Ballard Berkeley
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Ballard Berkeley (born Ballard Blascheck; 6 August 1904 – 16 January 1988) was a English actor best remembered for his role in the British sitcom Fawlty Towers, in which he played the character of Major Gowen.
He was born in 1904 in Margate, Kent, England. Berkely served as a Special Constable with the Metropolitan Police during World War II, witnessing The Blitz at first hand [1].
[edit] Acting
He also portrayed a retired military man (Colonel Freddie Danby) in The Archers, taking over the role from Norman Shelley; he also played a starring role in Fresh Fields, was Uncle Greville in To The Manor Born, had a small role in the 1980 adaptation of Little Lord Fauntleroy, and appeared once in The Avengers. Earlier in his career, during the 1930s, he performed regularly in the so-called "quota quickies". One of his earliest roles was in the 1942 film In Which We Serve - he also appeared in the Hitchcock film Stage Fright
Berkeley later performed the role of 'The Major' in the radio comedy Wrinkles by Doug Naylor and Rob Grant, although it is never suggested that this was the same character as portrayed in Fawlty Towers. [2]
[edit] Famous quotes
'Papers arrived yet Fawlty?'
'I took her to see India!.....at the Oval!'
