Michael Barrington
Encyclopedia
Michael Barrington was a British actor best known for his television work.
His most famous role was as the ineffectual Governor Venables in the popular sitcom Porridge
alongside Ronnie Barker
and Fulton Mackay
.
He also appeared on the TV programmes Z-Cars
, The Avengers
, Private Schulz, Adam Adamant Lives!
, and in the Doctor Who
story The Seeds of Doom
, as Sir Colin Thackeray.
He died of a heart attack on 5 June 1988, aged 63 and is buried in the East London Cemetery and Crematorium
.
He was married to actress Barbara New
until his death.
His most famous role was as the ineffectual Governor Venables in the popular sitcom Porridge
Porridge (TV series)
Porridge is a British situation comedy broadcast on BBC1 from 1974 to 1977, running for three series, two Christmas specials and a feature film. Written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, it stars Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale as two inmates at the fictional HMP Slade in Cumberland...
alongside Ronnie Barker
Ronnie Barker
Ronald William George "Ronnie" Barker, OBE was a British actor, comedian, writer, critic, broadcaster and businessman...
and Fulton Mackay
Fulton Mackay
Fulton Mackay OBE was a Scottish actor and playwright, best known for his role as prison officer Mr. Mackay in the 1970s sitcom Porridge.-Early life:...
.
He also appeared on the TV programmes Z-Cars
Z-Cars
Z-Cars is a British television drama series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby in the outskirts of Liverpool in Merseyside. Produced by the BBC, it debuted in January 1962 and ran until September 1978.-Origins:The series was developed by...
, The Avengers
The Avengers (TV series)
The Avengers is a spy-fi British television series set in the 1960s Britain. The Avengers initially focused on Dr. David Keel and his assistant John Steed . Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants...
, Private Schulz, Adam Adamant Lives!
Adam Adamant Lives!
Adam Adamant Lives! is a British television series which ran from 1966 to 1967 on the BBC. Proposing that an adventurer born in 1867 had been revived from hibernation in 1966, the show was a comedy adventure that took a satirical look at life in the 1960s through the eyes of an Edwardian .- Character...
, and in the 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...
story The Seeds of Doom
The Seeds of Doom
The Seeds of Doom is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from 31 January to 6 March 1976...
, as Sir Colin Thackeray.
He died of a heart attack on 5 June 1988, aged 63 and is buried in the East London Cemetery and Crematorium
East London Cemetery
The East London Cemetery and Crematorium are located in Plaistow in the London Borough of Newham. It is owned and operated by the East London Cemetery Company.-History:...
.
He was married to actress Barbara New
Barbara New
Barbara New was an English character actress, well known for playing Mabel the scullery maid in the David Croft sitcom You Rang M'Lord?. Following this role, she appeared as Vera Plumtree in Oh, Doctor Beeching!...
until his death.
Selected filmography
- PayrollPayroll (film)Payroll is a 1961 British crime thriller starring Michael Craig, and based on the novel by Derek Bickerton. The story is about a gang of villains that stage a wages robbery, which turns into a disaster. Most of the film was shot on location in and around Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne...
(1961) - The Hellfire ClubThe Hellfire Club (film)The Hellfire Club is a 1961 film which tells a story based upon 'The Hellfire Club'. Sir Francis Dashwood's infamous 'Gentlemans' society of the 18th century. It starred Peter Cushing....
(1961) - PrivilegePrivilege (film)Privilege is a British film directed by Peter Watkins. It was released in 1967 being produced by John Heyman. Story: Johnny Speight. Script: Norman Bogner...
(1967) - Up the Junction (1968)
- The Rise and Rise of Michael RimmerThe Rise and Rise of Michael RimmerThe Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer is a British 1970 cult satire film written by and starring Peter Cook, John Cleese and Graham Chapman, and directed by Kevin Billington .-Synopsis:...
(1970) - Follow Me!Follow Me! (1972 film)Follow Me! is a 1972 drama film directed by Sir Carol Reed, starring Mia Farrow and Topol. Adapted by Peter Shaffer from his own play , it is Reed's last completed film....
(1972)