Actor, Comedian. A native of Rochdale, Lancashire, England, he was a British variety and radio star, who is best remembered for creating the character of ‘Fanny Fairbrother.’ The Fanny Fairbrother role usually saw Evans dressed up in drag as a toothless faced woman gossiping over a fence. The character was later an inspiration for another well-known comedian and actor, the late Les Dawson. As a young boy growing up in his hometown of Rochdale, Evans first attended the Castlemere Council School, and then took odd jobs working as an office boy, salesman, and an insurance agent, before setting his sights on becoming an entertainer. In 1931, while attending a charity show to benefit the Rochdale Football Club at the Rochdale Hippodrome, Evans was discovered by comedienne and singer Gracie Fields. Fields was so impressed by Evans that she suggested he turn professional. Over the next few years he became somewhat of a protege of Fields, after she took him under her wings. In 1936, he appeared in his first of three appearances (the others followed in 1947, and 1951), on the popular British program, “The Royal Variety Show.” This was soon followed by several other television appearances including as a regular guest on Ed Sullivan’s “Toast of The Town” in 1950, 1952, and again in 1953. His other roles about this time included the films, “Demobbed” (1946), “Under New Management” (1946), and “Over The Garden Wall” (1950). In 1955, Evans was seriously injured in a car accident, which cost him his left eye. Despite the serious injury, Evans’ new television series, “The Norman Evans Show” premiered on the BBC-TV Network and ran successfully until 1958. He also had two other successful shows, “Evans Abode” in which he played a landlady, ran for 4 episodes in 1956, and the variety show, “Make Yourself At Home” (which also featured his daughter singer Norma Evans). His last appearance was on the television series, “Comedy Bandbox.” Evans kept working up until his death in 1962. On August 8, 1999, he was honoured posthumously with an unveiling of a plaque at the Manchester Opera House Theatre. Ironically Les Dawson was also posthumously honoured that same day with a plaque at the Palace Theater. Evans was buried in the Carleton Cemetery in Blackpool. (bio by: K)  Family links:  Spouse:  Annie Evans (____ – 1972)*  Children:  Norma Evans Wittenberg (1934 – 2007)* *Calculated relationship