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16 Nov 08 - 05:57 PM (#2495409) Subject: BS: On The Buses Varney dies at 92 From: GUEST,Comrac 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. |
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16 Nov 08 - 09:15 PM (#2495528) Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92 From: Dave Roberts 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. |
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17 Nov 08 - 07:30 AM (#2495716) Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92 From: GUEST,Jim Martin 'The Rag Trade' was an absolute classic: http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/ragtrade.htm |
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17 Nov 08 - 07:54 AM (#2495727) Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92 From: Fiolar Rest in peace Reg. |
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17 Nov 08 - 01:35 PM (#2495977) Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92 From: goatfell rip |
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18 Nov 08 - 11:31 AM (#2496778) Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92 From: GUEST,Bizibod 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! |
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18 Nov 08 - 04:54 PM (#2497108) Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92 From: Folk Form # 1 I recently saw On The Buses on tv. It ahs dated badly. But at the time, it was much loved. |
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19 Nov 08 - 12:58 PM (#2497734) Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92 From: Zany Mouse A brilliant comedian. A sad loss Blessings Rhiannon |
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19 Nov 08 - 01:02 PM (#2497735) Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92 From: Jack Blandiver He used to paint as well; I once received a birthday card with a rather fetching landscape and his signature double decker bus... |
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20 Nov 08 - 07:38 AM (#2498320) Subject: RE: OBIT: On The Buses Varney dies at 92 From: The Fooles Troupe Another hole in the comedy wall... |