Robert Clothier
Encyclopedia
Robert Allan Clothier was a prominent Canadian
stage and television actor most famous for his role on the long-running CBC
television show, The Beachcombers
. He portrayed Bruno Gerussi
's rival beachcomber, Relic – a clumsy man of Welsh descent who lived on a house boat and used his speedboat to outrun and challenge Nick's claims to logs.
Like many of his contemporaries, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at an early age. He learned to fly at #1 Elementary Flying School and #4 Service Flying Training School. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on December 5, 1944, the citation reading,
"This officer has completed numerous sorties in the role of pilot, involving attacks on most of the enemy's heavily defended
targets. On all occasions he has pressed home his attacks with great determination and by his personal example of courage, coolness and confidence has set an example which has inspired all with whom he has flown."
On December 23, 1944, while serving as an instructor with No. 5 Operational Training Unit, Boundary Bay, B. C., F/L Clothier was the pilot of a B-25 Mitchell that crashed on takeoff. Three on board were killed, and Clothier was the only survivor, but was severely injured with a broken back. He was paralyzed from the waist down for two years.
Clothier then studied Architecture
at the University of British Columbia
followed by a stay in England
studying theatre. Clothier returned to British Columbia
, eventually settling in the Capilano Highlands area of North Vancouver, and became well-known in the Vancouver area as a stage actor and an accomplished sculptor and painter. He landed the memorable role of Relic, the curmudgeonly, unscrupulous rival of Nick Adonidas in The Beachcombers and became a household face as it originally aired from 1972 to 1990, the longest running Canadian television drama of all time. Despite Relic's role as Nick's antagonist, his character was well-loved by viewers who enjoyed his antics and his eventual comeuppance. Relic's actual character-name was Tafford Phillips but it was only used on two episodes; once as Taffy Phillips and once as Tafford.
After The Beachcombers ended its lengthy run, Clothier continued to perform in TV and film productions made in Canada, including two episodes of the American series The X-Files
(which initially was filmed in Vancouver).
In 1995, the North Shore Arts Commission, of North Vancouver, British Columbia
, honoured Clothier with its first FANS award for his contribution to the arts.
In 1996, Clothier suffered a stroke and was in poor health until his death in 1999 though he taught himself to paint with his left hand and spent some of his last years in a dispute with CBC over royalties
he believed were owed to him for rerun
s and overseas sales of The Beachcombers.
He and his wife, Shirley Broderick, had two children, a daughter, Jessica, and a son, John and a granddaughter, Lucy.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
stage and television actor most famous for his role on the long-running CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
television show, The Beachcombers
The Beachcombers
The Beachcombers is a Canadian comedy-drama television series that ran from October 1, 1972 to December 12, 1990 and is the longest-running dramatic series ever made for English-language Canadian television...
. He portrayed Bruno Gerussi
Bruno Gerussi
Bruno Gerussi was a Canadian television actor born in Medicine Hat, Alberta, best known for the lead role in the CBC Television series The Beachcombers...
's rival beachcomber, Relic – a clumsy man of Welsh descent who lived on a house boat and used his speedboat to outrun and challenge Nick's claims to logs.
Like many of his contemporaries, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at an early age. He learned to fly at #1 Elementary Flying School and #4 Service Flying Training School. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on December 5, 1944, the citation reading,
"This officer has completed numerous sorties in the role of pilot, involving attacks on most of the enemy's heavily defended
targets. On all occasions he has pressed home his attacks with great determination and by his personal example of courage, coolness and confidence has set an example which has inspired all with whom he has flown."
On December 23, 1944, while serving as an instructor with No. 5 Operational Training Unit, Boundary Bay, B. C., F/L Clothier was the pilot of a B-25 Mitchell that crashed on takeoff. Three on board were killed, and Clothier was the only survivor, but was severely injured with a broken back. He was paralyzed from the waist down for two years.
Clothier then studied Architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
followed by a stay in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
studying theatre. Clothier returned to British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, eventually settling in the Capilano Highlands area of North Vancouver, and became well-known in the Vancouver area as a stage actor and an accomplished sculptor and painter. He landed the memorable role of Relic, the curmudgeonly, unscrupulous rival of Nick Adonidas in The Beachcombers and became a household face as it originally aired from 1972 to 1990, the longest running Canadian television drama of all time. Despite Relic's role as Nick's antagonist, his character was well-loved by viewers who enjoyed his antics and his eventual comeuppance. Relic's actual character-name was Tafford Phillips but it was only used on two episodes; once as Taffy Phillips and once as Tafford.
After The Beachcombers ended its lengthy run, Clothier continued to perform in TV and film productions made in Canada, including two episodes of the American series The X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
(which initially was filmed in Vancouver).
In 1995, the North Shore Arts Commission, of North Vancouver, British Columbia
North Vancouver, British Columbia
There are two municipalities in the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada, that use the name North Vancouver. These are:*The City of North Vancouver...
, honoured Clothier with its first FANS award for his contribution to the arts.
In 1996, Clothier suffered a stroke and was in poor health until his death in 1999 though he taught himself to paint with his left hand and spent some of his last years in a dispute with CBC over royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
he believed were owed to him for rerun
Rerun
A rerun or repeat is a re-airing of an episode of a radio or television broadcast. The invention of the rerun is generally credited to Desi Arnaz. There are two types of reruns—those that occur during a hiatus, and those that occur when a program is syndicated. Reruns can also be, as the...
s and overseas sales of The Beachcombers.
He and his wife, Shirley Broderick, had two children, a daughter, Jessica, and a son, John and a granddaughter, Lucy.