Peter Blake (born John Beattie Dempsey; 8 December 1948 – 21 July 2018)[1] was a Scottish actor. Probably best known as the character Kirk St Moritz in the BBC sitcom Dear John, by John Sullivan, his other high-profile moments came through his playing of a 'Fonz'-type character in Pepsi-Cola commercials which led to a hit record in 1977 "Lipsmackin' Rock 'n' Rollin", Andy Evol the disc-jockey in Agony with Maureen Lipman for LWT and in an episode of Taggart ("Do or Die") as Sgt. Bill Kent. He also had a long association with The Rocky Horror Show playing Frank-N-Furter over a thousand times between 1975 and 1994.[2]
Early life
Peter Blake was born John Beattie Dempsey[1] on 8 December 1948 in Selkirk, Scotland. He was always referred to by his parents as Ian, a Scottish Gaelic term for John.[1] He began his career as an aspiring pop star before turning to acting; his first professional appearance was at the Edinburgh International Festival, in Frank Dunlop's 'Pop Theatre' production of The Winter's Tale, at the Assembly Hall, in 1966.[3]
Peter Blake's best-known role was the flamboyant and boastful Kirk St Moritz, resplendent in white suit, big collars and golden medallion, in the British sitcomDear John (1986–87). He appeared in other British television series including as Tony Miller, a member of CI5 in the hard-hitting police drama The Professionals (1978).[17] As Michael Vincent in Penmarric (1979), Andy Evol in Agony (1979-1981), Dr Courant in Praying Mantis (1982), Carl Pierce in A Very Peculiar Practice (1986), Aubrey Owen in Dogfood Dan & the Carmarthen Cowboy (1988), David in Split Ends (1989), as Harvey in Fiddlers Three (1991) and as Ken Tate in EastEnders (2010).[18]
In 1977, Peter Blake reached number 40 in the UK Singles Chart with the song Lipsmackin' Rock 'n' Rollin,[19] performing it on the BBC Television music show Top of the Pops on 29 September 1977;[20] and subsequently released a single called Boogie Breakout in 1979.[21][22]
Stage Cast Recordings include :
Hair - The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical (Original Amsterdam Cast) - LP.[23] Date of release: 1970. Written by Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni and James Rado.
London production of the musical, "What's a Nice Country like U.S. Doing in a State like This?"[24] Date of release: 1976. Music by Cary Hoffman. Words by Ira Gasman.
Hard Times: The Musical (Original London Cast Recording Highlights) - EP. Date of release: 1 June 2000. Book, music and lyrics by Christopher Tookey and Hugh Thomas (from the novel by Charles Dickens).
^Musical hoofers: "What’s a Nice Country like US doing in a State like This?" with Peter Blake, Billy Boyle, Neil McCaul, Jacquie Toye and Leueen Willoughby, The Stage, London, England. Thursday 10 June 1976.
