Chubby Oates
Encyclopedia
Chubby Oates born Arthur Oates (December 23, 1942 – November 10, 2006) was a Cockney
clubland
comic and character actor.
Born in Bermondsey
South London
Oates started out as a reporter for the South London Observer, he shared an office with future editor of The Sun
, Kelvin MacKenzie
.
In the evenings Oates began to perform as a comic and by the early sixties he'd turned professional. He was also a noted pantomime
performer usually appearing as the dame
. In this capacity he played "Mum" to some of the biggest and best names in showbusiness. He also claimed the record for the heaviest Ugly Sisters when his co-star in a production of "Cinderella" at Yeovil's Octagon Theatre was Steve King. Their combined weight was in excess of 30 stone!
In 1969 he co-starred with Fiona Richmond
in Pajama Tops, a long running Paul Raymond comedy at the Whitehall Theatre. As a character actor Oates appeared in shows such as Doctor Who
and Dixon of Dock Green
.
He died aged 63 from diabetic complications and a heart attack
after giving a performance at a showbusiness luncheon. Appropriately, one of the last pictures taken of Chubby showed veteran comedy legends Roy Hudd and June Whitfield laughing at a joke Chubby had just cracked.
Cockney
The term Cockney has both geographical and linguistic associations. Geographically and culturally, it often refers to working class Londoners, particularly those in the East End...
clubland
Clubland
Clubland may refer to:* Clubland , an American film by Mary Lambert* Clubland , an Australian comedy film* Clubland , a 1990s house-music group* Clubland , a UK dance album and events brand...
comic and character actor.
Born in Bermondsey
Bermondsey
Bermondsey is an area in London on the south bank of the river Thames, and is part of the London Borough of Southwark. To the west lies Southwark, to the east Rotherhithe, and to the south, Walworth and Peckham.-Toponomy:...
South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
Oates started out as a reporter for the South London Observer, he shared an office with future editor of The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
, Kelvin MacKenzie
Kelvin MacKenzie
Kelvin Calder MacKenzie is an English media executive and former newspaper editor. He is best known for being editor of The Sun newspaper between 1981 and 1994, an era in which the paper was established as Britain's best selling newspaper.- Biography :MacKenzie was educated at Alleyn's School...
.
In the evenings Oates began to perform as a comic and by the early sixties he'd turned professional. He was also a noted pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
performer usually appearing as the dame
Pantomime dame
A pantomime dame is a traditional character in British pantomime. It is a continuation of en travesti portrayal of female characters by male actors in drag. They are often played either in an extremely camp style, or else by men acting 'butch' in women's clothing...
. In this capacity he played "Mum" to some of the biggest and best names in showbusiness. He also claimed the record for the heaviest Ugly Sisters when his co-star in a production of "Cinderella" at Yeovil's Octagon Theatre was Steve King. Their combined weight was in excess of 30 stone!
In 1969 he co-starred with Fiona Richmond
Fiona Richmond
Fiona Richmond is a former glamour model and actress. She is the daughter of the Reverend John Harrison. Born Julia Rosamund Harrison, she became a British sex symbol in the 1970s for her appearances in numerous risqué plays, comedy revues, magazines and films.-Acting career:She made her film...
in Pajama Tops, a long running Paul Raymond comedy at the Whitehall Theatre. As a character actor Oates appeared in shows such as Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
and Dixon of Dock Green
Dixon of Dock Green
Dixon of Dock Green was a popular BBC television series that ran from 1955 to 1976, and later a radio series. Despite being a drama series, it was initially produced by the BBC's light entertainment department.-Overview:...
.
He died aged 63 from diabetic complications and a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
after giving a performance at a showbusiness luncheon. Appropriately, one of the last pictures taken of Chubby showed veteran comedy legends Roy Hudd and June Whitfield laughing at a joke Chubby had just cracked.