Harry "Buster" Merryfield[2] (27 November 1920[1] – 23 June 1999) was an English actor best known for starring as Uncle Albert in the BBC comedy Only Fools and Horses.
Merryfield was born and raised in Battersea, London, England.[3] His father, also called Harry Merryfield,[4] was a fitter, and his mother Lily (née Stone) was a part-time waitress.[4] His sister Irene died when she was eight years old. He was given the name "Buster" by his grandfather,[4] as he weighed nine pounds at birth,[4] and it stuck throughout his entire life. He refused to divulge his real name, which only became known after his death.[4]
He followed a strict fitness regime of daily press-ups and swimming sessions.[5] As a boxer, he was a British schoolboy champion in the 1936[5] and Southern Command army champion in 1945.[5] He was also an amateur football player and Millwall supporter, regularly attending games at the Old Den. In contrast to his pipe-smoking and rum-drinking character Uncle Albert, Merryfield was a teetotaler and nonsmoker his entire life.[3][5]
Careeredit
Before turning professional as an actor Merryfield was a keen amateur actor and director.[4] His productions of John Osborne's The Entertainer (1966), The World–My Canvas (1968) by Ruth Dixon and A View from the Bridge (1969) by Arthur Miller, for the now-defunct amateur theatre group the Characters, won Best Play at the Woking Drama Festival in 1966, 1968 and 1969 respectively.[6] He also won the Best Actor trophy for his roles in The Entertainer and The World–My Canvas.[7]
Merryfield became a professional actor at the age of 57[3][4] after having worked for the Westminster Bank for nearly 40 years.[3][4] He began work there on 11 July 1938 and passed his banking exams in 1939.[3] During his time with the bank, he reached the position of senior area manager,[3] but his banking career was interrupted by his war service.[2] He spent the war in the army,[4] where his physique allowed him to become a PT and jungle-warfare instructor. Awarded an emergency commission in the Royal Artillery on 13 March 1942, Merryfield was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. During the war is when he discovered his love of acting when he served as an entertainment officer staging shows for the troops.[5]
After the war, the now married Merryfield returned to the bank.[3] At NatWest he rose through the ranks. In April 1967 he became manager of the Shepperton sub-branch[8] and by the time of his early retirement[3] in July 1978, he was a bank manager at the Thames Ditton branch in Surrey.[2] After retiring, Merryfield persuaded a repertory company to admit him. He performed at the Connaught theatre in Worthing in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Equus. Merryfield appeared in some small television parts, including Hannah in 1980, as Professor Challis in The Citadel in 1983 and as a bishop in Strangers and Brothers in 1984.[6][7]
Merryfield joined Only Fools and Horses in January 1985[3] as the former seafaring Albert Gladstone Trotter, known as Uncle Albert,[3] who was Grandad Trotter's long-lost younger brother and was known for his catchphrase of "During the war...".[3] The character was added after Lennard Pearce, who played Grandad, died in December 1984.[3] Nine months earlier in March 1984, Merryfield and Pearce had costarred in two episodes of a Shroud for a Nightingale. Merryfield did much work for charities such as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. He wrote his autobiography, During the War and Other Encounters, in 1996.[4]
In December 1997, Merryfield fell at the British Comedy Awards while walking to the stage to collect an award for David Jason for his part in Only Fools and Horses. Despite cutting his forehead, he continued and collected the award. Merryfield appeared in pantomime during Christmas of 1997 and 1998 in the father role in Beauty and the Beast at the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth.[9]
Personal lifeedit
Merryfield could play the piano[10] by ear but could not read music.[11] He was also a fan of disco dancing.[12]
Deathedit
Merryfield died at Poole General Hospital on 23 June 1999[5] as a result of a brain tumour.[4] He was survived by his wife Iris,[5] whom he had married in June 1942, his daughter Karen and two grandchildren. He was buried at Verwood Cemetery, Dorset.[13] Iris died on 5 November 2002 and was buried alongside him.[13]
^ abEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916–2007
^ abcOnly Fools and Horses: The Official Inside Story
^ abcdefghijkl"Buster Merryfield interview". thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
^ abcdefghijk"Only Fools and Horses: Buster Merryfield's very ordinary life as a bank manager before landing Uncle Albert role at age of 65". mylondon.news. 12 July 2022.
^ abcdefg"UK Fools stars pay tribute to Buster". bbc.co.uk. 23 June 1999.
^ ab. wokingdramafestival.org.uk. 22 April 2006. Archived from the original on 18 May 2006.
^ ab. wokingdramafestival.org.uk. 22 April 2006. Archived from the original on 18 May 2006.
Iris Myrtle Mountford Merryfield at Find a Grave (after his wife's burial)
May 08, 2024
buster, merryfield, harry, buster, merryfield, november, 1920, june, 1999, english, actor, best, known, starring, uncle, albert, comedy, only, fools, horses, merryfield, uncle, albert, only, fools, horsesbornharry, merryfield, 1920, november, 1920, battersea, . Harry Buster Merryfield 2 27 November 1920 1 23 June 1999 was an English actor best known for starring as Uncle Albert in the BBC comedy Only Fools and Horses Buster MerryfieldMerryfield as Uncle Albert in Only Fools and HorsesBornHarry Merryfield 1920 11 27 27 November 1920 1 Battersea London EnglandDied23 June 1999 1999 06 23 aged 78 Poole Dorset EnglandOccupation s Actor bank managerYears active1966 1998Known forOnly Fools and Horses 1985 1996 SpouseIris Mountford m 1942 wbr Children1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 Filmography 6 References 7 External linksEarly life editMerryfield was born and raised in Battersea London England 3 His father also called Harry Merryfield 4 was a fitter and his mother Lily nee Stone was a part time waitress 4 His sister Irene died when she was eight years old He was given the name Buster by his grandfather 4 as he weighed nine pounds at birth 4 and it stuck throughout his entire life He refused to divulge his real name which only became known after his death 4 He followed a strict fitness regime of daily press ups and swimming sessions 5 As a boxer he was a British schoolboy champion in the 1936 5 and Southern Command army champion in 1945 5 He was also an amateur football player and Millwall supporter regularly attending games at the Old Den In contrast to his pipe smoking and rum drinking character Uncle Albert Merryfield was a teetotaler and nonsmoker his entire life 3 5 Career editBefore turning professional as an actor Merryfield was a keen amateur actor and director 4 His productions of John Osborne s The Entertainer 1966 The World My Canvas 1968 by Ruth Dixon and A View from the Bridge 1969 by Arthur Miller for the now defunct amateur theatre group the Characters won Best Play at the Woking Drama Festival in 1966 1968 and 1969 respectively 6 He also won the Best Actor trophy for his roles in The Entertainer and The World My Canvas 7 Merryfield became a professional actor at the age of 57 3 4 after having worked for the Westminster Bank for nearly 40 years 3 4 He began work there on 11 July 1938 and passed his banking exams in 1939 3 During his time with the bank he reached the position of senior area manager 3 but his banking career was interrupted by his war service 2 He spent the war in the army 4 where his physique allowed him to become a PT and jungle warfare instructor Awarded an emergency commission in the Royal Artillery on 13 March 1942 Merryfield was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant During the war is when he discovered his love of acting when he served as an entertainment officer staging shows for the troops 5 After the war the now married Merryfield returned to the bank 3 At NatWest he rose through the ranks In April 1967 he became manager of the Shepperton sub branch 8 and by the time of his early retirement 3 in July 1978 he was a bank manager at the Thames Ditton branch in Surrey 2 After retiring Merryfield persuaded a repertory company to admit him He performed at the Connaught theatre in Worthing in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Equus Merryfield appeared in some small television parts including Hannah in 1980 as Professor Challis in The Citadel in 1983 and as a bishop in Strangers and Brothers in 1984 6 7 Merryfield joined Only Fools and Horses in January 1985 3 as the former seafaring Albert Gladstone Trotter known as Uncle Albert 3 who was Grandad Trotter s long lost younger brother and was known for his catchphrase of During the war 3 The character was added after Lennard Pearce who played Grandad died in December 1984 3 Nine months earlier in March 1984 Merryfield and Pearce had costarred in two episodes of a Shroud for a Nightingale Merryfield did much work for charities such as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution He wrote his autobiography During the War and Other Encounters in 1996 4 In December 1997 Merryfield fell at the British Comedy Awards while walking to the stage to collect an award for David Jason for his part in Only Fools and Horses Despite cutting his forehead he continued and collected the award Merryfield appeared in pantomime during Christmas of 1997 and 1998 in the father role in Beauty and the Beast at the Pavilion Theatre Bournemouth 9 Personal life editMerryfield could play the piano 10 by ear but could not read music 11 He was also a fan of disco dancing 12 Death editMerryfield died at Poole General Hospital on 23 June 1999 5 as a result of a brain tumour 4 He was survived by his wife Iris 5 whom he had married in June 1942 his daughter Karen and two grandchildren He was buried at Verwood Cemetery Dorset 13 Iris died on 5 November 2002 and was buried alongside him 13 Filmography editYear Title Role Notes 1983 The Citadel Professor Challis 2 episode 1984 Shroud for a Nightingale Sir Miles Honeyman 1 episode 1984 Strangers and Brothers Bishop 2 episodes 1985 1996 Only Fools and Horses Uncle Albert Trotter 37 episodesReferences edit a b England amp Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1916 2007 a b c Only Fools and Horses The Official Inside Story a b c d e f g h i j k l Buster Merryfield interview thefreelibrary com Retrieved 30 June 2014 a b c d e f g h i j k Only Fools and Horses Buster Merryfield s very ordinary life as a bank manager before landing Uncle Albert role at age of 65 mylondon news 12 July 2022 a b c d e f g UK Fools stars pay tribute to Buster bbc co uk 23 June 1999 a b Woking Drama Festival Best Play wokingdramafestival org uk 22 April 2006 Archived from the original on 18 May 2006 a b Woking Drama Festival Best Actor wokingdramafestival org uk 22 April 2006 Archived from the original on 18 May 2006 Middlesex Chronicle page 18 28th April 1967 TV Stars in Panto Only Fools and Horses pantoarchive com Retrieved 15 November 2022 It s Only Fools and Dorset bournemouthecho co uk 30 August 2011 During the War and Other Encounters 1996 Liverpool Echo Thursday 18 July 1985 a b Buster Merryfield s grave a k a Uncle Albert Only Fools and Horses 1920 1999 dorseteye com 10 November 2019 External links edit nbsp Biography portal Buster Merryfield at IMDb Buster Merryfield discography at Discogs Pebble Mill Interview 1994 Buster Merryfield at Find a Grave Iris Myrtle Mountford Merryfield at Find a Grave after his wife s burial Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Buster Merryfield amp oldid 1219592655, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
