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Kenneth Waller

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Occupation
  
Television Actor

Years active
  
1959–98


Name
  
Kenneth Waller

Role
  
Actor

Kenneth Waller moviedudecoukKenneth20Waller2020Carry20On

Born
  
5 November 1927 (
1927-11-05
)
Huddersfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England

Died
  
January 28, 2000, London, United Kingdom

Movies and TV shows
  
Similar People
  
Harold Bennett, James Hayter, Alfie Bass, Vivienne Johnson, Larry Martyn

Catchphrase Celebrity Special 1991 - June Brown and Peter Dean and Pamela Power and Kenneth Waller


Kenneth Waller (5 November 1927 – 28 January 2000) was an English actor. He was known for portraying Granddad in Bread and Old Mr. Grace in Are You Being Served?

Contents

Early life

Kenneth Waller was born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire on November 5, 1927. In 1949, he was a member of the Christ Church Woodhouse men’s choir.

After serving in the Royal Air Force, Waller worked for a firm of auctioneers.

Career

Experience in local rep at the Oxford Playhouse encouraged him to move to London, where he made his West End debut in Julian Slade and Dorothy Reynolds' 1957 musical Free as Air. He was later in the original cast of Give a Dog a Bone in 1964, and took over various roles in various other London productions such as Salad Days and Anne of Green Gables: The Musical. Waller was also associated the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, but always looked forward to the times when his work took him on location further afield, including Rome, India and Scandinavia.

An excellent pianist and an ardent lover of classical and choral music, Waller was extremely knowledgeable on the subject of oratorio and sang with Anthony Bowles' Actors' choir and the BBC Chorus. He also appeared as the Narrator in Peter and the Wolf, and Carl Davis a special concert piece, Duck's diary, for Waller.

From the fifties to the seventies, his career as an actor saw him appear on both television and film. On the big screen, he had modest roles in Room at the Top (1959), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), Scrooge (1970), Fiddler on the Roof (1971) and Carry On Behind (1975). Other small screen credits included Big Deal, Crossroads, The Fenn Street Gang, Dixon of Dock Green, Z-Cars, The Professionals, Doctor Who, All Creatures Great and Small, Terry and June and Juliet Bravo. Waller also portrayed the father of Curly Watts in Coronation Street.

In 1981, he joined the cast of Are You Being Served? as Old Mr. Grace.

Waller also made an appearance in the Series 5 episode, "Boxing Day Social", on On the Buses, as well appearing in the 1984 miniseries, Ellis Island and even lending his voice for Romuald the Reindeer.

In 1986, Waller became a household name as Grandad in Carla Lane's Liverpool sitcom, Bread and his catchphrase, "Where's my tea?", quickly caught on with the viewing public.

Waller continued to stay in touch with the theatre during the final years of his life, touring successfully with Barbara Windsor in Joe Orton's classic black comedy, Entertaining Mr Sloane and appearing in a musical version of Beauty and the Beast at the Manchester Opera House, in 1998.

Personal life and death

Despite his television fame, Waller never lost his affection for Yorkshire, taking great pride in retaining both his accent and his many friends within the Huddersfield Choral Society.

Waller at one time shared the home of theatrical agent Greville Hallam, who was murdered in 1982 by future Guardian journalist, Erwin James.

Kenneth Waller died on 28 January 2000 at the age of 72, after a brief illness. He was unmarried.

Filmography

Actor
1999
The Queen's Nose (TV Series) as
Park Attendant
- Harmony's Return (1999) - Park Attendant
1996
Romuald the Reindeer (TV Series) as
Grandpa Ivy
- Knitting Patterns (1996) - Grandpa Ivy (voice)
1995
Down to Earth (TV Series)
- Episode #1.6 (1995)
1992
Santa's First Christmas (TV Movie) as
Grandpa Ivy (voice)
1986
Bread (TV Series) as
Grandad
- Another Christmas with the Boswells (1990) - Grandad
- A Quiet Christmas (1989) - Grandad
- Christmas with the Boswells (1988) - Grandad
1988
Coronation Street (TV Series) as
Mr. Watts
- Episode #1.2850 (1988) - Mr. Watts
- Episode #1.2849 (1988) - Mr. Watts
- Episode #1.2820 (1988) - Mr. Watts
- Episode #1.2818 (1988) - Mr. Watts
1988
Never the Twain (TV Series) as
Fothergill
- Settled Out of Court (1988) - Fothergill
1987
Boon (TV Series) as
Mr. Newell
- Trudy's Grit (1987) - Mr. Newell
1984
Big Deal (TV Series) as
Ferret
- Innocent OK? (1986) - Ferret
- Playing the Ace (1986) - Ferret
- Following in Father's Footsteps (1986) - Ferret
- Panel Money (1986) - Ferret
- The Chicken and the Egg (1986) - Ferret
- Tuppence Coloured (1986) - Ferret
- Deals on Wheels (1986) - Ferret
- The Z Team (1986) - Ferret
- The Big Sleep (1986) - Ferret
- I Gotta Horse (1985) - Ferret
- Windfall (1985) - Ferret
- The Rabbit and the Hare (1985) - Ferret
- Partners (1985) - Ferret
- Guv'nor (1985) - Ferret
- Breakthrough (1985) - Ferret
- Popping Across the Pond (1985) - Ferret
- Getting Knotted (1985) - Ferret
- Down and Under (1985) - Ferret
- Home and Dry (1984) - Ferret
- Nine Bob Notes (1984) - Ferret
- Video Man (1984) - Ferret
- Fighting Chance (1984) - Ferret
- The Luck of the Irish (1984) - Ferret
- Some You Win- (1984) - Ferret
- A Ragged Run (1984) - Ferret
- One Good Turn Over- (1984) - Ferret
- Red Lady, Black Night (1984) - Ferret
1986
The Queen's Arms (TV Movie) as
Hacker
1985
Florence Nightingale (TV Movie) as
Hall Porter
1985
The Pickwick Papers (TV Series) as
Fogg
- Episode #1.12 (1985) - Fogg
- Episode #1.6 (1985) - Fogg
1985
Roll Over Beethoven (TV Series) as
Mr. Beckett
- Episode #1.4 (1985) - Mr. Beckett
- Episode #1.3 (1985) - Mr. Beckett
1985
The Optimist (TV Series) as
Webster
- The Fool of the House of Esher (1985) - Webster (as Ken Waller)
1984
Ellis Island (TV Mini Series) as
Shepherd #1
- Episode #1.2 (1984) - Shepherd #1
1984
Minder (TV Series) as
Roland
- A Number of Old Wives Tales (1984) - Roland
1983
Fair Ground! (TV Series) as
Mr. Grant
- Mixed Fortunes (1983) - Mr. Grant
- Talk or Ride-. (1983) - Mr. Grant
- A Piece of Cake! (1983) - Mr. Grant
- Ozzie Thinks Again (1983) - Mr. Grant
- Where Is Rachel? (1983) - Mr. Grant
- In the Dark (1983) - Mr. Grant
- Hired Hands (1983) - Mr. Grant
- Comings and Goings (1983) - Mr. Grant
- Trouble in the Tea-Leaves (1983) - Mr. Grant
1982
Juliet Bravo (TV Series) as
Sidney Dorkins
- Where There's Muck- (1982) - Sidney Dorkins
1982
Nye (TV Movie) as
Cripps
1981
Are You Being Served? (TV Series) as
Old Mr. Henry Grace
- Roots? (1981) - Old Mr. Henry Grace
- The Erotic Dreams of Mrs Slocombe (1981) - Old Mr. Henry Grace
- Closed Circuit (1981) - Old Mr. Henry Grace
- Heir Apparent (1981) - Old Mr. Henry Grace
- Sit Out (1981) - Old Mr. Henry Grace
- Front Page Story (1981) - Old Mr. Henry Grace
- A Personal Problem (1981) - Old Mr. Henry Grace
- Is It Catching? (1981) - Old Mr. Henry Grace
1980
Airey Neave: A Will of Steel (TV Movie) as
'Louis'
1980
Holding the Fort (TV Series) as
Andrew Howe (Customs and Excise)
- Jumping the Gun (1980) - Andrew Howe (Customs and Excise)
1980
Sounding Brass (TV Series) as
Mr. Hargreaves
- H.G. and the Hundred Years (1980) - Mr. Hargreaves
1980
All Creatures Great and Small (TV Series) as
Mr. Beresford / Ronald Beresford
- Every Dog His Day- (1980) - Mr. Beresford
- Charity Begins at Home (1980) - Ronald Beresford
1979
Lovely Couple (TV Series) as
Hotel manager
- Dirty Weekend (1979) - Hotel manager
1978
The Famous Five (TV Series) as
Enemy Agent
- Five Go to Billycock Hill (1978) - Enemy Agent
1978
The Mayor of Casterbridge (TV Mini Series) as
Clerk of Court
- Episode #1.4 (1978) - Clerk of Court
1978
The Professionals (TV Series) as
Caretaker
- Killer with a Long Arm (1978) - Caretaker (uncredited)
1977
Target (TV Series) as
Warehouse Transport Manager
- Vandraggers (1977) - Warehouse Transport Manager
1977
Doctor Who (TV Series) as
Hedges
- The Invisible Enemy: Part Two (1977) - Hedges
1977
Come Spy with Me (TV Movie) as
Prof. Wolfgang Von Schlump
1963
Z Cars (TV Series) as
Wilfred Wilson / Pianist / Fred Jones / ...
- Rage (1977) - Wilfred Wilson
- Haggar (1972) - Pianist (uncredited)
- The Battleground: Part 2 (1968) - Fred Jones
- Follow My Leader (1963) - Stanley Collins
1966
BBC Play of the Month (TV Series) as
Fred / Fred Dyson / Pritchard
- The Winslow Boy (1977) - Fred
- When We Are Married (1975) - Fred Dyson
- Corridors of Power (1966) - Pritchard
1976
The Venetian Twins (TV Movie)
1972
The Liver Birds (TV Series) as
Florist / Milkman
- Special: It Insists on Coming Once a Year (1976) - Florist
- Birds and Bottom Drawers (1972) - Milkman
1976
Well Anyway (TV Series) as
Mr. Witherspoon
- Be That as It May (1976) - Mr. Witherspoon
1975
Carry on Behind as
Barman
1975
The Growing Pains of P.C. Penrose (TV Series) as
Mr. Newbould
- The Peeper (1975) - Mr. Newbould
1975
Doctor on the Go (TV Series) as
Mr. Pole
- What's Op Doc? (1975) - Mr. Pole
1975
Churchill's People (TV Series) as
Citizen
- The Fine Art of Bubble-Blowing (1975) - Citizen
1974
South Riding (TV Mini Series) as
Mr. Tadman
- Take What You Want and Pay for It (1974) - Mr. Tadman
- The Powers That Be (1974) - Mr. Tadman
1974
The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs (TV Series) as
Warren
- The Courier (1974) - Warren
1974
...And Mother Makes Five (TV Series) as
Dr. West
- The Matter of Tiny Feet (1974) - Dr. West
1972
Dixon of Dock Green (TV Series) as
Dealer / Porter
- The Unwanted (1974) - Dealer
- Sgt. George Dixon (1972) - Porter
1973
Six Days of Justice (TV Series) as
Magistrate / Mr. Simpson
- Stranger in Paradise (1973) - Magistrate
- A Regular Friend (1973) - Mr. Simpson
1973
Romany Jones (TV Series) as
Rev. Grant
- Not So Sweet Charity (1973) - Rev. Grant
1973
Bowler (TV Series) as
Porter
- Come Round Any Old Time (1973) - Porter
1973
Menace (TV Series) as
Manager
- Tom (1973) - Manager
1971
The Fenn Street Gang (TV Series) as
Mr. Penrose / Lenny / Man in Café
- And Baby Makes Four (1972) - Mr. Penrose
- The Great Frock Robbers (1972) - Lenny
- Who Was That Lady? (1971) - Man in Café
1972
The Love Pill as
Professor Edwards
1972
Doctor in Charge (TV Series) as
Mr. Dutton
- This Is Your Wife (1972) - Mr. Dutton
1972
The Train Now Standing (TV Series) as
Fireman
- Send Him Victorious (1972) - Fireman
1971
On the Buses (TV Series) as
Busman
- Boxing Day Social (1971) - Busman
1971
The Onedin Line (TV Series) as
Drayman
- The High Price (1971) - Drayman
- Other Points of the Compass (1971) - Drayman (uncredited)
1971
Fiddler on the Roof as
Man in Dream Sequence (uncredited)
1970
Scrooge as
Party Guest (uncredited)
1970
Albert and Victoria (TV Series) as
Enrico
- The Gothic Church (1970) - Enrico
1970
Softly Softly: Task Force (TV Series) as
James Potter
- Power of the Press (1970) - James Potter
1969
Fraud Squad (TV Series) as
Porter
- Run for Your Money (1969) - Porter
1969
Armchair Theatre (TV Series) as
Milkman
- What's a Mother For? (1969) - Milkman
1968
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as
Inventor
1967
Crossroads (TV Series) as
Mr. Hargreaves
- Episode #1.745 (1967) - Mr. Hargreaves
1966
A Game of Murder (TV Series) as
Dr. Hasting
- Episode #1.5 (1966) - Dr. Hasting
1965
Mr. Brown Comes Down the Hill as
Journalist / Patron of the Bar
1964
Compact (TV Series) as
A Barber
- Business Not Blackmail (1964) - A Barber (as Ken Waller)
1958
Room at the Top as
Reggie (uncredited)
1958
Starr and Company (TV Series) as
Soldier
- Taken for a Ride (1958) - Soldier
Soundtrack
1968
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (performer: "The Roses of Success" - uncredited)
Self
1991
This Is Your Life (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Thelma Barlow (1991) - Self
1990
8:15 from Manchester (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.12 (1990) - Self
1988
Wogan (TV Series) as
Self / Grandad
- Episode #8.147 (1988) - Self / Grandad (as The Cast of Bread)
1988
The Royal Variety Performance 1988 (TV Special) as
Grandad
1984
The Trial of Richard III (TV Special) as
Clerk of the Court
1977
Let's Make a Musical (TV Series) as
Self
- Mr. Polly (1977) - Self
1975
2nd House (TV Series)
- The Parish Boy's Progress (1975)
1973
Going to Work (TV Series documentary)
- I Don't Understand! (1973)
Archive Footage
2009
Mollie Sugden: A Tribute (TV Movie documentary) as
Old Mr. Grace
2007
Comedy Connections (TV Series documentary) as
Grandad
- Bread (2007) - Grandad (uncredited)
1981
Carry on Laughing (TV Series) as
Barman
- Episode #1.13 (1981) - Barman (uncredited)

References

Kenneth Waller Wikipedia