Roy Heather Explained

Roy Heather
Birth Date:20 May 1935
Birth Place:Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, England
Death Place:Purbrook, Hampshire, England
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1981–2010
Spouse:
  • Doreen (divorced)
Children:3

Roy Heather (20 May 1935  - 3 September 2014) was an English television actor best remembered for playing cafe owner Sid in the sitcom Only Fools and Horses.

Heather was born in Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire.[1] After leaving school, he worked for an asbestos firm before National Service with the Royal Air Force. He then did several jobs, including working as a Betterware household goods salesman, while continuing his interest in amateur acting. He was spotted by David Tudor, who gave him his first professional job in repertory theatre at the age of 44. While working for Tudor, he played many leading roles including Frank in Winter Journey and Reg in The Norman Conquests, and co-starred in the world premiere of Aurelia, with Ingrid Pitt. He debuted the role of Pistol in Peter Mottley's stage monologue, After Agincourt.

Heather appeared in various British television shows, usually in small roles, including Edge of Darkness, Poirot, The Legacy of Reginald Perrin, Birds of a Feather, Hi-De-Hi, Bottom, The Green Green Grass, The Bill and an episode of series 10 of BBC sitcom My Family. He appeared as a nameless old man in the Al Murray/Richard Herring programme Time Gentlemen Please. He also attended fan conventions for Only Fools and Horses.[2]

Death

Heather died in Purbrook, Hampshire from undisclosed causes on 3 September 2014. He was 79 years old.[3]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1982Experience Preferred... But Not EssentialWally
1986Car TroubleAmbulanceman 1

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981It Ain't Half Hot MumThe CorporalEpisode: "Aquastars"
1981SceneTomEpisode: "Patty Fatty"
1982Seconds OutChauffeurEpisode: "Round 12"
1982–1983Hi-de-Hi!Inspector PalmerSecond Man2 episodes
1982Only Fools and HorsesSid13 episodes
1982The Funny Side of Christmas

Christmas Trees

SidTV short
1983The Crystal CubeGareths Father, Mr. 0001Television film
1983The Nation's HealthUnknownEpisode: "Collapse"
1983Reilly: Ace of SpiesKarlEpisode: "The Trust"
1983Johnny JarvisCar Showroom ManagerEpisode: "Part Two: 1978-1979"
1983A Fine RomanceTaxi DriverEpisode: "The Dinner Party"
1984MitchHousemanEpisode: "Business as Usual"
1984Just Good FriendsTomEpisode: "Guilt"
1984Big DealHarryEpisode: "A Ragged Run"
1984The ClairvoyantManEpisode: "Pilot"
1985Me and My GirlTaxi DriverEpisode: "On Approval"
1985Edge of DarknessLoweEpisode: "Burden of Proof"
1985Terry and JuneDeliverymanEpisode: "Pantomania"
1986Comrade DadCommissarEpisode: "Dangerous Connections"
1986Return to Treasure IslandSimpsonEpisode: "Mutiny"
1986Breaking UpWigginsEpisode: #1.1
1987Indelible EvidenceDoug ScottEpisode: "Gaslight"
1987The Little and Large ShowUnknownEpisode: #7.3
1987BreadBoat-ownerEpisode:
  1. 3.11
1988Colin's SandwichWorkmanEpisode: "Pussyfoot"
1988ChristabelMember of England committeeEpisode: #1.2
1990PoirotTransport SuperintendentEpisode: "The Kidnapped Prime Minister"
1991SleepersJanitorEpisode: "On the Run"
1992As Time Goes ByTaxi DriverEpisode: "Getting to Know You – Again"
1992Screen OneArnie ShawEpisode: "Seconds Out"
1992BottomMr ManEpisode: "Parade"
1993Birds of a FeatherG. HamiltonEpisode: "It Happened in Hollywood"
1994Grange HillPark KeeperEpisode:
  1. 17.14
1994The 10%ersMan in ClubEpisode: "A Small Package"
1994Frank Stubbs PromotesCaretakerEpisode: "Faith"
1989–1995London's BurningBus DriverCaretaker2 episodes
1996Jack and Jeremy's Real LivesUnknownEpisode: "Hospital Entrepreneurs"
1996The Legacy of Reginald PerrinBiscuit ManEpisode: #1.3
1997CadfaelWat the Inn KeeperEpisode: "St. Peter's Fair"
1999Real Women IIKaren's father
2001Love or MoneyMr. WrightTelevision film
2000–2002Time Gentleman PleasePops33 episodes
1985–2003The BillVarious7 episodes
1982–2003Only Fools and HorsesSid13 episodes
2005DoctorsReg WincottEpisode: "The Last Laugh"
2005The Green Green GrassSidEpisode: "One Flew Over the Cuckoo Clock"
2009CasualtyDrunken ManEpisode: "No Fjords in Finland: Part 1"
2006–2010My FamilyMan in BarMan in Ward2 episodes

Notes and References

  1. News: Hayward. Anthony. Roy Heather: Actor best known as Sid Robertson, owner of the Fatty Thumb cafe in Only Fools and Horses..... independent.co.uk. 27 October 2014.
  2. Book: Webber, Richard. The Complete A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. 2002. Orion. 978-0752847313.
  3. Web site: RIP Roy Heather [1935-2014] aka Sid the cafe owner in #OFAH]. Rogues & Vagabonds. 5 September 2014 . 28 September 2014.