Peter Blake (actor)

Peter Blake (8 December 1948 – 21 July 2018)^[1] was a British actor. Probably best known as the character Kirk St Moritz in the BBC sitcom Dear John, by John Sullivan, his other high profile moments came through his playing of a 'Fonz'-type character in Pepsi-Cola commercials which led to a hit record in 1977 "Lipsmakin' Rock 'n' Rollin", Andy Evol the disc-jockey in Agony with Maureen Lipman for LWT and in an episode of Taggart ("Do or Die") as Sgt. Bill Kent. He also had a long association with The Rocky Horror Show playing Frank-N-Furter over a thousand times between 1975 and 1994.^[2]

Early life

Peter Blake was born 8 December 1948 in Selkirk, Scotland. His first professional appearance was at the Edinburgh Festival, in Frank Dunlop's production of The Winter's Tale in 1966.

Theatre

Peter Blake trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. After graduating in 1969 he worked briefly as a stage manager in several Soho strip clubs before he joined Victor Spinetti’s international production of Hair and subsequently played Berger for a year in Amsterdam while enjoying workshop productions with cafe La Mama troupe.

Returning to the UK there followed a string of London’s West End rock musicals, including Hair at the Shaftesbury Theatre; followed by playing Pharaoh in the original productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat^[3] at the Albery Theatre, Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Palace Theatre; Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show in the King’s Road Theatre^[4] and at the Comedy Theatre^[5] and 'Peter' in the revue What’s a Nice Country like US doing in a State like This? at the May Fair Theatre ^[6].

Blake has also worked with the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow and Chichester Festival Theatre.^[7] A season at Chichester, included roles in Julius Caesar, Murder in the Cathedral and In Order of Appearance; out of London theatre work Nestor in Irma La Douce at the Sheffield Crucible; Marat in The Promise at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley;^[8] and on tour in Jack Rosenthal’s Smash; Alan Ayckbourn’s Absent Friends, Ray Cooney’s Funny Money, Dracula and, in 1992 and 1994 in The Rocky Horror Show returning to his old role of 'Frank-N-Furter'.^[9]

He played 'Captain Hook' in panto in Peter Pan, 'King Rat' in Dick Whittington and 'Abanazer' in Aladdin.

Television & Film

Peter Blake's best-known role was the flamboyant and boastful Kirk St Moritz, resplendent in white suit, big collars and golden medallion, in the British sitcom Dear John (1986–87). He appeared in other British television series, including as Michael Vincent in Penmarric (1979), Andy Evol in Agony (1979-1981), Carl Pierce in A Very Peculiar Practice (1986), Aubrey Owen in Dogfood Dan & the Carmarthen Cowboy (1988), David in Split Ends (1989), as Harvey in Fiddlers Three (1991) and as Ken Tate in EastEnders (2010).^[10]

Blake guested on shows such as The Squirrels, The Professionals, Out, Z-Cars, Minder, Shoestring, Shine on Harvey Moon, Bergerac, After Henry, Alas Smith and Jones, Ever Decreasing Circles, Boon, The New Statesman, Woof!, Underbelly, The High Life, The Bill, and Casualty, among others.

His film appearances include Intimate Games (1976), Panic (1978), Murder on Line One (1989), Cash in Hand (1998), The Lift (2008) and Man and Dog (2010).

Discography

1976 London production of the musical, "What's a Nice Country like U.S. Doing in a State like This?" ^[11] Music by Cary Hoffman. Words by Ira Gasman.

In 1977, he reached number 40 in the UK Singles Chart with the song "Lipsmackin' Rock 'n' Rollin'",^[12] performing it on the BBC Television music show Top of the Pops on 29 September 1977.^[13]

• Lipsmackin' Rock 'N Rollin' / Clever Dick - Released : August 26, 1977.^[14]
• Boogie Breakout / Rock 'N' Roll Lady - Released : March 9, 1979.^[15]

Theatre credits

References

External links

• Peter Blake on IMDb
• Obituary - Peter Blake, The Herald