Richard Goolden
Encyclopedia
Richard Goolden was a British actor, most famous for his portrayal of Mole from Kenneth Grahame
’s Wind in the Willows. He also achieved fame as Mr Penny on BBC radio, and took the role of Zaphod Beeblebrox IV in the BBC Radio 4 series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
.
After studying French literature at New College, Oxford
, he made his first acting appearances in the Oxford Playhouse. He then appeared in London at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith.
On radio he played the part of Mr Chips, as adapted from the novel by James Hilton
. He then achieved popularity as the comic character Mr Penny, created by Maurice Moiseiwitsch.
He first acted the role of Mole in 1930 in the dramatisation by A.A. Milne of Wind in the Willows, Toad of Toad Hall
. He continued to appear regularly in this production, which became a traditional Christmas fixture in London, for almost 50 years, only missing a few years during World War II when he was entertaining troops.
He gave up acting due to illness in 1980, and died the following year in St Stephen’s Hospital, Fulham near his Chelsea home.
Kenneth Grahame
Kenneth Grahame was a Scottish writer, most famous for The Wind in the Willows , one of the classics of children's literature. He also wrote The Reluctant Dragon; both books were later adapted into Disney films....
’s Wind in the Willows. He also achieved fame as Mr Penny on BBC radio, and took the role of Zaphod Beeblebrox IV in the BBC Radio 4 series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (radio series)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a science fiction comedy radio series written by Douglas Adams . It was originally broadcast in the United Kingdom by BBC Radio 4 in 1978, and afterwards on global short wave radio on the BBC World Service, National Public Radio in the U.S. and CBC Radio in...
.
After studying French literature at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, he made his first acting appearances in the Oxford Playhouse. He then appeared in London at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith.
On radio he played the part of Mr Chips, as adapted from the novel by James Hilton
James Hilton
James Hilton was an English novelist who wrote several best-sellers, including Lost Horizon and Goodbye, Mr. Chips.-Biography:...
. He then achieved popularity as the comic character Mr Penny, created by Maurice Moiseiwitsch.
He first acted the role of Mole in 1930 in the dramatisation by A.A. Milne of Wind in the Willows, Toad of Toad Hall
Toad of Toad Hall
Toad of Toad Hall is the first of several dramatisations of Kenneth Grahame's 1908 novel The Wind in the Willows. It was written by A. A. Milne, with incidental music by Harold Fraser-Simson....
. He continued to appear regularly in this production, which became a traditional Christmas fixture in London, for almost 50 years, only missing a few years during World War II when he was entertaining troops.
He gave up acting due to illness in 1980, and died the following year in St Stephen’s Hospital, Fulham near his Chelsea home.