Roy Mitchell Kinnear (8 January 1934 – 20 September 1988) was an English character actor and comedian. He was known for playing Algernon in The Beatles' Help! (1965), Clapper in How I Won the War (1967), Henry Salt in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), and Planchet in The Three Musketeers (1973) and its two sequels. On television, Kinnear starred in The Dick Emery Show (1979–1981), Man About the House (1974–1975), George and Mildred (1976–1979), and Cowboys (1980–1981).
Early life
Kinnear was born on 8 January 1934 in Wigan, Scotland Rugby League have named their Student Player of the Year Award after him.
Kinnear was educated at George Heriot's School in Edinburgh. returning to RADA to complete his education in acting, graduating in 1955.
Career
Kinnear's acting career began in 1955, playing Albert in The Young in Heart, at the repertory theatre, Newquay. In 1959 he joined Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop at the Theatre Royal Stratford East,
Kinnear later appeared in many films and television shows, including Till Death Us Do Part, George and Mildred, Also in 1970 he played Mr. Perkins, Melody's father in Waris Hussein's Melody (1971), a puppy love story. He played the father of spoiled rich girl Veruca Salt in the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), an adaptation of Roald Dahl's children's novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
He guest-starred as the Roman Emperor in episode "Rome Antics", in The Goodies (1975), and as the fearsome German Sergeant Vogel in the BBC's Ripping Yarns episode "Escape From Stalag Luft 112B" (1977).
He narrated and provided voices for the stop-motion children's television show Bertha. He appeared in two music videos for Mike and the Mechanics ("All I Need Is a Miracle" and "Taken In") In October 1988 Radio 4 first broadcast The T Machine, an episode of the comedy series The Fall of the Mausoleum Club in which he played the lead character, Mr Tilly.
Personal life and death
thumb|Roy Kinnear's grave in East Sheen Cemetery, LondonKinnear was married to actress Carmel Cryan, and they had three children: Karina, casting director Kirsty, and actor Rory. died in May 2020 from COVID-19 and was buried near her father. Kinnear was buried in East Sheen Cemetery, London. Following his death, Kinnear's family sued the film's production company and director, Richard Lester, receiving a £650,000 settlement in 1991.
Legacy
In May 1994, the Roy Kinnear Trust, which was inspired by his daughter, Karina, was founded to help improve the life of young adults with physical and mental disabilities.
Shows
- The Roy Kinnear Show
- The Clairvoyant
Filmography
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1944
|The World Owes Me a Living
|
|Uncredited
|-
|1955
|Oh... Rosalinda!!
|
|
|-
|1960
|The Millionairess
|Man Carrying Crate
|Uncredited
|-
| rowspan="2" |1962
|Tiara Tahiti
|Capt. Enderby
|
|-
|The Boys
|Bus Conductor
|Uncredited
|-
| rowspan="4" |1963
|Sparrows Can't Sing
|Fred
|
|-
|The Small World of Sammy Lee
|Lucky Dave
|
|-
|Heavens Above!
|Fred Smith
|
|-
|The Informers
|Shorty
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1964
|French Dressing
|Henry Liggott
|
|-
|A Place to Go
|Bunting
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1965
|The Hill
|Monty Bartlett
|
|-
|Help!
|Algernon
|
|-
|1966
|A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
|Gladiator Instructor
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1967
|The Deadly Affair
|Adam Scarr
|
|-
|How I Won the War
|Clapper
|
|-
|1968
|The Mini-Affair
|Fire Extinguisher Salesman
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1969
|Lock Up Your Daughters
|Sir Tunbelly Clumsey
|
|-
|The Bed Sitting Room
|Plastic mac man
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |1970
|Taste the Blood of Dracula
|Weller
|
|-
|On A Clear Day You Can See Forever
|Prince Regent
|
|-
|Scrooge
|2nd Gentleman of Charity
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |1971
|The Firechasers
|Roscoe
|
|-
|Melody
|Mr. Perkins
|
|-
|Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
|Henry Salt
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |1972
|The Pied Piper
|Burgermaster Poppendick
|
|-
|The Alf Garnett Saga
|Wally
|
|-
|Raising the Roof
|Dad Burke
|
|-
|Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
|Cheshire Cat
|
|-
|1973
|The Three Musketeers
| rowspan="2" |Planchet
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |1974
|The Four Musketeers
|
|-
|Juggernaut
|Social Director Curtain
|
|-
|Barry McKenzie Holds His Own
|Bishop of Paris
|
|-
| rowspan="6" |1975
|Royal Flash
|
|Scene deleted
|-
|The Amorous Milkman
|Sergeant
|
|-
|Eskimo Nell
|Benny U. Murdoch
|
|-
|Three for All
|Hounslow Joe
|
|-
|One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing
|Superintendent Grubbs
|
|-
|The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother
|Moriarty's Assistant
|
|-
|1976
|Not Now, Comrade
|Hoskins
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1977
|Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo
|Quincey
|
|-
|The Last Remake of Beau Geste
|Boldini
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1978
|The Hound of the Baskervilles
|Selden the Axe Murderer
|
|-
|Watership Down
|Pipkin
|
|-
|1979
|Quincy's Quest
|Top
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1980
|High Rise Donkey
|Mr. Garnett
|
|-
|Hawk the Slayer
|Innkeeper
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |1982
|Hammett
|English Eddie Hagedorn
|
|-
|The Boys in Blue
|Mr. Lloyd
|
|-
|Return of the Ewok
|Talent Agent
|Short
|-
|1983
|Anna Pavlova
|Gardener
|
|-
|1986
|Pirates
|Dutch
|
|-
|1988
|Just Ask for Diamond
|Jack Splendide
|
|-
|1989
|The Return of the Musketeers
|Planchet
|
|-
|1991
|The Princess and the Goblin
|Mump
|
|}
Television
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1961
|Armchair Theatre
|Douglas MacIntyre
|Episode: "The Conscientious Gauger"
|-
| rowspan="2" |1963
|BBC Sunday-Night Play
|Bruce
|Episode: "A Right Crusader"
|-
|ITV Television Playhouse
|Sgt. Buzfuz
|Episode: "Mr. Pickwick"
|-
|1963-1969
|The Avengers
|Various
|3 episodes
|-
|1964-1965
|A World of His Own
|Stanley Blake
|
|-
|1970
|His and Hers
|Mr. Moulding
| Episode: "Crime"
|-
|1971-1977
|Play for Today
|Various
|3 episodes
|-
|1971-1983
|Jackanory
|Storyteller
|4 stories
|-
|1972
|Madame Sin
|Holidaymaker
|TV film
|-
|1973-1976
|Man About the House
|Jerry
|3 episodes
|-
|1973-1981
|The Dick Emery Show
|Various
|11 episodes
|-
|1975
|The Sweeney
|Frank Little
|Episode: "I Want the Man"
|-
|1976-1979
|George and Mildred
|Jerry
|5 episodes
|-
|1977
|Ripping Yarns
|Vogel
|Episode: "Escape from Stalag Luft 112 B"
|-
|1979
|The London Connection
|Bidley
|TV film
|-
|1980-1981
|Cowboys
|Joe Jones
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1980
|Rhubarb Rhubarb
|Home Owner
|TV film
|-
|Metal Mickey
|Wilf
|Episode: "Mickey in Love"
|-
| rowspan="4" |1981
|If You Go Down in the Woods Today
|Fishfingers
|TV film
|-
|Dick Turpin
|Clanton
|Episode: "Dick's Greatest Adventure Part 2"
|-
|Blake's 7
|Keiller
|Episode: "Gold"
|-
|The Incredible Mr Tanner
|Sidney Pratt
|
|-
|1982
|Anyone for Denis?
|Boris
|TV special
|-
|1983-1986
|SuperTed
|Bulk
|
|-
|1984
|The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood
|Friar Tuck
|TV film
|-
|1984-1986
|The Clairvoyant
|Arnold Bristow
|Pilot
|-
|1985-1986
|Bertha
|Narrator /Ted/Roy
|
|-
|1985
|Super Gran
|Chistleton football manager
|Episode: "Super Gran and the Super Match"
|-
|1986
|The Sooty Show
|Spider-Man's Assistant
|Episode: "Moths"
|-
| rowspan="3" |1987
|Hardwicke House
|R. G. Wickham/Mr. Wickham
|
|-
|Casanova
|Balbi
|TV film
|-
|Boon
|Mr. Beamish
|Episode:
|-
| rowspan="3" |1988
|The Ray Bradbury Theater
|Funeral Home Director
|Episode: "There Was an Old Woman"
|-
|Casualty
|Brian McCarthy
|Episode:
|-
|A Man for All Seasons
|The Common Man
|TV film
|-
|1989
|Minder
|Fat Charlie
|Episode: "It's a Sorry Lorry Morrie"
|}
Theatre (partial)
- Make Me an Offer, Theatre Royal Stratford East, October 1959 – 18th June 1960.
- Sparrers Can't Sing, Theatre Royal Stratford East + Wyndham's Theatre 1960.
- The Clandestine Marriage, Theatre Royal, Bath, 1983 – 1984.