet (as Professor Bergmann; BBC), 1955
  • Coronation Street (as Walter Greenhalgh; ITV ), 1961–69
  • Timeslip (as Frank Skinner; ITV), 1970-71
  • The Brothers (as Bill Riley; BBC), 1972–76
  • Remington Steele (in episode "The Maltese Cross" as Hector Toulouse; NBC ), 1984
  • First of the Summer Wine (as Mr. Scrimshaw; BBC), 1988-89
  • Agatha Christie's Poirot (in episode "The Riddle of Cornwall" as Dr. Adams; ITV), 1990
  • Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (as Robert Wainthropp; BBC), 1996–98

Movies

Quote

“In a world full of worries and problems, there must be light, serene comedies. Laughter is the only panacea that is naturally given to us. When I see the beaming, happy faces of the people who leave the theater after seeing a play by me, I know it was worth it. Besides - I like to bite. ” Derek Benfield

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Author information on Derek Benfield from Verlag Deutscher Bühnenschriftsteller und Bühnenverbindungen (last accessed on September 4, 2014).
  2. ^ A b Hayward, Anthony: Derek Benfield - Character actor whose career encompassed 'The Brothers' and 'Hetty Wainthrop Investigates'. Obituary from The Independent on May 27, 2009 (last accessed December 27, 2013).
  3. ↑ Gaughan, Gavin: Obituary - Derek Benfield. Obituary from The Guardian on April 1, 2009 (last accessed December 27, 2013).
  4. ^ Portrait of Benfield on the official page for the ITV series Timeslip (English; last accessed on October 12, 2013).
  5. ↑ a b c Obituary in The Daily Telegraph of March 30, 2009 (English; last accessed October 12, 2013).
  6. ↑ Benfield's obituary in The Daily Telegraph (last accessed October 12, 2013).
personal data
SURNAME Benfield, Derek
BRIEF DESCRIPTION English actor and playwright
DATE OF BIRTH March 11, 1926
PLACE OF BIRTH Bradford , England
DATE OF DEATH March 10, 2009
Place of death Esher , England