Glynn Edwards

Glynn Edwards
Born (1931-02-02)2 February 1931
Penang, Malaya
Died 23 May 2018(2018-05-23) (aged 87)
Occupation Actor
Spouse(s) Yootha Joyce (1956–68; divorced)
Christine Pilgrim (divorced)
Valerie Edwards
Children Tom Edwards

Glynn Edwards (2 February 1931 – 23 May 2018) was a British television and film actor, probably best known for his role as the barman in the ITV comedy-drama Minder.[1]

Career

Edwards was born in Penang, Malaya, on 2 February 1931.[2] His father, who spent little time on him, was a rubber planter at the time of his birth and died later in 1946.[3] His mother died shortly after his birth and he was raised first by his grandparents in Southsea, Hampshire, and then by his father and stepmother, who ran a pub in Salisbury, Wiltshire.[2][4] Edwards attended Clayesmore School in Dorset.[5] As a teenager Edwards was an amateur actor and then went to Trinidad, where he worked first as a sugar farmer and then as assistant stage manager and compere of calypso shows for tourists. He spent a year and a half at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama in London and was then employed as a stage manager at the King’s Theatre in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.[2]

He trained as an actor at Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop and appeared in her productions of The Good Soldier Švejk and two plays by Brendan Behan, The Quare Fellow and The Hostage, all of which transferred from the Theatre Royal Stratford East to the West End. He also appeared in Littlewood's production of Lionel Bart's musical version of Frank Norman's play Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be, opposite Miriam Karlin and Barbara Windsor.[2]

In 1964 Edwards chose to take the role of Corporal Allen in Cy Endfield's film Zulu over a part in Littlewood's stage show Oh! What a Lovely War. He later said: "I earned 10 times as much money from Bran Flakes as I did from the whole of the movie of Zulu."[2]

He is probably best known for his role as Dave 'the barman' Harris, owner of the Winchester Club in 10 series of ITV drama Minder.[3] He appeared in numerous TV shows including Callan, The Professionals, Public Eye, Spindoe, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, Dixon of Dock Green, Man About the House, Softly, Softly and The Saint.[1] He was also a regular in two series of the ITV legal drama The Main Chance (1972, 1975).[2][6] His most notable film appearances were in Robbery, Zulu and Get Carter.[7]

He played a number of sinister characters, particularly Mr Dix, the schoolteacher in the early 70s sitcom Please Sir! and a menacing gamekeeper in ITV's Thriller (1973).[2] Ironically he was often cast either as a policeman or a villain.[8]

Edwards appeared in the rock band Marillion's video for "Heart of Lothian", shot in 1985, in which he played a barman.[9] He also starred in a popular TV commercial for McVitie's rich tea biscuits as "Jacko", saying, "Yeah, I'll make a statement. A drink's too wet without one!"[2][10]

Personal life

Edwards's first wife was the actress Yootha Joyce, who also trained at Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop. They were married from 1956 to 1968.[3] After their divorce, he married the former Benny Hill Show girl Christine Pilgrim.[2] From the 1980s, he was married to Valerie Edwards.[3]

After the end of Minder, Edwards retired from acting,[4] and divided his time between Spain and Edinburgh, Scotland.[11]

He died on 23 May 2018 at the age of 87.[2][5]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1957 The Heart Within 1st Constable[12]
1962 A Prize of Arms Boone[13][14] Uncredited
1963 Sparrows Can't Sing Charlie's friend[15] Uncredited
The Hi-Jackers Bluey[12]
1964 Zulu Corporal William Allen[15]
Smokescreen Inspector Wright[12]
1965 The Ipcress File Police station sergeant[15]
1967 Robbery Squad chief[15]
1968 The Blood Beast Terror Sgt. Allan[12]
The Bofors Gun Sergeant-Major West[15]
1970 Fragment of Fear CID Superintendent[15]
1971 Get Carter Albert Swift[15]
1972 Under Milk Wood Mr Cherry Owen[15]
Burke & Hare Hare[12]
All Coppers Are... Jock
1973 Shaft in Africa Vanden[12]
1974 11 Harrowhouse First Guard[12] Credited as Glyn Edwards
1977 The Stick Up First Roadblock Policeman[15]
1978 The Playbirds Chief Superintendent Holbourne[15]
1979 Confessions from the David Galaxy Affair Chief Inspector Evans[15]
1980 Rising Damp Cooper[15]
1983 Red Monarch Vlasek[15] TV movie
1987 Out of Order Barman[15]
1988 The Seventh Sign Newscaster #1[12]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1963–1976 Dixon of Dock Green Various[2][16] 10 episodes
1963 The Human Jungle Albert Stokes[1] Episode: The Two Edged Sword
1964 Z-Cars Mr Cooper / Mr Aldiss[2][16] 2 episodes
1966 King of the River Jack Elliot[1][16] Episode: Foreign Invasion
1967–1968 The Saint Leander / Igor[2][16] 2 episodes
1968–1969 Journey to the Unknown Brown[1][16] Episode: Stranger in the Family
1969 The Avengers Blackie[1][16] Episode: The Interrogators
1970 Steptoe and Son George[1][16] Episode Steptoe and Son – and Son!
1971 Public Eye Alf Bain[1][16] Episode: Who Wants To Be Told Bad News?
1971 Bless This House Motor-cycle Policeman[1][16] Episode: For Whom the Bells Toll
1972–1978 Crown Court Various[16] 5 episodes
1975–1976 Man About The House Chrissy's father[16] 2 episodes
1977–1978 The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin Mr. Pelham[1][16] 3 episodes
1977–1979 The Paper Lads Jack Crawford[4] 14 episodes
1978 Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Mr Lewis[2][16] 3 episodes
1979 The Professionals Alfred Cole[2][16] Episode: Servant of Two Masters
1979–1994 Minder Dave Harris[12][16] 95 episodes, (final appearance)
1982 Legacy of Murder Henchman[16][17]
1983 Jack of Diamonds Reg[16][18] (comedy thriller with Dick Emery)[19]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Glynn Edwards". Bfi.org.uk. BFI. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Glynn Edwards obituary". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Ltd. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Raising a glass to Minder – and endless repeats". The Scotsman. 30 December 2004. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 Pearce, Tilly. "Minder actor Glynn Edwards dies aged 87". Metro. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Glynn Edwards, played Dave the barman in 'Minder' – obituary". Telegraph.co.uk. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "BFI Screenonline: Main Chance, The (1969–75) Credits". Screenonline.org.uk.
  7. ↑ "Glynn Edwards profile". Explore.bfi.org.uk. 2 February 1931. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  8. ↑ "Best of British" magazine (July 2018 issue; page 15)
  9. ↑ Marillion – Heart of Lothian 1985 Music Video HD. Mark Jennings. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  10. ↑ Glynn Edwards in Rich Tea advert. Minder.org. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  11. ↑ Kindon, Frances. "Minder actor Glynn Edward dies aged 87 at his home in Scotland". Daily Record. Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Glynn Edwards List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  13. ↑ "A Prize of Arms". BFI. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  14. ↑ "A Prize of Arms (1962)". Memorable TV. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Filmography for Glynn Edwards". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "Glynn Edwards". Memorable TV. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  17. ↑ "Emery Presents: Legacy Of Murder, Episode 4 – Bang, Bang You're Dead". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  18. ↑ Walker, Craig (2011-06-21). On the Buses: The Complete Story. p. 31. ISBN 9781908382849. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  19. ↑ "Jack Of Diamonds (BBC-1 1982, Dick Emery, Tony Selby) - Memorable TV". www.memorabletv.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
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