Ben Aris

Early career

Aris was born in London, and following the Second World War, he trained at the Arts Educational School. At the age of 16, he joined a national tour of the show Zip Goes a Million. He then did his national service in the Army and after that appeared in many musicals and films including The Plague of the Zombies, The Charge of the Light Brigade and Hamlet. Aris was in the 1960 production of "Pieces of Eight" at the Apollo Theatre in London as well as the 1969 production of "Hamlet" at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York.

Film and television career

His first television role was in the sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em in 1973. The following year he appeared in Invasion of the Dinosaurs, a 1974 Doctor Who serial. His other early television roles included Sam and the River (1975), Crown Court, Wodehouse Playhouse and Target. During that time he also appeared in Get Carter, The Music Lovers, Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World and Juggernaut.

For three episodes, from 1980 to 1981, he played Mr Spalding in To the Manor Born, and then in 1984, he made his first appearance in Hi-de-Hi! as Julian Dalrymple-Sykes, a dancer. He became a regular in 1986 and played the part until the show's end in 1988. He also starred in Bergerac, Agatha Christie's Poirot, You Rang, M'Lord? and Boon. As well as acting with Penelope Keith in To the Manor Born, he also appeared with her in Executive Stress and No Job for a Lady.

Later years

One of most memorable stage performances was in the West End playing Geoffrey in Stepping Out by Richard Harris. His final stage appearance was in The Lady in the Van by Alan Bennett, opposite Dame Maggie Smith. His final TV appearance was in the 2002 drama Ready. He died in Surrey in 2003 aged 66. His son Jonathan Aris followed him into acting.