Jackie Wright

John "Jackie" Wright (born 1905 in Belfast , Northern Ireland , † January 1989 ibid ) was a British comedian, musician and actor who became known through the Benny Hill Show .

life and career

Wright was the oldest of twelve siblings and grew up in Belfast. After finishing school he worked as a coachbuilder , including some time in the United States for Cadillac . At the beginning of the looming global economic crisis , Wright returned to his hometown in Northern Ireland in the early 1930s, where he initially earned his living as a trombonist and later worked in the entertainment and cabaret sector .

Wright made his television debut in 1963, aged 58, with a supporting role on the Dick Emery Show . In 1968 he became aware of Benny Hill , who was about to switch from the BBC to Thames Television. He persuaded him to join his comedy troupe and Wright became a permanent member of the Benny Hill Show cast for the next 15 years. Hill referred to him within the show - in allusion to his size - as "Little Jackie", "Uncle Jackie" or "our little Donny Osmond ". Wright's height of only 150 cm, his baldness and his Northern Irish accent became his trademarks .

Famous are the scenes in which Hill repeatedly taps Wright on the bald head, underlaid with well-rehearsed clapping sounds; these are often seen in the fast-moving car chases that the Benny Hill Show was known for. In an interview, Wright's former colleague Suzy Mandel claimed that Jackie Wright was a chain smoker and “often hid his cigarette in his mouth or behind his back during the scenes. In fact, if you look closely enough, you can often see a small cloud of smoke rising behind him. Benny would have hit him on the head to fan the smoke away. "

In addition to the Benny Hill Show , Wright was also on the short-lived 1973 television series Whoops Baghdad! starred with Frankie Howerd and he had a small role in the musical comedy Three for All in 1975. In the United States he achieved cult status from 1978 when the re- exploitation of abridged editions of the Benny Hill Show began there. At the Northampton Repertory Theater he starred in Brendan Behan's The Hostage on October 26, 1965 opposite Marcia Warren, James Watts, Frank Cousins ​​and Michael Elwick, directed by Alan Vaughan-Williams.

In 1983, Wright left the Benny Hill Show because of his poor health. Five and a half years later, at the age of 83, he died in a Belfast hospital after a long illness. Benny Hill commented on his death with the following words: "He was a lovely little guy ... I am indescribably sad." (Eng. "He was a lovely little fella ... I'm saddened beyond words.")

Filmography (selection)

• 1963: The Dick Emery Show
• 1967: Adam Adamant Lives!
• 1967: Theater 625
• 1968: Task Force Police ( Z-Cars )
• 1968–1985: The Benny Hill Show
• 1969: School for Sex - All about the bed ( School for Sex )
• 1969: Scott On ...
• 1970: Here Come the Double Deckers!
• 1973: Whoops Baghdad!
• 1974: Sing the Lady Out of Bed
• 1975: Play for Today
• 1975: Three for All
• 1976: Angels
• 1976: The Basil Brush Show
• 1979: The Jim Davidson Show

Web links

• Jackie Wright in the Internet Movie Database (English)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Robert Ross [1999]: Benny Hill - Merry Master of Mirth: the Complete Companion ( en ). Batsford, London 2014, ISBN 9781849942584 , p. 337 (accessed August 22, 2019).
2. ^ Paul Feeney: A 1960s Childhood: From Thunderbirds to Beatlemania ( en ). The History Press, Gloucestershire 2010, ISBN 9780752450124 , p. 143 (Accessed August 22, 2019).
3. ↑ Gram Ponante: Open bar at the Rears place ( en ) September 25, 2006. Archived from the original on August 22, 2019. Retrieved on August 22, 2019.
4. ^ Brendan Behan: Other Works ( en ) IMDb. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
5. ^ William Brown: Benny's Place: Jackie Wright Tribute ( en ) April 6, 2002. Retrieved August 22, 2019.