Taken from the BBC News website:


Comedy legend Ronnie Barker dies

British TV comedy actor Ronnie Barker, who starred in Porridge and The Two Ronnies, has died aged 76.
One of the most loved and respected comedy performers of his generation, he was best known as one half of a double act with Ronnie Corbett.

But he also proved himself as an outstanding sitcom actor and script writer, winning four Bafta TV awards.

Chat show host Michael Parkinson told BBC News 24 he was "one of our very greatest comedy actors".

BBC reporter Charlotte Hume said: "His wife wanted everyone to know that he died at home peacefully."

The actor had a long history of heart trouble.

Last year he was awarded a lifetime achievement Bafta for his TV work.

That led to a return for the Two Ronnies on BBC One, 34 years after the show first appeared on TV screens and 17 years after he had first retired from showbusiness.

Barker also delivered a number of dramatic performances, most recently as Winston Churchill's manservant in the award-winning TV film The Gathering Storm and in HBO film My House in Umbria.

At the peak of his career Barker, along with Corbett, entertained 17 million people every Saturday night.

"He was not just a comic. He had a writer's ear for a good script and was a very good writer himself," added Parkinson on Tuesday.

"He was also a generous performer. He was uneasy with the fame that came with the job.

"He was an object lesson to a lot of people who seek the limelight with half his talent."

Paying tribute Michael Hurll, producer of The Two Ronnies, said: "We will never see his like again.

"You felt safe with him. The whole family could watch him."

He said the comedian delivered "laughs, big laughs, and laughs that you will always remember".

Thee BBC head of comedy Jon Plowman said Barker was "just a genius".

"He had an everyman quality and he loved words. He could just do it.

"He was a perfectionist and I think we can all respect that.

"He was an extraordinary guy and an encourager as well as a brilliant performer and writer."

BBC arts correspondent David Sillito told BBC News 24: "In many ways Barker and Corbett were the heirs to Morecambe and Wise."

In an interview with the BBC looking back on his career, Barker once said: "I would like to be remembered as one of the funniest men people have seen on TV."


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/h...307216.stm

Now that is a real loss.

Ronnie Barker was absolutely a comedy genius.

rip Arkwright.

Sad news. He was a fantastic comedy actor. I think Arkwright was my favourite character too.

TheFrog said:

Jon, it's weird - I was thinking you might be someone on here who appreciated him.

I was so sad to read this. I absolutely LOVED The Two Ronnies. Barker was the writing genius, of course, but - together with Ronnie C - they had an unbelievable chemistry. I have so many memories as a kid watching The Two Ronnies, Open All Hours, Porridge - even Clarence. The man was a comedy genius. So many people claim Morecambe and Wise were the best ever British comedians; for me, it's always been Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett.

RIP Ronnie.

I grew up watching the two Ronnies!

This is so very sad. The death of a comedian (and a great one in this case) always seems to strike a more sombre chord, like a little bit of laughter has been taken out of the world. I know it sounds cheesy but we need more people like Ronnie, people who can really make you belly-laugh.

I grew up on the Two Ronnies and Open all hours, the repeats of Porridge later on.

Incredible talent.

I will go away and light "Four k 'andles" for him.


,
[Edited 10/4/05 2:18am]

To anyone who's a fan, I highly recommend buying a collection of Ronnie Barker's comedy scripts entitled 'All I Ever Wrote'. FULL of belly-laughs, it's hysterical.

Predominant - what a beautiful way to put it. As you say, it feels like a little bit of laughter has left us today.

onenitealone said:

You know, I used to adore The Two Ronnies. I think the first time I can remember finding a joke absolutely hilarious as a small boy was one of their sketches with the 2 tramps on a bench, where Ronnie C was arguing that anything was possible, and Ronnie B disputed this by claiming a worm couldn't stand on its head. And Open All Hours was/is an absolute work of art. One of the best sitcoms ever. Many people rate Porridge higher, and the writing is great, but Barker was a brilliant performer too and his Arkwright is magnificent.

Anyway, he will be hugely missed.

TheFrog said:

God, I wouldn't know where to start recalling my favourite sketches but you cannot beat The Two Ronnies. Perfection, especially their 'song' routines.

I don't recall the sketch you refer to but, even just reading your description, that brought a smile to my face.
[Edited 10/4/05 2:38am]

Bless him.

When I saw that he had died, I was just going to post this thread, only to find it had already been posted. Good old Orgers

Its really sad.. and he will be missed.. I hate it when people who I grew up with and came to love on the telly die, cos it reminds me we are all getting old.. but he was genius, and he did so much in his career, all those repeats will still be coming out and shown, and what is so great is that they will never date.. they are such classics!

Love to Ronnie Barker, may he rest in peace.

And its a goodbye from him and and goodbye from me....

You were brilliant...will be sadly missed.My fav sketch ever is when he was in the hardware shop ...got any o's....

Ronnie Barker was a comedy genius... Heaven will be such a brighter place now he has gone there.

doggonewalkies said:

If it starts raining, you know God will be pissing himself laughing..

REDFEATHERS said:

Iused to think that was true you know Red..like when you hear thunder that ws God shovelling his coal in for the fire ? strange things we get in our heads huh?

he was brilliant, wasnt he...one of the best character actors i have ever seen, he will be remembered

[Edited 10/4/05 4:27am]

He will be missed.
He will live on through the many young comedians he has inspired.

doggonewalkies said:

Oh, thunder, God was moving His furniture..

RIP Fletch


The man will always be a comedy legend. Very few people have made me laugh as hard and as often as that man.

Oh wow, this is sad news indeed.



thankyou for making me smile Mr Barker.

'and it's goodnight from him...'

Ohhhh noooo

I used to watch The Two Ronnies as a kid. First we lose Dave Allen, now Ronnie.

He was one of my favorite British Comedy Actors.

i loved him in Open All Hours as well.





Gr-gr-gr-Granville!

Stymie said:

Me too I used to love Dave Allen, HE used to say at the end, "Goodnight, thank you, and may your God go with you." I used to find that really weird as a kid for some reason.


R.I.P

Sorry, didn't know him. And he did live to a ripe old age.