Kenneth Waller: Difference between revisions

Kenneth Waller
Kenneth Waller
	Waller in The Optimist (1985)
Born	5 November 1927; Huddersfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died	28 January 2000 (aged 72); London, England
Occupation	Television actor
Years active	1959–1998

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Kenneth Waller (5 November 1927 – 28 January 2000)^[3] was an English actor. He was known for portraying Grandad in Bread and Old Mr. Grace in Are You Being Served?

Early life

Kenneth Waller was born in Lowerhouses Huddersfield, Yorkshire on 5 November 1927.^[1]^[2] In 1931 during the depression, he moved to Hythe, Hampshire in the New Forest and they were living there at the breakout of World War II. In 1940 his family returned to his native Huddersfield.^[4] Waller left school aged 16 and worked as a wages clerk until being called up for National Service.

In 1949, he was a member of the Christ Church Woodhouse men's choir.^[5]

After serving in the Royal Air Force as a Radar Mechanic, Waller worked for a firm of auctioneers.^[2]

Career

Experience in local rep at the Oxford Playhouse encouraged him to move to London, where he made his West End debut in Julian Slade and Dorothy Reynolds' 1957 musical Free as Air. He was later in the original cast of Give a Dog a Bone in 1964, and took over various roles in various other London productions such as Salad Days and Anne of Green Gables: The Musical. Waller was also associated the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, but always looked forward to the times when his work took him on location further afield, including Rome, India and Scandinavia.^[2]

An excellent pianist and an ardent lover of classical and choral music, Waller was extremely knowledgeable on the subject of oratorio and sang with Anthony Bowles' Actors' choir and the BBC Chorus. He also appeared as the Narrator in Peter and the Wolf, and Carl Davis wrote a special concert piece, "Duck's Diary," for him.^[2]

From the fifties to the seventies, his career as an actor saw him appear on both television and film. On the big screen, he had modest roles in Room at the Top (1959), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), Scrooge (1970), Fiddler on the Roof (1971) and Carry On Behind (1975). Other small screen credits included Big Deal, Crossroads, The Fenn Street Gang, Dixon of Dock Green, Z-Cars, The Professionals, Doctor Who, All Creatures Great and Small, Terry and June and Juliet Bravo.^[1]^[2] Waller also portrayed the father of Curly Watts in Coronation Street.^[2]

In 1981, he joined the cast of Are You Being Served? as Old Mr. Grace; ironically he was 29 years younger than Harold Bennett, who played Young Mr. Grace.^[2]

Waller also made an appearance in the Series 5 episode, "Boxing Day Social", on On the Buses, as well appearing in the 1984 miniseries, Ellis Island and even lending his voice for Romuald the Reindeer.^[1]^[6] In 1985 he appeared in an episode of The Optimist.

In 1986, Waller became a household name as Grandad in Carla Lane's Liverpool sitcom, Bread and his catchphrase, "Where's my tea?", quickly caught on with the viewing public.^[2]

Waller continued to stay in touch with the theatre during the final years of his life, touring successfully with Barbara Windsor in Joe Orton's classic black comedy, Entertaining Mr Sloane and appearing in a musical version of Beauty and the Beast at the Manchester Opera House, in 1998.^[2]

Personal life and death

Despite his television fame, Waller never lost his affection for Yorkshire, taking great pride in retaining both his accent and his many friends within the Huddersfield Choral Society.^[2]

Kenneth Waller died on 28 January 2000 in London, England at the age of 72, after a brief illness.^[1]^[2] He never married.^[2]

Filmography

Z-Cars (1963-1977, TV Series) - Wilfred Wilson / Pianist / Fred Jones / Stanley Collins
Room at the Top (1959) - Reggie (uncredited)
Crossroads (1964, TV Series) - Mr. Hardgreaves
Mr. Brown Comes Down the Hill (1965) - Journalist / Patron of the Bar
A Game of Murder (1966, TV Series) - Dr. Hasting
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) - Inventor #4
Softly, Softly (1970, TV Series) - Potter
Scrooge (1970) - Party Guest (uncredited)
The Onedin Line (1971, TV Series) - Drayman
On the Buses (1971, TV Series) - Busman
Fiddler on the Roof (1971) - (uncredited)
The Love Pill (1972) - Professor Edwards
Dixon of Dock Green (1972-1974, TV Series) - Dealer / Porter
Menace (1973, TV Series) - Manager
Doctor on the Go (1975, TV Series) - Mr. Pole
Carry On Behind (1975) - Barman
The Venetian Twins (1976, TV Movie)
Doctor Who (1977, Episode: "The Invisible Enemy") - Hedges
Target (1977, TV Series) - Warehouse Transport Manager
The Mayor of Casterbridge (1978, TV Mini-Series) - Clerk of Court
The Famous Five (1978, TV Series) - Enemy Agent
All Creatures Great and Small (1980, TV Series) - Mr. Ronald Beresford
Are You Being Served? (1981, TV Series) - Old Mr. Henry Grace
Juliet Bravo (1982, TV Series) - Sidney Dorkins
Fair Ground! (1983, TV Series) - Mr. Grant
Minder (1984, TV Series) - Roland
Ellis Island (1984, TV Mini-Series) - Shepherd #1
Big Deal (1984-1986, TV Series) - Ferret
The Optimist (1985, TV Series) - Solicitor
Roll Over Beethoven (1985, TV Series) - Mr. Beckett
The Pickwick Papers (1985, TV Series) - Fogg
The Beiderbecke Affair "Harry the Supergrass" (1985)
Bread (1986-1991, TV Series) - Grandad
Boon (1987, TV Series) - Mr. Newell
Coronation Street (1988, TV Series) - Arthur Watts, Curly Watts's father
Romuald the Reindeer (1996, TV Series) - Grandpa Ivy (voice)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Walker, Craig (2011). On The Buses: The Complete Story. Andrews UK Limited. ISBN 9781908382849.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Kenneth Waller obituary
^ Kenneth Waller
^ Huddersfield Daily Examiner - 27 February 1989
^ "Family history: Alan and Elaine Danielson's memories of Christ Church, Woodhouse men's choir". 29 June 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
^ Hollywood.com

External links

Kenneth Waller at IMDb

[book-1] Walker, Craig (2011). On The Buses: The Complete Story. Andrews UK Limited. ISBN 9781908382849.

[archive-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Kenneth Waller obituary

[3] Kenneth Waller

[4] Huddersfield Daily Examiner - 27 February 1989

[5] "Family history: Alan and Elaine Danielson's memories of Christ Church, Woodhouse men's choir". 29 June 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2015.

[6] Hollywood.com

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|English actor (1927–2000)}}
 {{EngvarB|date=November 2017}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
 {{for|American bodybuilder|Ken Waller}}
 {{Infobox person
-| name       = Kenneth Waller
+| name               = Kenneth Waller
+| image              = Kenneth Waller.png
-| birth_date  = {{Birth date|df=y|1927|11|5}}
+| image_upright      = 1.3
-| birth_place = [[Huddersfield]], West Riding of Yorkshire, England<ref name=book>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PlO5BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA154|last=Walker|first=Craig|title=On The Buses: The Complete Story|year=2011|publisher=Andrews UK Limited|isbn=9781908382849}}</ref><ref name=archive>[http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Kenneth_Waller_obituary Kenneth Waller obituary]</ref>
+| caption            = Waller in ''[[The Optimist (TV series)|The Optimist]]'' (1985)
-| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2000|1|28|1927|11|5}}
+| birth_date         = {{Birth date|df=y|1927|11|5}}
-| death_place = London, England
+| birth_place        = [[Huddersfield]], West Riding of Yorkshire, England<ref name=book>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PlO5BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA154|last=Walker|first=Craig|title=On The Buses: The Complete Story|year=2011|publisher=Andrews UK Limited|isbn=9781908382849}}</ref><ref name=archive>[http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Kenneth_Waller_obituary Kenneth Waller obituary]</ref>
-| occupation = Television actor
+| death_date         = {{Death date and age|df=y|2000|1|28|1927|11|5}}
-| years_active = 1959–1998
+| death_place        = London, England
+| occupation         = Television actor
+| years_active       = 1959–1998
 }}
-'''Kenneth Waller''' (5 November 1927 – 28 January 2000)<ref>[http://people.theiapolis.com/actor-2VDS/kenneth-waller/ Kenneth Waller]</ref> was an English actor.  He was known for portraying Grandad in ''[[Bread (TV series)|Bread]]'' and [[List of Are You Being Served? characters#The Grace brothers (Harold Bennett and Kenneth Waller) (series 1–8, series 8)|Old Mr. Grace]] in ''[[Are You Being Served?]]''
+'''Kenneth Waller''' (5 November 1927 – 28 January 2000)<ref>[http://people.theiapolis.com/actor-2VDS/kenneth-waller/ Kenneth Waller]</ref> was an English actor.  He was known for portraying Grandad in ''[[Bread (TV series)|Bread]]'' and [[List of Are You Being Served? characters#The Grace Brothers (Harold Bennett and Kenneth Waller) (series 1–8, series 8)|Old Mr. Grace]] in ''[[Are You Being Served?]]''
 ==Early life==
-Kenneth Waller was born in [[Huddersfield]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire|Yorkshire]] on 5 November 1927.<ref name=book/><ref name=archive/> In his childhood he moved to [[Southampton]] and was living there at the breakout of [[World War II]].
+Kenneth Waller was born in [[Lowerhouses]] [[Huddersfield]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire|Yorkshire]] on 5 November 1927.<ref name=book/><ref name=archive/> In [[1931]] during the depression, he moved to [[Hythe, Hampshire]] in the [[New Forest]] and they were living there at the breakout of [[World War II]]. In [[1940]] his family returned to his native Huddersfield.<Ref>Huddersfield Daily Examiner - 27 February 1989</ref> Waller left school aged 16 and worked as a wages clerk until being called up for [[National Service]].
-In 1949, he was a member of the Christ Church Woodhouse men's choir.<ref>{{cite web|title=Family history: Alan and Elaine Danielson’s memories of Christ Church, Woodhouse men’s choir.|date=29 June 2011|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/family-history-alan-elaine-danielsons-4974631|accessdate=30 March 2015}}</ref>
+In 1949, he was a member of the Christ Church Woodhouse men's choir.<ref>{{cite web|title=Family history: Alan and Elaine Danielson's memories of Christ Church, Woodhouse men's choir.|date=29 June 2011|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/family-history-alan-elaine-danielsons-4974631|accessdate=30 March 2015}}</ref>
-After serving in the [[Royal Air Force]], Waller worked for a firm of auctioneers.<ref name=archive/>
+After serving in the [[Royal Air Force]] as a [[Radar Mechanic]], Waller worked for a firm of auctioneers.<ref name=archive/>
 ==Career==
@@ Line 26: / Line 30: @@
 An excellent pianist and an ardent lover of classical and choral music, Waller was extremely knowledgeable on the subject of oratorio and sang with Anthony Bowles' Actors' choir and the [[BBC Chorus]].  He also appeared as the Narrator in ''[[Peter and the Wolf]]'', and [[Carl Davis]] wrote a special concert piece, "Duck's Diary," for him.<ref name=archive/>
-From the fifties to the seventies, his career as an actor saw him appear on both television and film.  On the big screen, he had modest roles in ''[[Room at the Top (1959 film)|Room at the Top]]'' (1959), ''[[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang]]'' (1968), ''[[Scrooge (1970 film)|Scrooge]]'' (1970), ''[[Fiddler on the Roof]]'' (1971) and ''[[Carry On Behind]]'' (1975).  Other small screen credits included ''[[Big Deal (TV series)|Big Deal]]'', ''[[Crossroads (UK TV series)|Crossroads]]'', ''[[The Fenn Street Gang]]'', ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'', ''[[Z-Cars]]'', ''[[The Professionals (TV series)|The Professionals]]'', ''[[Doctor Who]]'', ''[[All Creatures Great and Small (TV series)|All Creatures Great and Small]]'', ''[[Terry and June]]'' and  ''[[Juliet Bravo]]''.<ref name=book/><ref name=archive/> Waller also portrayed the father of [[Curly Watts]] in ''[[Coronation Street]]''.<ref name=archive/>
+From the fifties to the seventies, his career as an actor saw him appear on both television and film.  On the big screen, he had modest roles in ''[[Room at the Top (1959 film)|Room at the Top]]'' (1959), ''[[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang]]'' (1968), ''[[Scrooge (1970 film)|Scrooge]]'' (1970), ''[[Fiddler on the Roof (film)|Fiddler on the Roof]]'' (1971) and ''[[Carry On Behind]]'' (1975).  Other small screen credits included ''[[Big Deal (TV series)|Big Deal]]'', ''[[Crossroads (UK TV series)|Crossroads]]'', ''[[The Fenn Street Gang]]'', ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'', ''[[Z-Cars]]'', ''[[The Professionals (TV series)|The Professionals]]'', ''[[Doctor Who]]'', ''[[All Creatures Great and Small (1978 TV series)|All Creatures Great and Small]]'', ''[[Terry and June]]'' and  ''[[Juliet Bravo]]''.<ref name=book/><ref name=archive/> Waller also portrayed the father of [[Curly Watts]] in ''[[Coronation Street]]''.<ref name=archive/>
-In 1981, he joined the cast of ''[[Are You Being Served?]]'' as Old Mr. Grace.<ref name=archive/>
+In 1981, he joined the cast of ''[[Are You Being Served?]]'' as Old Mr. Grace; ironically he was 29 years younger than [[Harold Bennett]], who played Young Mr. Grace.<ref name=archive/>
-Waller also made an appearance in the [[On the Buses (series 5)|Series 5]] episode, "Boxing Day Social", on ''[[On the Buses]]'', as well appearing in the 1984 miniseries, ''[[Ellis Island (miniseries)|Ellis Island]]'' and even lending his voice for ''[[Romuald the Reindeer]]''.<ref name=book/><ref>[http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/1583986/kenneth-waller Hollywood.com]</ref>
+Waller also made an appearance in the [[On the Buses (series 5)|Series 5]] episode, "Boxing Day Social", on ''[[On the Buses]]'', as well appearing in the 1984 miniseries, ''[[Ellis Island (miniseries)|Ellis Island]]'' and even lending his voice for ''[[Romuald the Reindeer]]''.<ref name=book/><ref>[http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/1583986/kenneth-waller Hollywood.com]</ref>  In 1985 he appeared in an episode of ''[[The Optimist (TV series)|The Optimist]].''
 In 1986, Waller became a household name as Grandad in [[Carla Lane]]'s [[Liverpool]] sitcom, ''[[Bread (TV series)|Bread]]'' and his catchphrase, "Where's my tea?", quickly caught on with the viewing public.<ref name=archive/>
@@ Line 39: / Line 43: @@
 Despite his television fame, Waller never lost his affection for Yorkshire, taking great pride in retaining both his accent and his many friends within the Huddersfield Choral Society.<ref name=archive/>
-Kenneth Waller died on 28 January 2000 in London, England at the age of 72, after a brief illness.<ref name=book/><ref name=archive/> He was unmarried.<ref name=archive/>
+Kenneth Waller died on 28 January 2000 in London, England at the age of 72, after a brief illness.<ref name=book/><ref name=archive/> He never married.<ref name=archive/>
+==Filmography==
-==TV and filmography==
+{{Div col}}
-*''Romuald the Reindeer'' (voice, 1996)
+*''[[Z-Cars]]'' (1963-1977, TV Series) - Wilfred Wilson / Pianist / Fred Jones / Stanley Collins
-*''Arthur Watts, [[Curly Watts]]'s father'' Coronation Street (1988).
-*''[[Boon (TV series)|Boon]]'' "Mr. Newell" (1987)
+*''[[Room at the Top (1959 film)|Room at the Top]]'' (1959) - Reggie (uncredited)
-*''[[Bread (TV series)|Bread]]'' "Grandad" (1986–91)
+*''[[Crossroads (UK TV series)|Crossroads]]'' (1964, TV Series) - Mr. Hardgreaves
+*''Mr. Brown Comes Down the Hill'' (1965) - Journalist / Patron of the Bar
-*''[[The Pickwick Papers (TV series)|The Pickwick Papers]]'' "Mr. Fogg" (1985)
+*''A Game of Murder'' (1966, TV Series) - Dr. Hasting
-*''The Beiderbecke Affair'' "Harry the Supergrass" (1985)
+*''[[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (film)|Chitty Chitty Bang Bang]]'' (1968) - Inventor #4
-*''Roll Over Beethoven'' "Mr. Beckett" (1985)
-*''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'' "Roland" in episode "A Number of Old Wives Tales" (1984)
+*''[[Softly, Softly (TV series)|Softly, Softly]]'' (1970, TV Series) - Potter
-*''[[Ellis Island]]'' "Shepherd #1" (1984)
+*''[[Scrooge (1970 film)|Scrooge]]'' (1970) - Party Guest (uncredited)
+*''[[The Onedin Line]]'' (1971, TV Series) - Drayman
-*''Big Deal'' "Ferret" (1984)
+*''[[On the Buses]]'' (1971, TV Series) - Busman
-*''Fair Ground!'' "Mr. Grant" (1983)
+*''[[Fiddler on the Roof (film)|Fiddler on the Roof]]'' (1971) - (uncredited)
-*''[[Juliet Bravo]]'' "Sidney Dorkins" in episode "Where There's Muck..." (1982)
-*''[[Are You Being Served?]]'' "Old Mr. Henry Grace" (1981)
+*''[[The Love Pill]]'' (1972) - Professor Edwards
+*''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'' (1972-1974, TV Series) - Dealer / Porter
-*''[[All Creatures Great and Small (TV series)|All Creatures Great and Small]]'' "Mr. Beresford", the bank manager, in episode "Every Dog His Day..." (1980) and "Charity Begins at Home" (1980)
-*''[[The Mayor of Casterbridge]]'' "Clerk of Court" (1978)
+*''[[Menace (TV series)|Menace]]'' (1973, TV Series) - Manager
+*''Doctor on the Go'' (1975, TV Series) - Mr. Pole
-*''[[The Famous Five (1978 TV series)|The Famous Five]]'' "Enemy Agent" (1978)
-*''[[Z-Cars]]'' "Wilfred Wilson" (1977)
+*''[[Carry On Behind]]'' (1975) - Barman
+*''[[The Venetian Twins]]'' (1976, TV Movie)
-*''[[Target (UK TV series)|Target]]'' "Warehouse Transport Manager" (1977)
-*''[[Doctor Who]]'' "Hedges" in episode ''[[The Invisible Enemy (Doctor Who)|The Invisible Enemy]]'' (1977)
+*''[[Doctor Who]]'' (1977, Episode: "[[The Invisible Enemy (Doctor Who)|The Invisible Enemy]]") - Hedges
+*''[[Target (UK TV series)|Target]]'' (1977, TV Series) - Warehouse Transport Manager
-*''[[The Venetian Twins]]'' (1976)
+*''[[The Mayor of Casterbridge]]'' (1978, TV Mini-Series) - Clerk of Court
-*''Doctor on the Go'' "Mr. Pole" (1975)
+*''[[The Famous Five (1978 TV series)|The Famous Five]]'' (1978, TV Series) - Enemy Agent
-*''[[Carry On Behind]]'' "Barman" (1975)
+*''[[All Creatures Great and Small (1978 TV series)|All Creatures Great and Small]]'' (1980, TV Series) - Mr. Ronald Beresford
-*''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'' "Dealer" (1974)
+*''[[Are You Being Served?]]'' (1981, TV Series) - Old Mr. Henry Grace
-*''[[Menace (TV series)|Menace]]'' "Manager" (1973)
+*''[[Juliet Bravo]]'' (1982, TV Series) - Sidney Dorkins
-*''Z-Cars'' "Pianist" (1972)
+*''Fair Ground!'' (1983, TV Series) - Mr. Grant
-*''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'' "Porter" (1972)
+*''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'' (1984, TV Series) - Roland
-*''[[On the Buses]]'' "Busman" (1971)
+*''[[Ellis Island]]'' (1984, TV Mini-Series) - Shepherd #1
-*''[[Fiddler on the Roof (film)|Fiddler on the Roof]]'' uncredited (1971)
+*''[[Big Deal (TV series)|Big Deal]]'' (1984-1986, TV Series) - Ferret
-*''[[The Onedin Line]]'' "Drayman" in episode "The High Price" (1971)
-*''[[The Love Pill]]'' "Professor Edwards" (1971)
+*''[[The Optimist (TV series)|The Optimist]]'' (1985, TV Series) - Solicitor
+*''Roll Over Beethoven'' (1985, TV Series) - Mr. Beckett
-*''The Onedin Line'' "Drayman" (uncredited) in episode "Other Points of the Compass" (1971)
+*''[[The Pickwick Papers (TV series)|The Pickwick Papers]]'' (1985, TV Series) - Fogg
-*''[[Scrooge (1970 film)|Scrooge]]'' (uncredited) "Party Guest" (1970)
+*''[[The Beiderbecke Affair]]'' "Harry the Supergrass" (1985)
-*''[[Softly, Softly (TV series)|Softly, Softly]]'' "Potter" (1970)
+*''[[Bread (TV series)|Bread]]'' (1986-1991, TV Series) - Grandad
-*''[[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (film)|Chitty Chitty Bang Bang]]'' "Inventor" (1968)
+*''[[Boon (TV series)|Boon]]'' (1987, TV Series) - Mr. Newell
-*''Z-Cars'' "Fred Jones" (1968)
+*''[[Coronation Street]]'' (1988, TV Series) - Arthur Watts, [[Curly Watts]]'s father
-*''A Game of Murder'' "Dr. Hasting" (1966)
+*''[[Romuald the Reindeer]]'' (1996, TV Series) - Grandpa Ivy (voice)
-*''[[Crossroads (UK TV series)|Crossroads]]'' "Mr. Hardgreaves" (1964)
+{{div col end}}
-*''Z-Cars'' "Stanley Collins" (1963)
-*''[[Room at the Top (1959 film)|Room at the Top]]'' "Reggie" (uncredited) (1959)
 ==References==
@@ Line 97: / Line 100: @@
 [[Category:Male actors from Huddersfield]]
 [[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
+[[Category:20th-century Royal Air Force personnel]]

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