Howard Lew Lewis
Encyclopedia
Howard Lew Lewis is an English
comedian and actor, best known for his roles in comedy series including Maid Marian and her Merry Men
and Brush Strokes
.
(MVO) by Queen Elizabeth II for his personal services to the royal family. Lewis was born in London
, England. As a young man, Lewis flat-shared with Ken Morley
(Reg Holdsworth of Coronation Street
) and Andy Carr, actor and screen writer. His first job was with the Royal Air Force
, where he was a computer operator. He worked for several years in computing and telecommunications, but when promoted to a manager decided instead to pursue acting as a career.
Children's television comedy series Maid Marian and her Merry Men
.
Lewis also featured as one of Robin Hood's followers in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
, playing a character named Hal.
sitcom Chelmsford 123
(1988) set during the Roman occupation of Britain in AD 123, and as assorted medieval peasants, (including Piers and Mr Applebottom) in The Black Adder (1983), set in 1485. His longest recurring role has been as dim barman Elmo Putney in the comedy series Brush Strokes
(1991), and he has had minor parts in two Ronnie Barker
sitcoms - The Magnificent Evans (1984) and Open All Hours
(1985) - and the ITV comedy-drama Minder
(1984). In 2004, he featured in the BBC pilot sitcom, Elmo Putney: PI. This Brush Strokes spin off recast accident-prone and dimwitted Putney in the unfamiliar role of private investigator. The pilot was not successful and the series was not commissioned.
's 1985 film Brazil
, where he played one of the Black Maria guards, and playing Hal in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, the latter leading to in-jokes in subsequent series of Maid Marian, specifically the episode "They Came from Outer Space". In this episode, after alluding to Kevin Costner
's American accent being somewhat out-of-place, Little Ron (Mike Edmonds
) suggests a possible title for a Robin Hood
film, prompting Rabies to question his role in such a film - receiving an immediate put-down from Robin (Wayne Morris):
He also appeared in the 1992 Oscar-nominated semi-biographical film Chaplin, and was the English-language voice of Obelix
in the 1994 film of Asterix in America
to Craig Charles
' Asterix
. In 2005, he played the part of Lillas Pastia, the innkeeper, in Bizet's Carmen
at the Royal Albert Hall
, London, and in 2007, played alongside Warwick Davis
in the movie Small Town Folk.
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...
comedian and actor, best known for his roles in comedy series including Maid Marian and her Merry Men
Maid Marian and her Merry Men
Maid Marian and her Merry Men is a British children's sitcom created and written by Tony Robinson and directed by David Bell. It began in 1989 on BBC One and ran for four series, with the last episode shown in 1994...
and Brush Strokes
Brush Strokes
Brush Strokes is a British television sitcom, broadcast on BBC television from 1986 to 1991. Written by Esmonde and Larbey and set in South London, it depicted the amorous adventures of a good-looking, wisecracking house painter, Jacko...
.
Biography
Lewis' grandmother Dame Ethel Gomer-Lewis was an opera singer. His father Oswald Tenby-Lewis was awarded membership of the Royal Victorian OrderRoyal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(MVO) by Queen Elizabeth II for his personal services to the royal family. Lewis was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England. As a young man, Lewis flat-shared with Ken Morley
Ken Morley
Ken Morley is an English comedian and actor who is best known for his role as Reg Holdsworth in Coronation Street. He played the role from 1989 until quitting the show in 1995...
(Reg Holdsworth of Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
) and Andy Carr, actor and screen writer. His first job was with the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, where he was a computer operator. He worked for several years in computing and telecommunications, but when promoted to a manager decided instead to pursue acting as a career.
Maid Marian and her Merry Men
As an actor, Lewis is probably most associated in the British public consciousness with his role as Rabies, one of the Merry Men in the award-winning 1989 BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Children's television comedy series Maid Marian and her Merry Men
Maid Marian and her Merry Men
Maid Marian and her Merry Men is a British children's sitcom created and written by Tony Robinson and directed by David Bell. It began in 1989 on BBC One and ran for four series, with the last episode shown in 1994...
.
Lewis also featured as one of Robin Hood's followers in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is a 1991 American adventure film directed by Kevin Reynolds. Kevin Costner heads the cast list as Robin Hood...
, playing a character named Hal.
Other television comedy
Lewis has notably appeared in two other prominent historical comedy series - as Blag in the Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
sitcom Chelmsford 123
Chelmsford 123
Chelmsford 123 is a British television situation comedy produced for Channel 4 by Hat Trick Productions. It ran for two series, of six and seven episodes, in 1988 and 1990....
(1988) set during the Roman occupation of Britain in AD 123, and as assorted medieval peasants, (including Piers and Mr Applebottom) in The Black Adder (1983), set in 1485. His longest recurring role has been as dim barman Elmo Putney in the comedy series Brush Strokes
Brush Strokes
Brush Strokes is a British television sitcom, broadcast on BBC television from 1986 to 1991. Written by Esmonde and Larbey and set in South London, it depicted the amorous adventures of a good-looking, wisecracking house painter, Jacko...
(1991), and he has had minor parts in two Ronnie Barker
Ronnie Barker
Ronald William George "Ronnie" Barker, OBE was a British actor, comedian, writer, critic, broadcaster and businessman...
sitcoms - The Magnificent Evans (1984) and Open All Hours
Open All Hours
Open All Hours is a BBC sitcom written by Roy Clarke which ran for four series a first run in 1976, a second run in 1981, third in 1982 and finally with a fourth run in 1985, with a pilot episode from the Seven of One series in 1973...
(1985) - and the ITV comedy-drama Minder
Minder (TV series)
Minder is a British comedy-drama about the London criminal underworld. Initially produced by Verity Lambert, it was made by Euston Films, a subsidiary of Thames Television and shown on ITV...
(1984). In 2004, he featured in the BBC pilot sitcom, Elmo Putney: PI. This Brush Strokes spin off recast accident-prone and dimwitted Putney in the unfamiliar role of private investigator. The pilot was not successful and the series was not commissioned.
Other TV roles
In addition to his appearances in British comedy programmes, Lewis has had a succession of minor roles in such notable series and mini-series, including:- Dennis PotterDennis PotterDennis Christopher George Potter was an English dramatist, best known for The Singing Detective. His widely acclaimed television dramas mixed fantasy and reality, the personal and the social. He was particularly fond of using themes and images from popular culture.-Biography:Dennis Potter was born...
's BBC television dramaBBC television dramaBBC television dramas have been produced and broadcast since even before the public service company had an officially established television broadcasting network in the United Kingdom...
serial Pennies from Heaven (1978) - The biographical mini-series Reilly: Ace of Spies about real-life BondJames BondJames Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
-model, spy Sidney ReillySidney ReillyLieutenant Sidney George Reilly, MC , famously known as the Ace of Spies, was a Jewish Russian-born adventurer and secret agent employed by Scotland Yard, the British Secret Service Bureau and later the Secret Intelligence Service . He is alleged to have spied for at least four nations...
. - An early episode of ITVITVITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's police proceduralPolice proceduralThe police procedural is a subgenre of detective fiction which attempts to convincingly depict the activities of a police force as they investigate crimes. While traditional detective novels usually concentrate on a single crime, police procedurals frequently depict investigations into several...
The BillThe BillThe Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
(1985) - The mini-series The Charmer (1987)
- "Now You See Them", a 1988 episode of the anthology drama series DramaramaDramarama (TV series)Dramarama is the name of a British children's' anthology series broadcast on ITV between 1983 and 1989. It tended to feature drama of a science fiction or supernatural bent. The programme was administered by Tyne Tees Television in Newcastle, who had a track-record for organising cross-franchise...
- Later episode(s) of the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Children's TV programme The Queen's NoseThe Queen's NoseThe Queen's Nose is a book, written by Dick King-Smith, that was adapted into a successful BBC television series.-The book:The book by Dick King Smith features the story of Harmony Parker, a 10 year old girl who wants an animal of her own but is not allowed by her parents who think they are dirty... - A 2003 episode of the long-running BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
medical drama CasualtyCasualty (TV series)Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
(1985)
Films
Lewis has appeared in several films, again mostly in minor roles. Notable film appearances include Terry GilliamTerry Gilliam
Terrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
's 1985 film Brazil
Brazil (film)
Brazil is a 1985 British science fiction fantasy/black comedy film directed by Terry Gilliam. It was written by Gilliam, Charles McKeown, and Tom Stoppard and stars Jonathan Pryce. The film also features Robert De Niro, Kim Greist, Michael Palin, Katherine Helmond, Bob Hoskins, and Ian Holm...
, where he played one of the Black Maria guards, and playing Hal in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, the latter leading to in-jokes in subsequent series of Maid Marian, specifically the episode "They Came from Outer Space". In this episode, after alluding to Kevin Costner
Kevin Costner
Kevin Michael Costner is an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and businessman. He has been nominated for three BAFTA Awards, won two Academy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Costner's roles include Lt. John J...
's American accent being somewhat out-of-place, Little Ron (Mike Edmonds
Mike Edmonds
Mike Edmonds is an English actor with dwarfism, well-known for his role as Little Ron in the children's television show Maid Marian and Her Merry Men.Edmonds can also be seen dancing in the Men Without Hats music video "The Safety Dance"....
) suggests a possible title for a Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
film, prompting Rabies to question his role in such a film - receiving an immediate put-down from Robin (Wayne Morris):
Little Ron: "..Robin Hood Prince of Weeds?"
Rabies: "Will I be in it do you reckon?"
Robin: "Oh I shouldn't think so, I see you more as one of those naff comedy characters."
He also appeared in the 1992 Oscar-nominated semi-biographical film Chaplin, and was the English-language voice of Obelix
Obelix
Obelix is a fictional character from the French comic book series Asterix. He works as a menhir sculptor and deliveryman, and is Asterix's best friend. Obelix is noted for his fatness, the menhirs he carries around on his back and his superhuman strength...
in the 1994 film of Asterix in America
Asterix Conquers America
Asterix Conquers America is a 1994 animated movie directed by Gerhard Hahn. It was produced in Germany as Asterix in Amerika by Gerhard Hahn and Jürgen Wohlrabe, and is the first Asterix film produced outside of France...
to Craig Charles
Craig Charles
Craig Joseph Charles is an English actor, stand-up comedian, author, poet, radio and television presenter, best known for playing Dave Lister in the British cult-favourite science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf...
' Asterix
Asterix
Asterix or The Adventures of Asterix is a series of French comic books written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo . The series first appeared in French in the magazine Pilote on October 29, 1959...
. In 2005, he played the part of Lillas Pastia, the innkeeper, in Bizet's Carmen
Carmen
Carmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, London, and in 2007, played alongside Warwick Davis
Warwick Davis
Warwick Ashley Davis is an English actor. He is most notable for playing the title characters in Willow and the Leprechaun film series, as well as for his roles in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and the Harry Potter movies. Davis currently stars in the sitcom Life's Too Short, written...
in the movie Small Town Folk.