Reginald Marsh (actor)

Reginald Albert Saltmarsh, known by the stage name Reginald Marsh (17 September 1926 9 February 2001), was an English actor who is best remembered for supporting roles in many British sitcoms from the 1970s onwards.

Reginald Marsh
Born
Reginald Albert Saltmarsh

(1926-09-17)17 September 1926
London, England
Died9 February 2001(2001-02-09) (aged 74)
Resting placeRyde Cemetery, Ryde, Isle of Wight, England
Years active1947–1998
Spouse(s)Jenifer Coverdale (1949–?; divorced)
Rosemary Murray
(m. 1960; his death 2001)
Children6

Early life and career

Marsh was born in London in 1926 and he grew up on the Sussex coast at Worthing.[1] After he left school he worked in a bank. After realising how serious he was about acting, his father introduced him to a retired actress, who introduced him to an agent who got his first acting role, at the age of 16, as a juvenile in Eden End by J.B. Priestley.[1] He then worked in rep.[1]

In 1958, he started working behind the scenes of Granada Television, but he soon went back to acting.[1] From the 1960s he appeared in many films, including The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961), Jigsaw (1962), Berserk! (1967), The Ragman's Daughter (1972), Young Winston (1972) and The Best Pair of Legs in the Business (1973), and on television, in such series as Dixon of Dock Green, Z-Cars and The Persuaders!.[2] He also played bookie Dave Smith in Coronation Street on and off from 1962 to 1976.

Marsh played works general manager Arthur Sugden in the boardroom drama The Plane Makers (1963–64). He also appeared in Hine (1971), The Stone Tape (1972), Emmerdale Farm (1973), Crown Court (1973–74), QB VII (1974), Bless This House (1974), The Sweeney (1975), and The Duchess of Duke Street (1976).[3] From 1975, Marsh played Jerry Leadbetter's boss in several episodes of The Good Life.[1] He played a similar role in George and Mildred from 1976 to 1979, as Humphrey Pumphrey, Mildred's brother-in-law. From 1979 to 1987, Marsh played another similar role, Sir Dennis Hodge, Terry's boss, in Terry and June.[4] From 1981 to 1985, Marsh played Reg Lamont in the soap opera Crossroads.[5]

His play The Death is Announced ("A Murder Play") was produced in Leeds in 1964. He played Inspector Cullen. He described the play as a "comedy who-dun-it" and said that he wrote it "because he could never find a good 'copper' part for himself."[6]

Later life

In the 1980s and 1990s, Marsh had many small roles on television, including appearing in Only When I Laugh, Home to Roost, Bergerac, Boon, Minder, Alleyn Mysteries and Terry and June. One of his last television roles was in an episode of Paul Merton in Galton & Simpson's... aired on 14 October 1997.[7]

Reginald Marsh was married to actress Rosemary Murray, and they had four children. Marsh had two other children by his first marriage, actress Jenifer Coverdale. One of his sons had Down’s Syndrome, and during his retirement on the Isle of Wight Reginald Marsh actively supported MENCAP.[1] He died at his home on 9 February 2001 in Ryde aged 74.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1959The Ugly DucklingReporterUncredited
1961The Day the Earth Caught FirePicture EditorUncredited
1961Two Letter AlibiSalcombe
1961The PursuersInspector
1962Two and Two Make SixPlainclothes PolicemanUncredited
1962JigsawHildersUncredited
1963Shadow of FearOliver
1964The SiciliansInspector Webb
1965It Happened HereIA Medical Officer
1967Berserk!Sgt. Hutchins
1968Headline HuntersBogshot
1972The Ragman's DaughterGeorge
1972Young WinstonPrince of Wales
1973The Best Pair of Legs in the BusinessFred
1976No Longer AloneProducer
1977Sky PiratesEddie
1987Three Kinds of HeatSir Hugh

References

  1. "A Celebration of The Good Life". Orion Books. 2000.
  2. "Reginald Marsh". BFI.
  3. "Reginald Marsh". www.aveleyman.com.
  4. "BFI Screenonline: Terry and June (1979–87) Credits". www.screenonline.org.uk.
  5. "Crossroads[02/11/1982] (1982)". BFI.
  6. Information and quotes from "The Death is Announced" by Reginald Marsh, published by Evans Plays, London and New York.
  7. "Being of Sound Mind (1997)". BFI.
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