Barry Evans
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Barry Joseph Evans (June 18, 1943 - February 11, 1997) was an English actor and television performer best known for his appearances in British sitcoms such as Doctor in the House and Mind Your Language.
Career
One of Barry's first television credits was in the soap opera Crossroads in 1964, but his first major role was in the sitcom Doctor in the House, based on Richard Gordon's series of novels that had already being adapted as feature films. He starred as the earnest but gullible Michael Upton, set in a hospital where all kinds of Carry On style humour occurred. The series had a remarkable writing crew behind the scenes, including half of Monty Python - John Cleese and Graham Chapman - Bill Oddie of The Goodies fame, and Barry Cryer.
A sequel to that series quickly followed with Doctor At Large in 1971. Again, the writing talent behind the series was notable, with John Cleese writing some of the episodes - with one in particular providing some of the inspiration for Fawlty Towers.
In 1977, he as starred Jeremy Brown in the ITV sitcom Mind Your Language, which was about a teacher who had to teach immigrants English. By today's standards it is perhaps not entirely politically correct, with every character a foreign stereotype. This series was written by veteran TV scriptwriter Vince Powell, and was adapted for American TV as What a Country! in 1986-1987.
One of Barry's last appearances on British television was in 1982's Emery Presents or Legacy of Murder, alongside Dick Emery. This was short-lived to Emery's death.
TV credits
- Doctor in the House (1969)
- Doctor at Large (1971)
- Mind Your Language (1977)
- Emery Presents aka Legacy of Murder (1982)
External Links
- Internet Movie Database (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0262554/) - list of TV and film credits.