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Norman Bird
Actor

Norman Bird

30 Oct 1920Born
22 Apr 2005Died
84Age at death
129Credits

Biography

John George Norman Bird (30 October 1924 – 22 April 2005) was an English character actor.

Bird was born in Coalville, Leicestershire, England. A RADA graduate, he made his West End debut in Peter Brook's production of The Winter's Tale at the Phoenix Theatre in 1951. He was also a member of the BBC's Radio Drama Company.

Read the full biography

His first film appearance was as the foreman in An Inspector Calls (1954).

He was a familiar face to British cinema audiences of the 1950s and 1960s, appearing in nearly 50 films such as The Angry Silence (1960), The League of Gentlemen (1960), Whistle Down the Wind (1961), Victim (1961) and Term of Trial (1962) with Laurence Olivier and The Hill with Sean Connery (1965).

He had over 200 television appearances, notably as Mr Braithwaite in Worzel Gummidge (1979–81) and Mr Arrad in the Fawlty Towers episode "Waldorf Salad" (1979). His long list of credits include Steptoe and Son, Till Death Us Do Part, Rising Damp, Ever Decreasing Circles, Yes Minister, To Serve Them All My Days, All Creatures Great and Small, Z-Cars, Public Eye, The Saint, Department S, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and Boon. In 1990 he appeared in Stay Lucky, with Dennis Waterman, which marked his 200th television appearance. One of his last film appearances was as a taxi driver in Richard Attenborough's Shadowlands (1993).

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 129 credits.

  1. 2005The Funny Blokes of British ComedyFilm: Mr. Arrad (archive footage) (uncredited)
  2. 1996Crossing the FloorFilm: Grandfather
  3. 1993ShadowlandsFilm: Taxi Driver Witness
  4. 1992Born KickingFilm: Mr Radley
  5. 1992Miss Pym's Day OutFilm: Man on Bus
  6. 1988After HenrySeries: Mr Henderson (1 episode)
  7. 1986BuddyFilm: Mr Normington
  8. 1985Lytton's DiarySeries: Charles Adams (2 episodes)
  9. 1985Screen TwoSeries: Grandfather (1 episode)
  10. 1984This Office LifeFilm: Seeds
  11. 1984Black CarrionFilm: Henry Bircher
  12. 1984Hammer House of Mystery and SuspenseSeries: Henry Bircher (1 episode)
  13. 1984A Voyage Round My FatherFilm: Ham
  14. 1983The Fourth ArmSeries: Col. Cole (1 episode)
  15. 1982The Ghost DownstairsFilm: Mr. Morris
  16. 1982Break PointSeries: Major Houghton-Jones (6 episodes)
  17. 1981Winston Churchill: The Wilderness YearsSeries: Sir Maurice Hanley (1 episode)
  18. 1981If You Go Down in the Woods TodayFilm: Doctor
  19. 1981The Final ConflictFilm: Dr. Philmore
  20. 1980A Cup O' Tea An' A Slice O' Cake - Worzel Gummidge Christmas SpecialFilm: Mr Braithwaite
  21. 1980To Serve Them All My DaysSeries: Alderman Blunt (4 episodes)
  22. 1980Hammer House of HorrorSeries: Basil (1 episode)
  23. 1980Yes MinisterSeries (1 episode)
  24. 1979Worzel GummidgeSeries: Mr. Braithwaite (23 episodes)
  25. 1979Thomas & SarahSeries: Gilbert (2 episodes)
  26. 1978The Lord of the RingsFilm: Bilbo (voice)
  27. 1978The GlumsSeries: Office Manager (1 episode)
  28. 1978Return of the SaintSeries: Morgan (1 episode)
  29. 1978Life Begins at FortySeries: Dr Gardiner (1 episode)
  30. 1978The Medusa TouchFilm: Major Henry Morlar
  31. 1978All Creatures Great and SmallSeries: Farmer Benson (2 episodes)
  32. 1977Miss Jones And SonSeries (12 episodes)
  33. 1977RafflesSeries (1 episode)
  34. 1976Yanks Go HomeSeries: Leonard Chambers (7 episodes)
  35. 1976The Slipper and the RoseFilm: Dress Shop Proprieter
  36. 1976Baby SittersFilm
  37. 1976On the TilesFilm
  38. 1976The Big KickFilm
  39. 1976Double TroubleFilm
  40. 1976Wedding BellsFilm
  41. 1976Monkey TricksFilm
  42. 1976Pot LuckFilm: Farmer
  43. 1975Fawlty TowersSeries: Mr. Arrad (1 episode)
  44. 1975Two's CompanySeries: Mr. Bunn (1 episode)
  45. 1975AngelsSeries (1 episode)
  46. 1975King Arthur, the Young WarlordFilm: Ambrose
  47. 1974Happy Ever AfterSeries: Mr Fletcher (1 episode)
  48. 1974Seven Faces of WomanSeries: Ken (1 episode)
  49. 1973Up The WorkersSeries: Sid Stubbins (14 episodes)
  50. 1973Elementary, My Dear WatsonFilm: Inspector Street
  51. 1972Arthur of the BritonsSeries: Ambrose (1 episode)
  52. 1972Ooh...You Are AwfulFilm: Warder Burke
  53. 1972Crown CourtSeries (1 episode)
  54. 1972The AdventurerSeries: Brooks (1 episode)
  55. 1972My Wife Next DoorSeries (1 episode)
  56. 1972Young WinstonFilm: Party Chairman
  57. 1972The OrganizationSeries: Ken Grist (2 episodes)
  58. 1972Shirley's WorldSeries (1 episode)
  59. 1972DoomwatchFilm: Brewer
  60. 1971SuspicionSeries: Harry Beardsley (1 episode)
  61. 1971Hands of the RipperFilm: Police Inspector
  62. 1971The Rivals of Sherlock HolmesSeries: Inspector Trent (1 episode)
  63. 1971Jason KingSeries (1 episode)
  64. 1971The GuardiansSeries: Tom Henryson (1 episode)
  65. 1971Please Sir!Film: Reynolds
  66. 1971BudgieSeries: Inspector Charles Upton (1 episode)
  67. 1971Bless This HouseSeries: Vet (1 episode)
  68. 1971The Raging MoonFilm: Dr Matthews
  69. 1970The Rise and Rise of Michael RimmerFilm: Alderman Poot
  70. 1970Up Among the CuckoosFilm: Walter
  71. 1970The Virgin and the GypsyFilm: Uncle Fred
  72. 1969Softly Softly: Task ForceSeries: Samuel Tomkins (1 episode)
  73. 1969Run a Crooked MileFilm: Sgt. Hooper
  74. 1969Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)Series: Elliot (1 episode)
  75. 1969Department SSeries: Drayton (1 episode)
  76. 1969TakeoverFilm: Father
  77. 1969W. Somerset MaughamSeries: Arthur Low (1 episode)
  78. 1969Oh! What a Lovely WarFilm: Training Sgt (uncredited)
  79. 1969The Limbo LineFilm
  80. 1969ITV Saturday Night TheatreSeries: Father, Stanley Nicholson (1 episode)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.