Henry McGee

Henry McGee (May 14, 1929 – January 28, 2006) was a British actor best known as straight man to Benny Hill for many years. McGee was also often the announcer on Hill's TV programme, delivering the upbeat intro "Yes! It's "The Benny Hill Show!"

Born in South Kensington, London, McGee hoped to become a doctor, but the death of his father when he was 17 put financial strains on the family that ended his plans. Having enjoyed acting as a boy, McGee decided to follow his mother's side of the family, which could trace its involvement in acting back to Kitty Clive. He went on to play supporting roles in films and television series and dramas, including "The Saint" and "The Avengers", but it is for comedy roles that he is best remembered. His most enduring role was as the long-suffering 'mummy' of Honey Monster, a large, yellow, furry creature in advertisements for the breakfast cereal Sugar Puffs.

McGee played Two-Ton Ted in the video of "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West)". Other comedy roles included the centre manager in "On The Buses", and opposite Charlie Drake in "The Worker" (1965–1970).

He had a long and successful theatre career, during which he tackled a wide range of roles, receiving plaudits for deadpan delivery in farces such as "Plunder".

McGee had one daughter, Stephanie. He spent his last six months in a nursing home, suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

External links

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* [http://www.bemuddlement.com/McGee/ "That's Henry McGee" tribute website]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/01/db0102.xml "The Daily Telegraph" Obituary, 1st February 2006]