Richard Bebb (Richard Bebb)

Richard Bebb

British Actor.  A prolific performer in British theater, television, and radio, his career spanned five decades.  He is probably best remembered for his many roles in the “BBC Sunday-Night Theatre” television series that aired from 1950 to 1952, as well as the ‘Second Voice’ in the original 1954 BBC Radio broadcast of Dylan Thomas’s “Under Milk Wood,” opposite actor Richard Burton’s ‘First Voice’.  Born Richard Bebb Williams, his father was a physician.  He received his education at Highgate School in North London, England and attended Trinity College in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England for three years.  When he decided to become an actor, he changed his name to his mother’s surname (Bebb), as there was already a British actor named Richard Williams.  He made his stage debut in a 1947 production of “MacBeth” and then spent two years in repertory theater at Buxton, Derbyshire, England and at Croydon in London, and would go on to appear in more than 200 stage productions.  In 1949 he broke into television with the movie “The Fur Coat.”  During his career, he appeared in numerous British television films, mini-series, and shows, including “The Inch Man” (1951),  “A Time of Day” (1957), “Dial 999” (1959), “The Plane Makers” (1963 to 1964), “The Sullavan Brothers” (1964 to 1965),  “Z Cars” (1967 to 1970),  “Dixon Of Dock Green” (1968 to 1970),  “Marie Curie” (1977), “The Barchester Chronicles” (1982), “The Collectors” (1986), and “Agatha Christie: Poirot” (1989 to 1996).  His final television appearance was in 1998 with “Big Women.”  His film credits include “The Yellow Teddy Bears” (1963), “A Matter Of Choice” (1963), “Pope Joan” (1972), and “King Ralph” (1991).  An avid collector of 78 rpm gramophone records and a committee member of the British Institute of Recorded Sound, he oversaw the launch of Historic Masters record label, that was dedicated to reissuing rare 78 rpm recordings of historic opera singers on vinyl.  He died at the age of 79.  He was married to actress Gwen Watford who died in 1994. (bio by: William Bjornstad)  Family links:  Spouse:  Gwen Watford (1927 – 1994)

Born

  • January, 12, 1927
  • England

Died

  • April, 04, 2006
  • England

Cemetery

  • Golders Green Crematorium
  • England

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