Brian Hall (actor)

Brian Charles Hall (20 November 1937 – 17 September 1997) was an English actor. He is best remembered for his role as hotel chef Terry Hugh in the British sitcom Fawlty Towers.

Brian Hall
Born
Brian Charles Hall

(1937-11-20)20 November 1937
London, England
Died17 September 1997(1997-09-17) (aged 59)
Worthing, Sussex, England
OccupationActor
Years active1971–1994
Spouse(s)Marlene Hall

Career

Hall played many hard-boiled tough guy Cockney roles: his role as the amiable chef Terry in Fawlty Towers was a casting against type. He played leading roles in police drama Softly, Softly: Taskforce (1971–72), crime drama McVicar (1980), and sitcom You Must Be The Husband (1987). He also had several guest-starring roles in The Professionals, The Long Good Friday, The Bill, London's Burning, The Sweeney and Minder in Series 1 episode You Gotta Have Friends. He also played the Dad in Billy Webb's Amazing Story by Steve Attridge (1991 BBC)[1]

Personal life

Hall became friends with John Cleese when they appeared together in Fawlty Towers. Some years after the series had finished, Cleese sent Hall a personally signed autographed picture as a joke. Hall wrote back and demanded a "signed Rolls-Royce car" instead. Three days later, one arrived by mail – a children's toy.

Hall died on 17 September 1997, aged 59, after a three-year battle with cancer. John Cleese said "I am very upset. I was particularly fond of Brian and had several conversations with him this year". "I admire profoundly the way in which he dealt with his cancer. I do not know where he found the strength." A year before his death, Hall told the Mirror: "Cancer is a bully and I hate bullies. This old boy cancer will get about as much change out of me as all the other bullies I've met – nothing."

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1973Adolf Hitler – My Part in His DownfallMP Sergeant
1973Yellow DogBertram
1974From Beyond the GraveMan on PhoneUncredited
1974Confessions of a Window Cleaner2nd Removal Man
1975The Land That Time ForgotSchwartz
1976Trial by CombatPoliceman with Alsatian
1976Voyage of the DamnedShip WaiterUncredited
1978Sweeney 2Haughton
1979Fawlty TowersTerry HughTV Series
1980Sweet William
1980McVicarTerry Stokes
1980The Long Good FridayAlan
1981Break in the Sun Eddie GreenTV series
1991The Grass ArenaGeorgeTV Series

References

  1. Billy Webb's Amazing Story, BBC Drama, by Steve Attridge
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