Ben Aris
Benjamin Patrick Aris (16 March 1937 – 4 September 2003) was an English actor who was best known for his parts in Hi-de-Hi! and To the Manor Born, and was also very active on stage. He was often cast as an eccentric, upper-class, or upper-middle class, man.
Ben Aris | |
---|---|
Born | Benjamin Patrick Aris 16 March 1937 |
Died | 4 September 2003 66) | (aged
Years active | 1951–2002 |
Spouse(s) | Yemaiel Oved
( m. 1966; |
Children | 2, including Jonathan Aris |
Early career
Aris was born in London, and following the Second World War, he trained at the Arts Educational School.[1] At the age of 16, he joined a national tour of the show Zip Goes a Million. He then did his national service in the Army [1] and after that appeared in many musicals and films including The Plague of the Zombies, The Charge of the Light Brigade and Hamlet.[1] Aris was in the 1960 production of "Pieces of Eight" at the Apollo Theatre in London as well as the 1969 production of "Hamlet" at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York.
Film and television career
His first television role was in the sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em in 1973. The following year he appeared in Invasion of the Dinosaurs, a 1974 Doctor Who serial. His other early television roles included Sam and the River (1975), Crown Court, Wodehouse Playhouse and Target. During that time he also appeared in Get Carter, The Music Lovers, Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World and Juggernaut.
For three episodes, from 1980 to 1981, he played Mr Spalding in To the Manor Born, and then in 1983, he portrayed Edmund Waller, one of Tom Lacey's friends at the court of Charles I, in By the Sword Divided. In 1984, he made his first appearance in Hi-de-Hi! as Julian Dalrymple-Sykes, a dancer. He became a regular in 1986 and played the part until the show's end in 1988.[1] He also starred in Bergerac, Agatha Christie's Poirot, You Rang, M'Lord? and Boon. As well as acting with Penelope Keith in To the Manor Born, he also appeared with her in Executive Stress and No Job for a Lady.
Later years
One of most memorable stage performances was in the West End playing Geoffrey in Stepping Out by Richard Harris. His final stage appearance was in The Lady in the Van by Alan Bennett, opposite Dame Maggie Smith.[1] His final TV appearance was in the 2002 drama Ready. He died in Surrey in 2003 aged 66.[2] His son Jonathan Aris followed him into acting.
Selected filmography
- Tom Brown's Schooldays (1951) - Tadpole (uncredited)
- The Plague of the Zombies (1966) - John Martinus
- The Mini-Affair (1967) - TV Producer
- The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968) - Lt. Maxse
- if.... (1968) - John Thomas: Staff
- Lionheart (1968) - Capt. Harris
- Hamlet (1969) - Rosencrantz
- Say Hello to Yesterday (1971) - Floor Walker (uncredited)
- The Music Lovers (1970) - Young Lieutenant
- Get Carter (1971) - Architect #2
- Savage Messiah (1972) - Thomas Buff
- O Lucky Man! (1973) - Mr. MacIntyre / Dr. Hyder / Flight Lt. Wallace
- Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World (1973) - Army Captain
- The Three Musketeers (1973) - 1st Musketeer
- Juggernaut (1974) - The Walker
- Vampira (1974) - Policeman
- Smokey Joe's Revenge (1974) - Mr. Fawcett
- Alfie Darling (1975) - Advertising Man
- Tommy (1975) - Reverend Simpson
- Royal Flash (1975) - Fireman
- I'm Not Feeling Myself Tonight (1976) - Trampas B. Hildebrand
- The Ritz (1976) - Patron With Bicycle
- Voyage of the Damned (1976) - German Jewish Passenger (uncredited)
- Sir Henry at Rawlinson End (1980) - Lord Tarquin of Staines
- Night Train to Murder (1983, TV Movie) - Theatre Manager
- King of the Wind (1990) - Squire Dunn
- U.F.O. (1993) - Doctor
- Up at the Villa (2000) - Col. Trail
- Relative Values (2000) - (uncredited)
- Undertaker's Paradise (2000)
References
- "Obituary - Ben Aris". The Scotsman. 12 September 2003.
- "BMD Indexes 1984-2004". Ancestry.co.uk.