Norman Bird
John George Norman Bird (30 October 1924 โ 22 April 2005) was an English character actor. Bird was born in Coalville, Leicestershire, England. A RADA graduate, he made his West End debut in Peter Brook's production of The Winter's Tale at the Phoenix Theatre in 1951. He was also a member of the BBC's Radio Drama Company. His first film appearance was as the foreman in An Inspector Calls (1954). He was a familiar face to British cinema audiences of the 1950s and 1960s, appearing in nearly 50 films such as The Angry Silence (1960), The League of Gentlemen (1960), Whistle Down the Wind (1961), Victim (1961) and Term of Trial (1962) with Laurence Olivier and The Hill with Sean Connery (1965). He had over 200 television appearances, notably as Mr Braithwaite in Worzel Gummidge (1979โ81) and Mr Arrad in the Fawlty Towers episode "Waldorf Salad" (1979). His long list of credits include Steptoe and Son, Till Death Us Do Part, Rising Damp, Ever Decreasing Circles, Yes Minister, To Serve Them All My Days, All Creatures Great and Small, Z-Cars, Public Eye, The Saint, Department S, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and Boon. In 1990 he appeared in Stay Lucky, with Dennis Waterman, which marked his 200th television appearance. One of his last film appearances was as a taxi driver in Richard Attenborough's Shadowlands (1993).
Known For
Credits
- 1996 ยทCrossing the Flooras Grandfather
- 1993 ยทShadowlandsas Taxi Driver Witness
- 1992 ยทBorn Kickingas Mr Radley
- 1992 ยทMiss Pym's Day Outas Man on Bus
- 1986 ยทBuddyas Mr Normington
- 1985 ยทScreen Twoas Grandfather
- 1984 ยทThis Office Lifeas Seeds
- 1984 ยทBlack Carrionas Henry Bircher
- 1984 ยทHammer House of Mystery and Suspenseas Henry Bircher
- 1984 ยทA Voyage Round My Fatheras Ham
- 1982 ยทThe Ghost Downstairsas Mr. Morris
- 1981 ยทWinston Churchill: The Wilderness Yearsas Sir Maurice Hanley
- 1981 ยทIf You Go Down in the Woods Todayas Doctor
- 1981 ยทThe Final Conflictas Dr. Philmore
- 1980 ยทA Cup O' Tea An' A Slice O' Cake - Worzel Gummidge Christmas Specialas Mr Braithwaite
- 1980 ยทTo Serve Them All My Daysas Alderman Blunt
- 1980 ยทHammer House of Horroras Basil
- 1980 ยทYes Ministeras
- 1979 ยทWorzel Gummidgeas Mr. Braithwaite
- 1979 ยทThomas & Sarahas
- 1978 ยทThe Lord of the Ringsas Bilbo (voice)
- 1978 ยทThe Glumsas Office Manager
- 1978 ยทReturn of the Saintas Morgan
- 1978 ยทLife Begins at Fortyas
- 1978 ยทThe Medusa Touchas Major Henry Morlar
- 1978 ยทAll Creatures Great and Smallas Farmer Benson
- 1977 ยทMiss Jones And Sonas
- 1977 ยทRafflesas
- 1976 ยทYanks Go Homeas
- 1976 ยทThe Slipper and the Roseas Dress Shop Proprieter
- 1976 ยทThe Big Kickas
- 1976 ยทOn the Tilesas
- 1976 ยทWedding Bellsas
- 1976 ยทDouble Troubleas
- 1976 ยทMonkey Tricksas
- 1976 ยทBaby Sittersas
- 1976 ยทPot Luckas Farmer
- 1975 ยทFawlty Towersas Mr. Arrad
- 1975 ยทTwo's Companyas Mr. Bunn
- 1975 ยทAngelsas
- 1975 ยทKing Arthur, the Young Warlordas Ambrose
- 1973 ยทUp The Workersas Sid Stubbins
- 1973 ยทElementary, My Dear Watsonas Inspector Street
- 1972 ยทArthur of the Britonsas Ambrose
- 1972 ยทOoh... You Are Awfulas Warder Burke
- 1972 ยทCrown Courtas
- 1972 ยทThe Adventureras Brooks
- 1972 ยทMy Wife Next Dooras
- 1972 ยทShirley's Worldas
- 1972 ยทDoomwatchas Brewer
- 1971 ยทHands of the Ripperas Police Inspector
- 1971 ยทThe Rivals of Sherlock Holmesas Inspector Trent
- 1971 ยทJason Kingas
- 1971 ยทThe Guardiansas
- 1971 ยทPlease Sir!as Reynolds
- 1971 ยทBudgieas Inspector Charles Upton
- 1971 ยทThe Raging Moonas Dr Matthews
- 1970 ยทThe Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmeras Alderman Poot
- 1970 ยทUp Among the Cuckoosas Walter
- 1970 ยทThe Virgin and the Gypsyas Uncle Fred
- 1969 ยทSoftly Softly: Task Forceas Samuel Tomkins
- 1969 ยทRun a Crooked Mileas Sgt. Hooper
- 1969 ยทRandall and Hopkirk (Deceased)as Elliot
- 1969 ยทDepartment Sas Drayton
- 1969 ยทOh! What a Lovely Waras Training Sgt (uncredited)
- 1969 ยทThe Limbo Lineas
- 1969 ยทAll at Seaas
- 1968 ยทA Dandy in Aspicas Copperfield
- 1967 ยทSanctuaryas
- 1966 ยทThe Wrong Boxas Clergyman
- 1966 ยทTill Death Us Do Partas
- 1965 ยทSky West and Crookedas Mr. Cheeseman - undertaker
- 1965 ยทThe Hillas Commandant
- 1965 ยทGideon's Wayas Supt. Fred Lee
- 1965 ยทPublic Eyeas Arthur Biddle
- 1964 ยทThe Black Tormentas Harris
- 1964 ยทThe Beauty Jungleas Mr. Edward Freeman
- 1964 ยทFirst Men in the Moonas Stuart
- 1964 ยทHot Enough for Juneas Employment Exchange Clerk
- 1964 ยทThe Bargeeas Waterways Supervisor Albert Williams
- 1963 ยท80,000 Suspectsas Harold Davis
- 1963 ยทManiacas Salon
- 1963 ยทThe Punch and Judy Manas Reginald Fletcher
- 1963 ยทBitter Harvestas Mr. Pitt
- 1963 ยทThe Mind Bendersas Aubrey
- 1963 ยทThe Cracksmanas Policeman
- 1962 ยทIn Search of the Castawaysas Senior Yacht Guard
- 1962 ยทThe Saintas Mr. Spode
- 1962 ยทThe Saintas Weems
- 1962 ยทTerm of Trialas Mr. Taylor
- 1962 ยทNight of the Eagleas Doctor
- 1962 ยทZ-Carsas
- 1961 ยทCash on Demandas Arthur Sanderson
- 1961 ยทVictimas Harold Doe
- 1961 ยทWhistle Down the Windas Eddie
- 1961 ยทThe Secret Partneras Ralph Beldon
- 1961 ยทVery Important Personas Travers
- 1961 ยทThe Avengersas
- 1960 ยทCoronation Streetas Frank Jackson
- 1960 ยทMan in the Moonas Herbert
- 1960 ยทThe League of Gentlemenas Weaver
- 1960 ยทThe Angry Silenceas Roberts
- 1959 ยทNo Hiding Placeas
- 1956 ยทArmchair Theatreas Walter
- 1954 ยทAn Inspector Callsas Jones-Collins - Foreman