Peter Childs (actor)
Encyclopedia
Peter Childs was a British
character actor who shot to fame playing Cockney Detective Sergeant Ronnie Rycott, nemesis of Arthur Daley in the top rated ITV
series, Minder
.
Childs was born at Eastbourne
on 31 August 1939, and educated at the local grammar school before training to be an actor. He trained at the Birmingham Theatre School, toiling 10 years doing repertory work before breaking into television, playing a small role in the Anton Rodgers
crime series, 'Zodiac'. Later Childs gained valuable experience working with the Manchester 59 company, appearing in Erb, a show which transferred to the West End. He also played a comical undertaker in Joe Orton
's Loot
to great effect.
A regular performer at the Theatre Royal in London
's Stratford East, Childs gave an outstanding performance in Joan Littlewood
's last performance there, So You Want to Be in Pictures
. During this time he showed considerable gifts for comedy and improvisation. Childs also appeared in the Royal Court (and later in the West End) in David Storey
's play The Changing Room
, which was directed by Lindsay Anderson
, who also cast him in the film, O Lucky Man.
On television, Child's familiar features were seen in The Sweeney
, The Onedin Line
, Rumpole of the Bailey
, Bergerac
, Juliet Bravo
and Ever Decreasing Circles
. He had also appeared in a host of other dramas including two separate appearances in Granada TV's popular soap opera
, Coronation Street
. Childs had made his name on television a number of years earlier, as Detective Ron Gash in the final series of Public Eye, transmitted in 1975. The following year he was cast as Det. Sgt Donald Grant in the final series of the long running BBC Police series, Softly, Softly: Taskforce
. But it was the programme 'Minder' that made Childs a household name in Great Britain
. In the hugely popular series, his character had a burning desire to see Arthur Daley, played by George Cole, behind bars.
His movie appearances list, Ellis Island
, An Officer and a Car Salesman
and most memorably Minder on the Orient Express
, where he reprised his role as Ronnie Rycott.
In his personal life Childs was a fervent fan of racecourses and greyhound
stadiums.
He died of leukaemia in 1989 at the age of 50.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
character actor who shot to fame playing Cockney Detective Sergeant Ronnie Rycott, nemesis of Arthur Daley in the top rated ITV
ITV
ITV 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...
series, 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...
.
Childs was born at Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
on 31 August 1939, and educated at the local grammar school before training to be an actor. He trained at the Birmingham Theatre School, toiling 10 years doing repertory work before breaking into television, playing a small role in the Anton Rodgers
Anton Rodgers
Anton Rodgers was an English actor and occasional director. He performed on stage, in film and in television dramas and sitcoms.-Life and career:...
crime series, 'Zodiac'. Later Childs gained valuable experience working with the Manchester 59 company, appearing in Erb, a show which transferred to the West End. He also played a comical undertaker in Joe Orton
Joe Orton
John Kingsley Orton was an English playwright.In a short but prolific career lasting from 1964 until his death, he shocked, outraged and amused audiences with his scandalous black comedies...
's Loot
Loot (play)
Loot is a two-act play by the English playwright Joe Orton. The play is a dark farce that satirises the Roman Catholic Church, social attitudes to death, and the integrity of the police force....
to great effect.
A regular performer at the Theatre Royal 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...
's Stratford East, Childs gave an outstanding performance in Joan Littlewood
Joan Littlewood
Joan Maud Littlewood was a British theatre director, noted for her work in developing the left-wing Theatre Workshop...
's last performance there, So You Want to Be in Pictures
So You Want to Be in Pictures
So You Want to Be in Pictures is a 1947 one-reel short in the Joe McDoakes series....
. During this time he showed considerable gifts for comedy and improvisation. Childs also appeared in the Royal Court (and later in the West End) in David Storey
David Storey
David Rhames Storey is an English playwright, screenwriter, award-winning novelist and a former professional rugby league player....
's play The Changing Room
The Changing Room
The Changing Room is a 1971 play by David Storey, set in a men's changing room before, during and after a rugby game. It premiered at the Royal Court Theatre on 9 November 1971, directed by Lindsay Anderson...
, which was directed by Lindsay Anderson
Lindsay Anderson
Lindsay Gordon Anderson was an Indian-born, British feature film, theatre and documentary director, film critic, and leading light of the Free Cinema movement and the British New Wave...
, who also cast him in the film, O Lucky Man.
On television, Child's familiar features were seen in The Sweeney
The Sweeney
The Sweeney is a 1970s British television police drama focusing on two members of the Flying Squad, a branch of the Metropolitan Police specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London...
, The Onedin Line
The Onedin Line
The Onedin Line is a BBC television drama series which ran from 1971 to 1980. The series was created by Cyril Abraham.The series is set in Liverpool from 1860 to 1886 and deals with the rise of a shipping line, the Onedin Line, named after its owner James Onedin...
, Rumpole of the Bailey
Rumpole of the Bailey
Rumpole of the Bailey is a British television series created and written by the British writer and barrister John Mortimer which starred Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole, an ageing London barrister who defends any and all clients...
, Bergerac
Bergerac (TV series)
Bergerac was a British television show set on Jersey. Produced by the BBC in association with the Seven Network, and screened on BBC1, it starred John Nettles as the title character Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac, a detective in "Le Bureau des Étrangers" Bergerac was a British television show...
, Juliet Bravo
Juliet Bravo
Juliet Bravo is a British television series, which ran on BBC1 between 1980 and 1985. The theme of the series concerned a female police inspector who took over control of a police station in the fictional town of Hartley in Lancashire.-Programme name:...
and Ever Decreasing Circles
Ever Decreasing Circles
Ever Decreasing Circles is a British situation comedy which ran on BBC1 for four series from 1984 to 1989.It was written by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey, and reunited them with Richard Briers, the star of their previous hit show, The Good Life. It was much less brash than most situation comedies,...
. He had also appeared in a host of other dramas including two separate appearances in Granada TV's popular soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
, 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...
. Childs had made his name on television a number of years earlier, as Detective Ron Gash in the final series of Public Eye, transmitted in 1975. The following year he was cast as Det. Sgt Donald Grant in the final series of the long running BBC Police series, Softly, Softly: Taskforce
Softly, Softly: Taskforce
Softly, Softly the popular BBC television police drama series, was revamped in 1969, partly to coincide with the coming of colour broadcasting to BBC 1...
. But it was the programme 'Minder' that made Childs a household name in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. In the hugely popular series, his character had a burning desire to see Arthur Daley, played by George Cole, behind bars.
His movie appearances list, Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
, An Officer and a Car Salesman
An Officer and a Car Salesman
An Officer and a Car Salesman is a comedy/thriller television film made in 1988 as a spin-off from the successful television series Minder. It was first broadcast on 26 December 1988. It falls between Series 6 and Series 7 of Minder, but, like Minder on the Orient Express, which preceded it, it...
and most memorably Minder on the Orient Express
Minder on the Orient Express
Minder on the Orient Express is a comedy/thriller television film made in 1985 as a spin-off from the successful television series Minder...
, where he reprised his role as Ronnie Rycott.
In his personal life Childs was a fervent fan of racecourses and greyhound
Greyhound
The Greyhound is a breed of sighthound that has been primarily bred for coursing game and racing, and the breed has also recently seen a resurgence in its popularity as a pedigree show dog and family pet. It is a gentle and intelligent breed...
stadiums.
He died of leukaemia in 1989 at the age of 50.
External links
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0157581/