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'''Raymond George Alfred Cooney''', [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (born 30 May 1932) is an English playwright, actor, and director. His biggest success, ''[[Run for Your Wife (play)|Run for Your Wife]]'' (1983), ran for nine years in London's [[West End theatre|West End]] and is its longest-running comedy.<ref>{{cite web |author= |title=Artist: Ray Cooney |url=http://www.artandculture.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/ACLive.woa/wa/artist?id=1227 | publisher=Art & Culture |year=2009 |accessdate=2009-02-03}}</ref> He has had 17 of his plays performed there.<ref>{{cite news |title=In the Farce Lane |url=http://www.writersguild.org.uk/public/008_Featurearticl/026_RayCooney.html |work=UK Writer |publisher=Writers' Guild of Great Britain |date=Spring 2005 |accessdate=2009-02-03 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206101903/http://writersguild.org.uk/public/008_Featurearticl/026_RayCooney.html |archivedate=6 February 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
'''Raymond George Alfred Cooney''', [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (born 30 May 1932) is an English playwright, actor, and director. His biggest success, ''[[Run for Your Wife (play)|Run for Your Wife]]'' (1983), ran for nine years in London's [[West End theatre|West End]] and is its longest-running comedy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Artist: Ray Cooney |url=http://www.artandculture.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/ACLive.woa/wa/artist?id=1227 | publisher=Art & Culture |year=2009 |accessdate=2009-02-03}}</ref> He has had 17 of his plays performed there.<ref>{{cite news |title=In the Farce Lane |url=http://www.writersguild.org.uk/public/008_Featurearticl/026_RayCooney.html |work=UK Writer |publisher=Writers' Guild of Great Britain |date=Spring 2005 |accessdate=2009-02-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206101903/http://writersguild.org.uk/public/008_Featurearticl/026_RayCooney.html |archive-date=6 February 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
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Cooney has also appeared on TV and in several films, including a film adaptation of his successful theatrical farce ''[[Not Now, Darling (film)|Not Now, Darling]]'' (1973), which he co-wrote with [[John Chapman (screenwriter)|John Chapman]].
Cooney has also appeared on TV and in several films, including a film adaptation of his successful theatrical farce ''[[Not Now, Darling (film)|Not Now, Darling]]'' (1973), which he co-wrote with [[John Chapman (screenwriter)|John Chapman]].


In 1983, Cooney created the Theatre of Comedy Company and became its [[artistic director]]. During his tenure the company produced over twenty plays such as ''[[Pygmalion (play)|Pygmalion]]'' (starring [[Peter O'Toole]] and [[John Thaw]]), ''[[Loot (play)|Loot]]'' and ''[[Run for Your Wife (play)|Run For Your Wife]]''. He co-wrote a farce with his son [[Michael Cooney (screenwriter)|Michael]], ''Tom, Dick and Harry'' (1993). Cooney produced and directed the film ''[[Run For Your Wife (2012 film)|Run For Your Wife]]'' (2012), based on his own play.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.runforyourwife.co.uk/Run_For_Your_Wife/Run_For_Your_Wife.html |title=Run For Your Wife |publisher=Run For Your Wife |date= |accessdate=2011-12-31}}</ref> The film however was not a success: it was savaged by critics and has been referred to as [[List of films considered the worst#2010s|one of the worst films of all time]].
In 1983, Cooney created the Theatre of Comedy Company and became its [[artistic director]]. During his tenure the company produced over twenty plays such as ''[[Pygmalion (play)|Pygmalion]]'' (starring [[Peter O'Toole]] and [[John Thaw]]), ''[[Loot (play)|Loot]]'' and ''[[Run for Your Wife (play)|Run For Your Wife]]''. He co-wrote a farce with his son [[Michael Cooney (screenwriter)|Michael]], ''Tom, Dick and Harry'' (1993). Cooney produced and directed the film ''[[Run For Your Wife (2012 film)|Run For Your Wife]]'' (2012), based on his own play.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.runforyourwife.co.uk/Run_For_Your_Wife/Run_For_Your_Wife.html |title=Run For Your Wife |publisher=Run For Your Wife |accessdate=2011-12-31}}</ref> The film however was not a success: it was savaged by critics and has been referred to as [[List of films considered the worst#2010s|one of the worst films of all time]].


Cooney's farces combine a traditional British bawdiness with structural complication, as characters leap to assumptions, are forced to pretend to be things that they are not, and often talk at cross-purposes. He is greatly admired in [[France]] where he is known as "Le Feydeau Anglais", ("The English Feydeau"), in reference to the French farceur [[Georges Feydeau]]. Many of his plays have been first produced, or revived, at the [[Théâtre de la Michodière]] in Paris.
Cooney's farces combine a traditional British bawdiness with structural complication, as characters leap to assumptions, are forced to pretend to be things that they are not, and often talk at cross-purposes. He is greatly admired in [[France]] where he is known as "Le Feydeau Anglais", ("The English Feydeau"), in reference to the French farceur [[Georges Feydeau]]. Many of his plays have been first produced, or revived, at the [[Théâtre de la Michodière]] in Paris.


In January 1975, Cooney was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] at London's [[Savoy Hotel]]. In 2005, Cooney was made an Officer of the [[Order of the British Empire]] in recognition of his services to drama.<ref>{{cite news |author= |title=Dramatist Cooney becomes an OBE |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/4135823.stm |work=BBC News |date=31 December 2004 |accessdate=2009-02-03}}</ref>
In January 1975, Cooney was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] at London's [[Savoy Hotel]]. In 2005, Cooney was made an Officer of the [[Order of the British Empire]] in recognition of his services to drama.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dramatist Cooney becomes an OBE |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/4135823.stm |work=BBC News |date=31 December 2004 |accessdate=2009-02-03}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
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* ''It Runs in the Family'' (1987)
* ''It Runs in the Family'' (1987)
* ''Dead Trouble'' (Calibre Cassette Library for the Blind made in association with [[List of Challenge Anneka episodes|Challenge Anneka]] Episode 5 of Series 1; 1989) which then became ''[[Out of Order (play)|Out of Order]]'')
* ''Dead Trouble'' (Calibre Cassette Library for the Blind made in association with [[List of Challenge Anneka episodes|Challenge Anneka]] Episode 5 of Series 1; 1989) which then became ''[[Out of Order (play)|Out of Order]]'')
* ''[[Out of Order (play)|Out of Order]]'' (1991) (also performed under the alternative title ''[[Out of Order (play)|Whose Wife is it Anyway?]]'') <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pmpnetwork.com/ReviewsData/theatre-recent2.htm|title=Reviews - archive|publisher=}}</ref>
* ''[[Out of Order (play)|Out of Order]]'' (1991) (also performed under the alternative title ''[[Out of Order (play)|Whose Wife is it Anyway?]]'') <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pmpnetwork.com/ReviewsData/theatre-recent2.htm|title=Reviews - archive}}</ref>
* ''[[Funny Money]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Funny Money]]'' (1994)
* ''Caught in the Net'' (2001)
* ''Caught in the Net'' (2001)

Revision as of 09:48, 1 December 2020

Ray Cooney
BornRaymond George Alfred Cooney
(1932-05-30) 30 May 1932 (age 92)
London, England
Occupation
  • playwright
  • actor
  • director
Notable worksRun for Your Wife
SpouseLinda Cooney (m. 1962)

Raymond George Alfred Cooney, OBE (born 30 May 1932) is an English playwright, actor, and director. His biggest success, Run for Your Wife (1983), ran for nine years in London's West End and is its longest-running comedy.[1] He has had 17 of his plays performed there.[2]

Career

Cooney began to act in 1946, appearing in many of the Whitehall farces of Brian Rix throughout the 1950s and 1960s. It was during this time that he co-wrote his first play, One For The Pot. With Tony Hilton, he co-wrote the screenplay for the British comedy film What a Carve Up! (1961), which features Sid James and Kenneth Connor.

In 1968 and 1969, Cooney adapted Richard Gordon's Doctor novels for BBC radio, as series starring Richard Briers. He also took parts in them.

Cooney has also appeared on TV and in several films, including a film adaptation of his successful theatrical farce Not Now, Darling (1973), which he co-wrote with John Chapman.

In 1983, Cooney created the Theatre of Comedy Company and became its artistic director. During his tenure the company produced over twenty plays such as Pygmalion (starring Peter O'Toole and John Thaw), Loot and Run For Your Wife. He co-wrote a farce with his son Michael, Tom, Dick and Harry (1993). Cooney produced and directed the film Run For Your Wife (2012), based on his own play.[3] The film however was not a success: it was savaged by critics and has been referred to as one of the worst films of all time.

Cooney's farces combine a traditional British bawdiness with structural complication, as characters leap to assumptions, are forced to pretend to be things that they are not, and often talk at cross-purposes. He is greatly admired in France where he is known as "Le Feydeau Anglais", ("The English Feydeau"), in reference to the French farceur Georges Feydeau. Many of his plays have been first produced, or revived, at the Théâtre de la Michodière in Paris.

In January 1975, Cooney was the subject of This Is Your Life when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at London's Savoy Hotel. In 2005, Cooney was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his services to drama.[4]

Personal life

Cooney married Linda Dixon in 1962.[citation needed] One of their two sons, Michael, is a screenwriter.[5]

Bibliography

Filmography

Screenwriter

References

  1. ^ "Artist: Ray Cooney". Art & Culture. 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
  2. ^ "In the Farce Lane". UK Writer. Writers' Guild of Great Britain. Spring 2005. Archived from the original on 6 February 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
  3. ^ "Run For Your Wife". Run For Your Wife. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  4. ^ "Dramatist Cooney becomes an OBE". BBC News. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
  5. ^ Grigware, Don (19 November 2015). "BWW Interview: Internationally Renown British Actor/ Playwright RAY COONEY Talks About son Michael Cooney's CASH ON DELIVERY at the El Portal". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Reviews - archive".