David Battley

David John Battley (5 November 1935 – 20 January 2003) was a British actor of stage and screen, mainly appearing in comedy roles.

David Battley
Born	David John Battley (1935-11-05)5 November 1935 Battersea, London, England
Died	20 January 2003(2003-01-20) (aged 67) Epsom, Surrey, England
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1964–2000
Spouse(s)	Sarah Hanrahan ​ ( m. 1971; his death 2003)

Early life

Battley was born at Battersea, London, the elder son of John Battley, a post-Second World War Labour MP, and his wife Sybill (née Allchurch). Born with a hole in the heart, he was initially home schooled before attending a special school. He later enrolled at Camberwell School of Art but left before completing the course. He earned a living working for the family printing firm, Battley Brothers, before applying to Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[1] Battley had one brother, Bernard.

Career

Battley used a dry, ironic delivery on television and in films. He found steady work as a character actor and comic stooge. Battley's TV work ranged from the satire show BBC-3 and the military police drama Redcap in the 1960s through Eric Sykes' BBC sitcom, the 1975 TV adaptation of Moll Flanders and the 1977 Christmas Special of The Good Life and later The Bill, Lovejoy and Mr Bean.[2] Battley also appears as the Executioner in Alice in Wonderland.[3] He also appeared in the mid-1970s as a foil to Monty Python team member Eric Idle in the BBC series Rutland Weekend Television (1975–1976).[4] Battley played the Paul McCartney role in the original RWT sketch of The Rutles, a parody of The Beatles, but did not appear in the American TV film All You Need Is Cash, based on the sketch.[5]

Battley also featured in films, including Hotel Paradiso (1966), Crossplot (1969), Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), Up the Chastity Belt (1972), Up the Front (1972), That's Your Funeral (1972), Rentadick (1972), Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! (1973), Mister Quilp (1975), S.O.S. Titanic (1979), The London Connection (1979) and Krull (1983).[6]

In 1990 he appeared in an early episode of One Foot in the Grave.[7] Among his last roles were a miniature golf course employee in the episode "Tee Off, Mr. Bean" (1995) of the comedy series Mr. Bean and a doctor examining new regimental recruits in Sharpe's Regiment (1996).[6]

Personal life and Death

Battley had 2 children Zoe E. Battley and E. Martha Battley. He died on 20 January 2003, after suffering a heart attack, at the age of 67, in Epsom, Surrey, England.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1966	Hotel Paradiso	George
1969	Crossplot	Bridegroom
1971	Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory	Mr. Turkentine
1972	Up the Chastity Belt	Yokel
	Rentadick	Desk Sergeant
	Up the Front	Midgeley the Cook
	Follow Me!	Writer	Uncredited
	That's Your Funeral	Percy
1974	Don't Just Lie There, Say Something!	Country yokel	TV movie
1975	The Old Curiosity Shop	Codlin
1979	The London Connection	Peters
	S.O.S. Titanic	Chief Boots: S. Stebbing	TV movie
1983	Krull	Ergo
1995	Tee Off, Mr. Bean	Crazy Golf Owner	Guest
1998	Vigo	Cinema Manager
2000	Out of Depth	Donald

References

1. "David Battley — RADA". www.rada.ac.uk.
2. "David Battley". www.aveleyman.com.
3. "BFI Screenonline: Alice in Wonderland (1966) Credits". www.screenonline.org.uk.
4. "BFI Screenonline: Rutland Weekend Television (1975-76)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
5. Kitts, Thomas M.; Baxter-Moore, Nick (April 25, 2019). "The Routledge Companion to Popular Music and Humor". Routledge – via Google Books.
6. "David Battley". BFI.
7. "One Foot in the Grave: The Eternal Quadrangle". February 1, 1990. p. 54 – via BBC Genome.

External links

• David Battley at Find a Grave
• David Battley on IMDb