Brian Osborne

Brian Osborne
Born(1940-03-26)26 March 1940
Bath, Somerset, England, U.K.
Died8 July 2021(2021-07-08) (aged 81)
OccupationActor
Years active1962-2003
Known for

Brian Osborne (26 March 1940 – 8 July 2021) was an English actor. He was best known for his roles in Upstairs, Downstairs and The Sandbaggers. Osborne also had minor roles in six Carry On films as well the TV series Carry On Laughing.[1]

Early life

Brian Osborne was born in 1940 in Bath, Somerset. He started acting while at school.[2] Later he toured school with a children's theatre company and he played The Pied Piper of Hamelin.[2] His first television role was in 1966 in an episode of Softly, Softly. After this he toured Europe and the United States with the Royal Shakespeare Company,[3] as well as having roles in Bless This House and Follyfoot.[4][5]

1970s and 1980s

In 1971, Brian Osborne secured the role of Pearce, the coachman, in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs.[6] This role did not play a large part in the programme and Pearce left Eaton Place in the programme's second series in 1972. In the same year, Osborne was in Carry On Matron.[7] This was the first of six Carry On appearances, the others being Carry On Abroad, Carry On Girls, Carry On Dick, Carry On Behind and Carry On England.[8] In addition, he appeared in seven episodes of the TV series Carry On Laughing. In 1973, he appeared in an episode of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and in 1976 appeared in an episode of Space: 1999.[9][10] From 1978 to 1980 he played Sam Lawes in six episodes of Cold War drama The Sandbaggers.[11]

In the 1980s, Osborne had many minor roles on television, including in Tales of the Unexpected, Minder (as Joe Harrison, episode Get Daley!, 1983), Shine on Harvey Moon, The Bill, Sorry!, Juliet Bravo, Casualty and Lord Peter Wimsey.[1] His other film roles included Under Milk Wood (1971), Bless This House (1972), Nighthawks (1981), Haunters of the Deep (1984) and Last Orders (2001).[4]

Personal life

Osborne relocated to Gran Canaria in 2020 to be with family. He died there in July 2021 at the age of 81.[12]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1969 Women in Love Miner Uncredited
1972 Under Milk Wood Second Fisherman
1972 Carry On Matron Ambulance Driver
1972 Bless This House Removal Van Driver
1972 Carry On Abroad Stall-Holder
1973 Carry On Girls First Citizen
1974 Carry On Dick Browning
1975 Carry On Behind Bob
1976 Carry On England Gunner Owen
1979 Are You Being Served? Airport Security Guard Uncredited
1979 Black Island Police Sergeant
1981 Nighthawks Inspector Orchard
1984 Haunters of the Deep Mr. Holman
1988 Across the Lake Maurie Parfitt
2001 Last Orders Tally Man

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1976 Space: 1999 Chris Potter Episode: "A Matter of Balance"
1977 Odd Man Out Taxi Driver
Hotel Porter
Episode: "A Chip Off the Old Block"
Episode: "Ooh La La"
1978 Enemy at the Door Inspector Sculpher Episode: "By Order of the Fuhrer"
Wilde Alliance Tom Episode: "Too Much, Too Often"
The Law Centre Desk Sergeant Episode: "The Galahad Bit"

References

  1. ^ a b "Brian Osborne". www.aveleyman.com.
  2. ^ a b "Inside UpDown - The Story of Upstairs, Downstairs". Kaleidoscope Publishing. 2005.
  3. ^ "Brian Osborne - Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  4. ^ a b "Brian Osborne". BFI. Archived from the original on 14 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Follyfoot: The Innocents (ITV 2 Jul 1972, with Colin Douglas)". 31 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Upstairs, Downstairs (an Episode Guide)". epguides.com.
  7. ^ "Carry On Matron (1972)". BFI. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Brian Osborne - Movies and Filmography - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  9. ^ "Some Mothers Do 'ave 'em[20/12/73] (1973)". BFI. Archived from the original on 14 January 2018.
  10. ^ Muir, John Kenneth (21 November 2012). Exploring Space: 1999: An Episode Guide and Complete History of the Mid–1970s Science Fiction Television Series. McFarland. ISBN 9780786455270 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ TV.com. "Brian Osborne". TV.com.
  12. ^ "Obituary: Brian Osborne – Stage and TV actor". The Stage.