Tim Healy (actor)

Early life

The son of Timothy Malcolm Healy Sr. and Sadie (née Wilson) who married in 1943, originally Tim Healy was a welder in a factory, also serving part-time in the 4th Battalion the Parachute Regiment (Territorial Army). In 1973 he successfully responded to an advert for the Northern Arts School, obtaining a student grant and moving into acting. He was an early member of the Live Theatre Company on Tyneside, a touring company which put on drama productions in community halls and working men's clubs.

Career

In 1982, Healy appeared in A Captain's Tale, depicting the triumph of West Auckland F.C. in the Sir Thomas Lipton Cup. In 1983, Healy was brought to public attention for his role in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet a TV comedy drama series about British builders working in Germany. During the mid-80s, Healy played Barney Bodger, the blundering handyman in the Children's ITV series Tickle on the Tum, becoming a favourite with young viewers.

In the early-1990s, he appeared as a cockney ex-pat in the BBC series Boys From The Bush and played a binman in Common as Muck. In 2001, Healy appeared in the surreal BBC situation comedy Breeze Block, playing the head of a strange family. Healy had high hopes for the series, but was reportedly upset when it was only screened on the digital channel BBC Choice (later relaunched as BBC Three) and never broadcast on BBC One or BBC Two. He starred as a folk musician in the first episode of comedy series, Phoenix Nights. His band, "Half a Shilling", sang a song called "Send the Buggers Back", supposedly about a set of Holy Communion shoes, but clearly intended (to those who are themselves racist) as a racist anthem. He played Jackie Elliot in the West End musical Billy Elliot.

Healy appeared in the film Purely Belter as the abusive father of delinquent teenager Gerry and appeared in Coronation Street as Paul Jones, the father of barman Sean Tully. Healy previously appeared on the show in 1976 as a bingo caller. In 2003, Healy appeared as Inspector Colin Duggan in an episode of the BBC drama Murder in Mind. In 2009, Healy appeared in the BBC drama Waterloo Road as a Security Guard, Dave Miller, a love interest for Steph Haydock, played by former real life wife, Denise Welch. In 2013, Healy appeared as Eric in the Sky Living Sitcom The Spa for one series.

When Healy's wife, Denise Welch, was a guest on The Paul O'Grady Show, an apparently aged man came on the show to talk about a subject. He sounded unwell while Welch was speaking, and to her and everyone's surprise, he revealed himself to be Healy. Healy starred in the third series of the ITV comedy Benidorm playing a cross dresser called Lesley. He later became a regular in the fourth series in 2011. His character is really called Les and has a son, Liam.

Healy has also had a role in Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer's show Catterick as a helpful man with a chronically cold wife. In November 2013, He filmed a cameo in the first episode of the second series of the BBC sitcom Hebburn.

In September 2009, Healy became the voice of The Greener Company – a wood-burning stove company based in Lymm, Cheshire. Working in conjunction with The Greener Company and Smooth FM, Healy plays the role of David – The Wood-Burning Stove fitter for The Greener Company. David is a character in a series of radio commercials used to promote the company.

He plays Gastric in Still Open All Hours (2014–present)

Personal life

In 1988, Healy married actress Denise Welch but they divorced in 2012. The pair appeared together on an episode of Lily Savage's Blankety Blank in 2001. The couple have two sons, the elder of whom, Matthew is frontman of alternative rock band The 1975. In February 2015, Healy announced that he is to marry his partner, Joan Anderton. Healy is an avid supporter of Newcastle United.

In 2011, the actor had previous life saving surgery to unblock the arteries in both his legs after he was diagnosed with a condition known as intermittent claudication.

In March 2016 Healy fell ill whilst filming the ITV comedy series Benidorm. He was reportedly flown from a Spanish hospital in May 2016 to a hospital in Manchester after his condition improved enough for him to travel. An ITV spokesman said: "Tim is feeling much better after his spell in hospital and all the Benidorm cast and crew wish him a healthy recovery in his own time."

Philanthropy

Healy often shows support for the children's charity, Children North East, which is based in Newcastle, by making appearances at events and showing support at their community based projects. The charity raise funds for youth projects, such as WEYES project, in the west end area where Healy grew up.

He also co-founded the Sammy Johnson Memorial Fund, established to support young talent in North East England. He hosts the biannual Sunday for Sammy concerts in aid of the fund.

In September 2014, Healy and Jill Halfpenny narrated the history of the North East of England as part of the Great North Run opening ceremony.