Gregor Fisher

Gregor Fisher (born 22 December 1953)[1] is a Scottish comedian and actor. He is best known for his portrayal of the title character in the comedy series Rab C. Nesbitt, a role he has played since the show's first episode in 1988. He has also had roles in films such as Love Actually, Lassie and Wild Target.

Gregor Fisher
Born (1953-12-22) 22 December 1953
Alma materRoyal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
OccupationActor, comedian
Years active1977–present
Spouse(s)Victoria Burton
Children3

Early life

Fisher was born in Menstrie, Clackmannanshire, and following the death of his mother was brought up in Edinburgh, Langholm, and Neilston and attended Barrhead High School. He attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, at which he did not complete his studies.

Career

Fisher worked with Scottish comedian Rikki Fulton on his hit sketch series Scotch and Wry (whose broadcast was mainly restricted to BBC One Scotland). Another Scottish comedian he worked with was Hector Nicol, in the BBC drama Just a Boys' Game (1979).

Later, he appeared in Michael Radford's 1984 film Nineteen Eighty-Four as Winston Smith's neighbour Parsons. In 1988, he had a leading role in Silent Mouse, a dramatised television documentary telling the story of the creation of the Christmas carol Silent Night. In the same year he had a cameo (as a Victorian policeman) in the Michael Caine/Ben Kingsley vehicle, Without a Clue.

Fisher is best known for his portrayal of his character Rab C. Nesbitt in the sitcom of the same name, this itself was a spin-off from the BBC2 sketch comedy Naked Video, where the Nesbitt character originated, along with The Baldy Man who also obtained his own eponymous spin-off series, and is particularly associated with two Hamlet adverts involving photography, the first of which where he cannot get a satisfactory passport photo from a photobooth and lights up a cigar to calm himself down; the second of which where he cannot get a satisfactory family portrait and lights up a cigar to calm himself down. Johnny Depp based his Glaswegian accent for the role of Tarrant Hightopp, The Mad Hatter in the 2010 film Alice in Wonderland, on that used by Fisher’s Rab C. Nesbitt character.[2]

In 1994/95, he played the title role in the BBC series The Tales of Para Handy, in which he was reunited with Rikki Fulton. Fisher had also appeared in the 1999 sitcom Brotherly Love and in the 2002 sitcom Snoddy. He also appeared with Iain Glenn in the BBC Masterpiece theatre version of Kidnapped.

Fisher appeared in the 2000 BBC adaptation of Gormenghast. Fisher starred as a main character D.S. Doug Duvall in the drama Missing, made by SMG Productions in 2006: however, the two-part thriller was not broadcast on STV until November 2008. In November 2006, he starred as Grandpa Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, in a three-month run of the show in Edinburgh. Most recently he has starred in the BBC's adaption of Oliver Twist, in the role of Mr Bumble.

In 2003, he appeared in the romantic comedy film Love Actually, where he played the role of the manager to fading music star, Billy Mack (Bill Nighy). In 2004, he played the role of Solanio in the Michael Radford film, The Merchant of Venice.

In an interview in The Metro on 20 February 2008 he stated that he is no longer recognised as Rab C. Nesbitt, and rather is more likely to be stopped by fans for his recent role as Mr Bumble in Oliver Twist.

Empty, a comedy series starring Fisher, began on BBC2 on 28 February 2008. On BBC2, on 23 December 2008, he reprised his role as Rab C Nesbitt in a Christmas special.

Fisher's autobiography, The Boy from Nowhere, was published in 2015. To coincide with the publication, BBC One Scotland broadcast a documentary, In Search of Gregor Fisher, which followed Fisher and ghostwriter Melanie Reid during part of their research for the book.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1983Another Time, Another PlaceBeel
1984Nineteen Eighty-FourParsonsSometimes titled as 1984
1985The Girl in the PictureBill
1987White MischiefMcPherson
1988To Kill a Priest
Without a ClueBobby at Warehouse
2003Love ActuallyJoe
2004The Merchant of VeniceSolanio
2005LassieMapes
2010Wild TargetMike
2016Whisky Galore!Macroon
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1977Rob RoyDickEpisodes: season 1.1 & 1.2
1978"The Tomorrow People"Uncredited HighlanderEpisode: 7.2 "The Fighting Spirit"
1978–1979Play for TodayGeorgie/TanzaEpisodes: "Donal and Sally", "Just a Boys' Game"
1980Square Mile of MurderTom ConnellEpisode: "The Human Crocodile"
1978–1980Scotch & WryVarious RolesEpisodes: season 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 & 31 December 1980 episode
1982Crown CourtEric MullinsEpisode: "Too Bad for Tobias: Part 1"
1982–1984Foxy LadyHector RossSeasons 1 & 2: 12 episodes, lead role
1986Scotch & WryVarious RolesVideo compilation
BoonTom McGearyEpisode: "Fools Rush In"
Naked VideoVarious RolesSeason 1: 6 episodes, lead role (season 1)
Blood Red RosesAlex McGuigan3 episodes
1987Double Scotch & WryVarious RolesVideo compilation
DramaramaAlbert PickardEpisode: "Stan's First Night"
1990Silent MouseFranz GruberTelevision film
Triple Scotch & WryVarious RolesVideo compilation
ChancerNorman AttwoodEpisodes: "Killing Floor", "Hazard"
1994A Christmas Night with the StarsRab C. NesbittEpisode: 25 December 1994
1994–1995The Tales of Para HandyPara Handy9 episodes, lead role
1995Saturday DisneyEpisode: 25 March 1995
KidnappedGahlsanTelevision film
1995–1997The Baldy ManBaldy2 seasons: 13 episodes, lead role
1999Brotherly LoveHector RobertsonSeason 1: 6 episodes, lead role
2000GormenghastThe FlyEpisode: season 1.3
The Railway ChildrenPerksTelevision film
2001The Life and Adventures of Nicholas NicklebyMr. SqueersTelevision film
2002SnoddySnoddyLead role
2005KidnappedJames Stewart of the GlenTelevision film
2006MissingD.S. Doug Duvall2 episodes
2007Oliver TwistMr. BumbleMini-series
2008EmptyJacky AllenSeason 1: 6 episodes, lead role
2012Love LifeWill3 episodes [3]
1988–2014;
2008–2014
Rab C. NesbittRab C. Nesbitt65 episodes: 10 seasons & 2014 New Year Special "Hoodie", lead role
2018Hercule Poirot

References

  1. "Glasgow on Film: Gregor Fisher". www.glasgowonfilm.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  2. MacDonald, Stuart (14 March 2010). "Rab C Nesbitt inspired Mad Hatter accent says Johnny Depp". The Sunday Times. London. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  3. "Love Life". 15 March 2012 via IMDb.
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