Howard Lew Lewis
This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2018) |
Howard Lew Lewis | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 20 January 2018 | (aged 76)
Occupation(s) | comedian actor |
Spouse | Anna Goodall |
Children | 1 |
Howard Lew Lewis (21 August 1941 – 20 January 2018)[1] (born Howard R. Lewis) was a British comedian and actor, best known for his roles in comedy series including Maid Marian and Her Merry Men, Brush Strokes and Chelmsford 123.
Biography
Lewis was born in
Television
One of his more notable roles was as Rabies, one of the Merry Men in the BBC children's television comedy series Maid Marian and Her Merry Men where he appeared in all 26 episodes. He also had a prominent part as the dim barman Elmo Putney in the BBC sitcom Brush Strokes between 1986-91.
Lewis also featured in "Now You See Them", a 1988 episode of the ITV anthology drama series Dramarama.
He appeared in two other prominent historical comedy series - as Blag in the
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1978 | Pennies From Heaven | Policeman | 1 episode |
1983 | Reilly, Ace of Spies | Rowhedge | 1 episode |
The Black Adder | Mr. Applebottom, Piers | 2 episodes | |
Widows | Binman (uncredited) | 1 episode | |
1984 | Minder | Ronnie | 1 episode |
The Magnificant Evans | Bridgegroom | 1 episode | |
1985 | C.A.T.S. Eyes | Stallholder | 1 episode |
Open All Hours | Byron | 1 episode | |
1986 | Prospects | Barman | 1 episode |
Mr Pye | Mr. Rice | 4 episodes | |
The Bill | George Harris | 1 episode | |
1986-91 | Brush Strokes | Elmo Putney | 38 episodes |
1987 | Pulaski | Props Man | 1 episode |
The Charmer | Gardener | 1 episode | |
The Corner House | Mr. Cobham | 1 episode | |
1988 | Dramarama | Man in Audience | 1 episode |
1988-90 | Chelmsford 123 | Blag | 13 episodes |
1989-94 | Maid Marian and Her Merry Men | Rabies | 26 episodes |
1996 | Harry's Mad | Gaston | 4 episodes |
2000 | The Bill | Landlord | 1 episode |
The Queen's Nose | Cafe Owner | 1 episode | |
2003 | Casualty | Lee Stanton | 1 episode |
Keen Eddie | Uncle Leon | 1 episode | |
2007 | Coming Up | Tom | 1 episode |
My Family | Uncle Idris | 1 episode |
Films
Lewis appeared in several films, again mostly in minor roles. Notable film appearances included Terry Gilliam's 1985 film Brazil, where he played one of the Black Maria guards, and as one of Robin Hood's followers in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, playing a character named Hal.[3]
He also appeared in the 1992
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | The Mouse and the Woman | Doctor | |
1983 | Fords on Water | Man in Toilets | |
1985 | Brazil | Second Black Maria Guard | |
1991 | Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | Hal | |
1992 | Chaplin | Workhouse Official #1 | |
1993 | Shadowlands | Tea Room Waiter | |
1994 | Asterix Conquers America | Obelix | English version, Voice |
1998 | The Tichborne Claimant | The Hotel Manager | |
2000 | Quills | First Vendor | |
2001 | Girl from Rio | Taxi Driver 2 | |
2003 | Chaos and Cadavers | Cabbie | |
2004 | The Baby Juice Express | Kent | |
2007 | Small Town Folk | Knackerman #1 |
Death
In an interview with the Scottish Mail on Sunday in late 2017, Lewis confirmed he had been diagnosed with dementia.[4] His fellow actor and friend Tony Robinson announced on Twitter on 22 January 2018 that Lewis had died on 20 January 2018.[1]
On 28 January 2018, it was reported that police in Edinburgh were investigating the circumstances surrounding the actor's death after his step-daughter Debora Milazzo claimed he had been placed on a regime of high-dose sedatives and maximum-strength opiate painkillers, and had been needlessly placed on the kind of treatment plan that would be prescribed for the terminal phase of a malignant disease, explaining that her father had not received a terminal diagnosis. Police Scotland confirmed it was investigating the complaint.[5]
References
- ^ a b Robinson, Tony [@Tony_Robinson] (22 January 2018). "RIP Rabies. The kind,funny and gentle Howard Lew Lewis died on Saturday. Much missed #maidmarianandhermerrymen" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Interview with Howard Lew Lewis aka Rabies!". robinofkensington.homestead.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- IMDb
- ^ "Maid Marian actor Howard Lew Lewis dies at 76". BBC News. 22 January 2018.
- ^ "Police in Edinburgh investigate Maid Marian actor's death". BBC News. 28 January 2018.