Bernard Bresslaw (25 February 193411 June 1993) was a British actor and comedian. He was best known as a member of the Carry On film franchise. Bresslaw also worked on television and stage, did recordings and wrote a series of poetry.
Biography
Bernard Bresslaw was born the youngest of three boys into a Jewish family in Stepney, London, on 25 February 1934. He attended the Coopers' Company's School in Tredegar Square, Bow, London E3. His father was a tailor's cutter and he became interested in acting after visits to the Hackney Empire. London County Council awarded him a scholarship to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where he won the Emile Littler Award as the most promising actor. After Educating Archie on radio and The Army Game on television, more television, film and Shakespearean theatre roles followed, until he was cast in Carry On Cowboy in 1965. Although officially starring in 14 Carry On films, Bresslaw did appear in one other: Carry On Nurse. The legs of Terence Longdon were deemed to be too thin and scrawny looking, so Bresslaw's were used as 'stand'-ins for the scene where Joan Sims gives him a bath.
Bresslaw's catchphrase, in his strong Cockney accent, was "I only arsked" (sic), first used in The Army Game, and later revived in Carry On Camping (1969). In his fleeting appearance as an angry lorry driver in the 1970 film Spring and Port Wine, his character was dubbed.
At 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), he was the tallest of the Carry On cast, head and shoulders over fellow Carry On regular Barbara Windsor, who was . Because of his height, he was briefly considered for the part of the Creature in Hammer's Curse of Frankenstein (1957), which ultimately went instead to Christopher Lee. Bresslaw later made a comedy version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for Hammer titled The Ugly Duckling (1959). He made great efforts to prepare for roles, for example learning Fanagalo phrases for Carry On Up the Jungle (1970).
He featured as Varga, the lead villain in the 1967 Doctor Who story The Ice Warriors. Even though all the actors playing the aliens were over six feet tall, Bresslaw towered over them. Sonny Caldinez, who played an Ice Warrior in the story, stated in a 2004 interview that Bresslaw "was the only man that could make me feel small."
Between 1985 and 1987, Bresslaw played the role of 'Gorilla' in Yorkshire TV's 'The Giddy Game Show'.
Bresslaw was a member of the Grand Order of Water Rats, a British entertainment fraternity and in 1988 he was elected "King Rat" of the order.
Bresslaw was a Freemason and member of Chelsea Lodge 3098.
Filmography
Films
The Men of Sherwood Forest (1954) as Garth (uncredited) The Glass Cage (1955) as Ivan the Terrible, Cossack Dancer (uncredited) Satellite in the Sky (1956) as Technician (uncredited) Up in the World (1956) as Williams (uncredited) High Tide at Noon (1957) as Tom Robey (uncredited) Blood of the Vampire (1958) as Tall Sneak Thief I Only Arsked! (1958) as Popeye Popplewell Too Many Crooks (1959) as Snowdrop The Ugly Duckling (1959) as Henry Jekyll It's All Happening (1962) as Parsons Carry On Cowboy (1965) as Little Heap Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment (1966) as Policeman Carry On Screaming! (1966) as Sockett Follow That Camel (1967) as Sheikh Abdul Abulbul Carry On Doctor (1967) as Ken Biddle Carry On Up the Khyber (1968) as Bungdit Din Carry On Camping (1969) as Bernie Lugg Moon Zero Two (1969) as Harry Spring and Port Wine (1970) as Lorry Driver Carry On Up the Jungle (1970) as Upsidasi Carry On Loving (1970) as Gripper Burke Up Pompeii (1971) as Gorgo The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971) as Mr Violet (segment "Avarice") Carry On at Your Convenience (1971) as Bernie Hulke Blinker's Spy-Spotter (1972) as South Carry On Matron (1972) as Ernie Bragg Carry On Abroad (1972) as Brother Bernard Carry On Girls (1973) as Peter Potter Carry On Dick (1974) as Sir Roger Daley Vampira (1974) as Pottinger One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975) as Fan Choy Carry On Behind (1975) as Arthur Upmore In the Movies it Doesn't Hurt (1975) as several Joseph Andrews (1977) as Parson Trulliber (uncredited) Jabberwocky (1977) as The Landlord The Fifth Musketeer (1979) as Bernard Hawk the Slayer (1980) as Gort Krull (1983) as Rell the Cyclops Asterix and the Big Fight (1989) as Obelix (English version, voice) Leon the Pig Farmer (1992) as Rabbi Hartmann Bernard Bresslaw: A Story About Bernard Bresslaw (2009)