- Born
- Died
- Birth nameOwen John Scott
- A brilliant comic actor Terry Scott was one of the most familiar faces on British television in the 1960s and 70s. At the height of his popularity his classic comedy series, Terry and June, (in which he co-starred with June Whitfield) was watched by 15 million viewers weekly.
Born Owen John Scott in Watford he began his theatrical career in his teens at the Watford Amateur Dramatic Society playing small comic roles. During the Second World War he served in the Royal Navy and in 1945 he used his demobilisation gratuity to enter show-business as a manager of seaside shows around Britain.
In 1949 he was contracted by the BBC to appear on a radio show with comic Bob Monkhouse which was not successful. Later he teamed up with another comic Bill Maynard which led to the popular TV series Great Scott, It's Maynard.
On stage in the late 50s he worked in farces with comedians such as Brian Rix before going on to star in another popular TV comedy Hugh and I (with Hugh Lloyd) which regularly topped the ratings during the 60s. In 1969 he joined up with comic actress June Whitfield in the series Happy Ever After which later evolved into Terry and June and ran for a record breaking 14 years. In 1978 the Scott and Whitfield were named by the Variety Club of Great Britain as Join Personalities of the Year.
On the London stage he starred he proved hugely popular in shows such as A Bed Full of Foreigners, The Mating Game and Run For Your Wife which he also toured in the Middle East. He was also one of Britain's most famous pantomime 'dames'.
Scott was dogged by ill-health for many years and in 1979 his life was saved by a four hour brain operation after a haemorrage. By 1985 he was suffering from creeping paralysis and often had to wear a neck brace on stage and TV. When his TV series Terry and June was axed in 1988 he suffered a nervous breakdown partly brought on by his public confession that he had indulged in a series of affairs during his marriage to former dancer Margaret Peden (whom he wed in 1957) and that he was suffering from cancer.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Patrick Newley - Even at the age of 5 Terry was convinced that when he was old enough he wanted to be on the stage. However when he left Watford Grammar School his parents insisted that he got a proper job with an accountancy firm. After his war time service he developed comedy routines entertaining in pubs and clubs then joined Grange Over Sands repertory company for unpaid experience then took a paid position with the Denville Players in Jersey. By 1949 his talent was recognised by the B.B.C. and he got regular spots on 'Variety Bandbox' and 'Workers Playtime'. During a spell on Clacton Pier he created his schoolboy character and eventually made a record 'My Brother' which was an instant hit .The B.B.C. offered him an experimental sketch show 'Great Scott, It's Maynard' with Bill Maynard (1955-56) He went on to make cameo appearances in films such as' Double Bunk' (1961), and Murder Most Foul (1964). The Actor Brian Rix invited him to join his Whitehall Theatre Company playing in farces for eighteen months and in his 1962 television series 'Dial RIX.' John Chapman created the series 'Hugh and I' for him and Hugh Lloyd which ran from 1962 to 1968. The pair were reunited the following year in the series 'The Gnomes of Dulwich. Terry was also enjoying success in his own series 'Scott On .....' which had started with a 1964 special 'Scott on Birds' and went on for over ten years covering all kinds of subjects. The 1974 sitcom 'Happy Ever After'brought about the pairing of Terry with June Whitfield which was followed by 'Terry and June' which ran until 1987. He was long recognised as Britain's best pantomime dame and beloved by children for his character of Penfold in the cartoon series 'Dangermouse'- IMDb Mini Biography By: Tonyman 5
- SpousesMargaret Peden(1957 - July 26, 1994) (his death, 4 children)Mary Howard(1949 - 1957) (divorced, 1 child)
- In 1974 he narrowly escaped death when was driving from a stage performance in Billingham to a radio interview in Middlesbrough nearby. His route took him on the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge which consists of a "gondola", carrying passengers and cars, suspended from rails on an overhead structure. Scott mistook this for a conventional toll bridge and accidentally drove his car through the safety gate on the approach road and off the riverbank, landing in the safety netting below.
- He underwent surgery for a brain tumour in 1979 and in the late 1980s suffered a nervous breakdown and cancer of the bladder.
- Although remembered as one of the UK's most popular comedy actors, he was said by many to be a very difficult and demanding person to work with.
- In 1975 he controversially praised the apartheid regime in South Africa.
- He filmed a cameo role as a trade union official in Carry on at Your Convenience (1971) but the scene was cut from the final film. This was due to the finished film being too long and his part not vital to the story line.
- I know it would be better to give up the booze, fags and birds, but life would be so boring, wouldn't it?
- I want to leave England because I'm not going to be messed around by Communists and left-wing socialists. South Africa is a beautiful country ... It is an organised country, organised by English people.
- Carry on at Your Convenience (1971) - £500
- Carry on Henry VIII (1972) - £3,000
- Carry on Loving (1970) - £2,500
- Carry on Up the Jungle (1970) - £2,500
- Carry on Camping (1969) - £2,500
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