OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92

Subject: BS: On The Buses Varney dies at 92
From: GUEST,Comrac
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 05:57 PM

Comedy actor Reg Varney, best known for playing driver Stan Butler in ITV sitcom On The Buses, has died aged 92.

He died following a short illness in a nursing home in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, where he had recently been admitted with a chest infection.

His daughter Jeanne Marley, 59, said her father had died "peacefully" on Sunday afternoon.

On The Buses was one of the most successful British comedies of the 1970s, with over 60 TV episodes.

Varney's partnership with co-star Bob Grant, who played randy conductor Jack Harper, saw them become household names for a generation of viewers.

The series, which ran for seven years from 1969 and spawned three feature films, followed the two characters as they dodged work and did their best to wind up inspector Cyril "Blakey" Blake, played by Stephen Lewis.

Mrs Marley said he had only recently been admitted to the nursing home after he had begun suffering from a chest infection.

She said: "He's always been very young for his age. When he was in On The Buses he was playing a 35-year-old, but he was actually 50."


He first came to the public eye in BBC sitcom The Rag Trade, in 1961, and starred alongside Pat Coombs and June Whitfield in another comedy, Beggar My Neighbour, in 1966.


The success of On The Buses saw him land his own, self-titled TV series, as well as roles in films Go For A Take and The Best Pair Of Legs In The Business.

Later in his career Varney spent time in Australia and New Zealand, sometimes working as a pianist. A remake of On The Buses was mooted in 1990, but failed to be commissioned.

Varney had lived in Devon for the past 20 years, and had lived alone since his wife Lilian died in 2002.

He is survived by his daughter, two grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 09:15 PM

A sad loss.

I still have fond memories of 'The Rag Trade' and 'On The Buses'.

Reg was a trooper in the fine old variety tradition and a brilliant piano player too.

R.I.P.

Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 07:30 AM

'The Rag Trade' was an absolute classic:

http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/ragtrade.htm

Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92
From: Fiolar
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 07:54 AM

Rest in peace Reg.

Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92
From: goatfell
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 01:35 PM

rip

Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92
From: GUEST,Bizibod
Date: 18 Nov 08 - 11:31 AM

I remember as a child seeing him play the wicked stepmother in Cinderella at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham.
The bit that particularly sticks in my mind is towards the end when the stepmother and ugly sisters are reduced to penury, and his fine crystal chandelier- type earrings were replaced by dangling bath- plugs on chains which he wore as though there was no difference. That's still funny!

Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92
From: Folk Form # 1
Date: 18 Nov 08 - 04:54 PM

I recently saw On The Buses on tv. It ahs dated badly. But at the time, it was much loved.

Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 19 Nov 08 - 12:58 PM

A brilliant comedian. A sad loss

Blessings
Rhiannon

Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 19 Nov 08 - 01:02 PM

He used to paint as well; I once received a birthday card with a rather fetching landscape and his signature double decker bus...

Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 20 Nov 08 - 07:38 AM

Another hole in the comedy wall...