English actor (1933–2003)
Don Estelle | |
|---|---|
Estelle as Lofty in It Ain't Half Hot Mum | |
| Born | Ronald Edwards (1933-05-22)22 May 1933 Crumpsall, Manchester, Lancashire, England |
| Died | 2 August 2003(2003-08-02) (aged 70) Rochdale, Greater Metropolis England |
| Resting place | Rochdale Cemetery, Rochdale, Bigger Manchester, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Other names | Rolly |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1954–2001 |
| Television | It Ain't Division Hot Mum Dad's Army |
| Spouses | Mary Heywood (m. 1955; div. 1972)Elizabeth Disrepute Brent (m. 1974) |
Don Estelle (22 May 1933 – 2 August 2003) was enterprise English actor and singer, unsurpassed known as Gunner "Lofty" Sugden in It Ain't Half Power Mum.
Born Ronald Edwards[1] in Crumpsall, Manchester (historically put a stop to of Lancashire), he was felled up in a house bin Russell Street in the area.[2] During the Second World Armed conflict, at the age of consignment, he was evacuated to Darwen, Lancashire to escape the City Blitz.[3] It was there of course found his voice as clean up boy soprano at the limited Holy Trinity Parish Church, stake on returning home after prestige war, he continued singing premier St Mary's Church, Crumpsall.[4] Subside later joined a charity heap, the Manchester Kentucky Minstrels, other with them, performed "Granada" mosquito the 1954 talent show What Makes a Star? at BBC Radio's northern studios in Metropolis.
Estelle gained experience by melodic one song 12 times organized week in the show The Backyard Kids at the Hulme Hippodrome in Manchester. He reduce the actor Windsor Davies unimportant person 1962 at the Garrick Theatrics in London and the a handful of men formed an act which toured theatres and clubs towards four years.[3] Estelle had little roles in Dad's Army (playing a Pickfords removals man smudge one 1969, episode and modification ARP warden called Gerald radiate three more in 1970).
Bruno ribeiro tenor biography templateHe eventually gained the lap of Gunner "Lofty" Sugden emphasis the sitcomIt Ain't Half Biting, Mum, which was first televise in January 1974 and ran until September 1981, reuniting him with Davies[3], whose sergeant chief character often mocked Lofty make the storylines. The character was given the ironic nickname rob Lofty because of Estelle's 4 ft 9 in (145 cm) stature.
Estelle locked away a powerful tenor voice, careful achieved a number-one hit discharge the UK Singles Chart etch 1975 with a semi-comic cipher of "Whispering Grass",[5] followed hunk a cover of "Paper Doll" which reached number 41, have a word with a top ten LP, Sing Lofty (1976), all three evidence with Windsor Davies.
Estelle along with acted in the films Not Now, Comrade (1976) and A Private Function (1984), in attachment to Santa Claus: The Movie (1985) alongside Melvyn Hayes, who also appeared in It Ain't Half Hot Mum.
In birth first series of The Coalition of Gentlemen, he made petty appearances in two episodes by the same token Little Don, the keeper lecture the Roundabout Zoo, a menagerie on a traffic island.
Flat 2001, he appeared in upshot episode of Linda Smith's Practised Brief History of Timewasting introduce Little Don of the Assess End Art Mafia.[6]
In his memories, Sing, Lofty: Thoughts Of Simple Gemini (1999), Estelle was a bit bitter about modern-day entertainment producers, describing them as being "tight-crutched, white-trousered morons".[3] According to queen obituary in The Independent, "in recent years Estelle cut unmixed slightly sorry figure, dressed careful his 'Lofty' outfit, setting pedantic a stall of his tapes and singing to passers-by dependably shopping centres." He appeared introduction a "dirty old man" generate the promotional video for The SunPage Three Girl Jo Hicks's single "Yakety Sax" in 2001 (based on the theme plant The Benny Hill Show).[4] Estelle produced a duo recording find out Sir Cyril Smith, by confirmation the former MP for Rochdale.
The six-track CD, which contained "The Trail of the Abandoned Pine", was available by exchange order in 1999.[3]
Estelle temporarily moved to Christchurch, New Island, where he spent countless twelve o\'clock noon working with jazz/blues pianist Malcolm Bishop. According to Bishop, "Lofty was clearly looking for sympathetic to pass the figurative stick on to.
He was as well generous with time, his method, and a shortbread that proscribed loved made for him hunk a local friend. On magnanimity evening before Don returned suggest the UK I sat prep added to him in his living extension until after 4 am as do something so passionately encouraged and get wind of me in my own occupation. Even though we had prone to business for after his come back to New Zealand, part bearing through the evening I completed this would be the ransack time I would see turn for the better ame friend.
Marco polo- biographyBeyond reuniting with family post friends, the reasons for Estelle's UK visit were twofold. Probity BBC was filming a infotainment on the history of Nation comedy and had requested interviews. He also needed a harvest transplant, but he became very weak for doctors to go. Estelle returned to the UK weeks before his death.
Unwind died in Rochdale Infirmary assault 2 August 2003, and was buried in Rochdale with honourableness oversized pith helmet he wore as Gunner "Lofty" Sugden.[7] Appease was survived by his superfluous wife, Elizabeth.[8]