Glynn Edwards Explained

Glynn Edwards
Birth Name:John Glynn Edwards
Birth Date:2 February 1931
Birth Place:Penang, Malaya
Death Place:Edinburgh, Scotland
Occupation:Actor
Yearsactive:Mid 1950s–1994
Spouse:
  • Valerie Edwards
    (1984)
Children:1

John Glynn Edwards (2 February 1931 – 23 May 2018) was a British television and cinema character actor, who came to national prominence for his portrayal of the barman Dave Harris in the 1970s–1990s British television comedy-drama Minder.[1]

Early life

Edwards was born in Penang, Peninsular Malaysia, on 2 February 1931.[2] His father, who spent little time with his son, was a rubber planter at the time of his birth and died in 1946. His mother died when he was very young, and he was brought up firstly by his grandparents in Southsea, Hampshire, and then by his father and stepmother, in Salisbury, Wiltshire.[2] [3] He received his early formal education at Clayesmore School in Dorset. In his childhood he read Arthur Ransome's adventure novel Swallows and Amazons, which gave him a life-long passion for river-boating, which began with sailing expeditions along the River Avon in his tenth year.[4]

He did amateur dramatics in his teenage years and, after a period in Trinidad where he tried sugar farming, he returned to England and studied at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama in London, before gaining employment as a stage manager at the King's Theatre in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.[2]

Career

Edwards trained professionally as an actor with Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, appearing in its productions of The Good Soldier Švejk and two plays by Brendan Behan, The Quare Fellow and The Hostage, all of which transferred from the Theatre Royal Stratford East to the West End. He also appeared in that company's production of Lionel Bart's musical version of Frank Norman's play Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be, opposite Miriam Karlin and Barbara Windsor.[2] He had been spotted by Littlewood herself, who had been in the audience at one of the performances of a successful play he had produced entitled The Call of the Flesh, which featured Yootha Joyce in an early role.

In 1964 he appeared in the role of Corporal William Allen, V.C. in Cy Endfield's cinema film Zulu, having opted for the part over another offer of a role in Joan Littlewood's stage show Oh! What a Lovely War. He later said: "I earned 10 times as much money from (later in his career) advertising Bran Flakes as I did from the movie Zulu."[2]

From the 1970s to the 1990s, he played the role of Dave Harris, the part-owner and barman of the Winchester Club in ten series of the ITV hit drama Minder.[5] He also appeared in bit parts in numerous British television shows in the 1970s and '80s, including Callan, The Professionals, Public Eye, Spindoe, Steptoe and Son, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, Dixon of Dock Green, Man About the House, Softly, Softly and The Saint.[1] He was a regular in two series of the ITV legal drama The Main Chance (1972, 1975).[2] [6] He played supporting roles in the cinema films Robbery (1967), and the criminal underworld film Get Carter (1971).[7]

During his career Edwards played a number of darker character roles, particularly that of 'Mr Dix', a schoolteacher in the early-1970s sitcom Please Sir!, and a gamekeeper in ITV's Thriller (1973),[2] and was often cast either as policemen or criminals.[8]

In 1985, he appeared in the rock music band Marillion's music video for its single release "Heart of Lothian", in which he played a barman,[9] and starred in a popular TV commercial for McVitie's rich tea biscuits as "Jacko", saying, "Yeah, I'll make a statement. A drink's too wet without one!"[2] [10]

Personal life

His first wife was the actress Yootha Joyce, who also trained at Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop. They were married from 1956 to 1969.[5] After their divorce, he married the former Benny Hill Show performer Christine Pilgrim,[2] the marriage producing a son, Thomas (b. 1971).[4] From the 1980s, he was married to Valerie Edwards.[5]

Edwards retained a lifelong interest in river boating, owning several vessels, and during the 1980s and 1990s he resided on a 40 ft-long canal boat converted into a houseboat, named "Winchester" after the fictional private members' bar that he had run in the Minder television series, which was permanently moored on the south bank of the River Thames, at Thames Ditton and Surbiton.[4]

Edwards retired from acting following the end of Minder in 1994,[3] and in his final years divided his time between living in Spain and Scotland.[11]

Death

Edwards died at his home in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 23 May 2018 at the age of 87.[12] [13]

Filmography

Film

scope=colYearscope=colTitlescope=colRolescope=colNotes
1957scope=rowThe Heart Within 1st Constable
1962scope=rowA Prize of Arms Boone[14] [15] Uncredited
1963scope=rowSparrows Can't Sing Charlie's friend[16] Uncredited
scope=rowThe Hi-Jackers Bluey
1964scope=rowZulu Corporal William Allen
scope=rowSmokescreen Inspector Wright
1965scope=rowThe Ipcress File Police station sergeant
1967scope=rowRobbery Squad chief
1968scope=rowThe Blood Beast Terror Sgt. Allan
scope=rowThe Bofors GunSergeant-Major West
1970scope=rowFragment of Fear CID Superintendent
1971scope=rowGet Carter Albert Swift
1972scope=rowUnder Milk Wood Mr Cherry Owen
scope=rowBurke & Hare Hare
scope=rowAll Coppers Are...Jock[17]
1973scope=rowShaft in Africa Vanden
1974scope=row11 Harrowhouse First GuardCredited as Glyn Edwards
1977scope=rowThe Stick UpFirst Roadblock Policeman
1978scope=rowThe Playbirds Chief Superintendent Holbourne
1979scope=rowConfessions from the David Galaxy Affair Chief Inspector Evans
1980scope=rowRising Damp Cooper
1983scope=rowRed Monarch VlasekTV movie
1987scope=rowOut of Order Barman
1988scope=rowThe Seventh Sign Newscaster #1[18]

Television

scope=colYearscope=colTitlescope=colRolescope=colNotes
1963–1976scope=rowDixon of Dock GreenVarious[19] 10 episodes
1963scope=rowThe Human JungleAlbert StokesEpisode: The Two Edged Sword
1964scope=rowZ-CarsMr Cooper / Mr Aldiss2 episodes
1965–1969scope=rowThe NewcomersGeorge Harbottlemany episodes
1966scope=rowKing of the RiverJack ElliotEpisode: Foreign Invasion
1967–1968scope=rowThe SaintLeander / Igor2 episodes
1968–1969scope=rowJourney to the UnknownBrownEpisode: Stranger in the Family
1969scope=rowThe AvengersBlackieEpisode: The Interrogators
1970scope=rowSteptoe and SonGeorgeEpisode Steptoe and Son – and Son!
1971scope=rowPublic EyeAlf BainEpisode: Who Wants To Be Told Bad News?
1971scope=rowBless This HouseMotor-cycle PolicemanEpisode: For Whom the Bells Toll
1971scope=rowPlease Sir! Mr Dix2 Episodes
1972–1978scope=rowCrown CourtVarious5 episodes
1975–1976scope=rowMan About The House Chrissy's father2 episodes
1977–1978scope=rowThe Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin Mr. Pelham3 episodes
1977–1979scope=rowThe Paper LadsJack Crawford14 episodes
1977scope=rowTargetDyerEpisode: Roadrunner
1978scope=rowSome Mothers Do 'Ave 'EmMr Lewis3 episodes
1979scope=rowThe Professionals Alfred ColeEpisode: Servant of Two Masters
1979–1994scope=rowMinderDave Harris95 episodes, (final appearance)
1982scope=rowLegacy of MurderHenchman[20]
1983scope=rowJack of DiamondsReg[21] (comedy thriller with Dick Emery)[22]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Glynn Edwards. https://web.archive.org/web/20160308185134/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9efa5d96. dead. 8 March 2016. British Film Institute. 8 June 2018.
  2. News: Glynn Edwards obituary . Stuart . Jeffries . . 7 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230408033843/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/jun/06/glynn-edwards-obituary . 2023-04-08 . live.
  3. News: Minder actor Glynn Edwards dies aged 87 . Tilly . Pearce . Metro . 7 June 2018.
  4. 'Blimey Arthur, Look what Dave's done to the Winchester', article on Glynn Edwards, 'T.V. Times', 25 February – 2 March 1984.
  5. News: Raising a glass to Minder – and endless repeats . . 2004-12-30 . 2024-01-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240105071204/https://www.scotsman.com/news/raising-a-glass-to-minder-and-endless-repeats-2463249 . 2024-01-05 . live.
  6. Web site: BFI Screenonline: Main Chance, The (1969–75) Credits. BFI Screenonline.
  7. Web site: Glynn Edwards profile. https://web.archive.org/web/20120716023507/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b9efa5d96. dead. 16 July 2012. Explore.bfi.org.uk . 2 February 1931 . 2014-03-25.
  8. Getting to Know the Market . Best of British . July 2018 . 248 . 15.
  9. Marillion – Heart of Lothian 1985 Music Video HD . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/9pkyZhlK8Q0 . 2021-12-19 . live. Mark Jennings . 7 June 2016.
  10. Glynn Edwards in Rich Tea advert . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/TXVoVcZ7UwA . 2021-12-19 . live. Minder.org . 7 June 2018.
  11. Web site: Minder actor Glynn Edward dies aged 87 at his home in Scotland . Frances . Kindon . Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd . Daily Record . 7 June 2018.
  12. Web site: Glynn Edwards, played Dave the barman in 'Minder' – obituary. 5 June 2018. 5 June 2018. The Daily Telegraph. London. registration.
  13. News: Minder actor Glynn Edwards dies at home in Scotland aged 87 . Jennifer . Ruby . 2018-06-07 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20200324183116/https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/minder-actor-glynn-edwards-dies-at-home-in-scotland-aged-87-a3857371.html . 2020-03-24 . live.
  14. Web site: A Prize of Arms . https://web.archive.org/web/20170909182213/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b38f405 . dead . 9 September 2017 . British Film Institute. 7 June 2018.
  15. Web site: A Prize of Arms (1962) . Memorable TV . 7 June 2018.
  16. Web site: Filmography for Glynn Edwards . Turner Classic Movies . 7 June 2018.
  17. Web site: All Coppers Are (1973). https://web.archive.org/web/20180920032026/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6c3809a5. dead. 20 September 2018. British Film Institute.
  18. Web site: Glynn Edwards List of Movies and TV Shows . TV Guide . 7 June 2018.
  19. Web site: Glynn Edwards . Memorable TV . 7 June 2018.
  20. Web site: Emery Presents: Legacy of Murder, Episode 4 – Bang, Bang You're Dead . British Comedy Guide . 7 June 2018.
  21. Book: Walker . Craig . On the Buses: The Complete Story . 31 . 7 June 2018. 9781908382849 . 2011-06-21 .
  22. Web site: Jack Of Diamonds (BBC-1 1982, Dick Emery, Tony Selby) – Memorable TV. memorabletv.com. 8 June 2018.