Paul Eddington

Infobox actor
name = Paul Eddington CBE

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imagesize = 200 px
caption = Paul Eddington playing Jim Hacker in "Yes, Prime Minister"
birthdate = birth date|1927|6|18|df=y
birthplace = London, England
deathdate = death date and age|1995|11|4|1927|6|18|df=y
deathplace = London, England
occupation = actor
yearsactive = 1940s-1995
spouse = Patricia Scott
awards = Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor1992 (No Man's Land)

Paul Eddington CBE (18 June 1927 – 4 November 1995) was an English actor best known for his appearances in popular television sitcoms of the 1970s and 80s.

Career

Early Career

A Quaker, Eddington attended The Friends' School, Sibford Ferris, Oxfordshire. He began acting with Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA) set up to entertain British troops during World War II but was asked to leave when it became known that he was a pacifist and a conscientious objector. Eddington moved into repertory theatre in Sheffield and made his first appearance in TV drama in the 1950s, as a regular cast member of "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (first shown 1955), initially as minor characters and eventually as Will Scarlett. He also had roles in early episodes of "The Prisoner" and "The Avengers", had a supporting role in Hammer Films' "The Devil Rides Out" and appeared as a "straight man" (substituting for regular stooge Henry McGee) in a 1976 episode of "The Benny Hill Show".

Rise to Fame

Although he worked as an actor all of his life, Eddington was in his late forties before he became a household name. He rose to prominence through "The Good Life", first screened by the BBC in 1975 and still being repeated in 2008. It tells the story of a suburban couple who decide to give up work and become self-sufficient. Eddington was cast in a supporting role as neighbour Jerry Leadbetter, with Penelope Keith as his wife, Margo. Originally intended as mere bit parts, the Leadbetters quickly became essential to each episode and their roles expanded until they had equal standing with the two "stars".

Eddington's fame grew further as the star of the hit comedy series "Yes Minister", first screened in 1980, later to become "Yes, Prime Minister" - said to have been former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's favourite TV programme. He played the title role of Jim Hacker until the show's close in 1988. This role led him to be shortlisted for the BAFTA award for Best Light Entertainment Performance four times, though he lost out to his co-star Nigel Hawthorne on all four occasions.

While filming for "Yes, Prime Minister", Eddington was diagnosed with T cell lymphoma, a type of haematological cancer that affects the skin but he continued performing on stage and television; for years he kept his illness a secret from all but his friends and co-stars.

Final Years

His last roles were in "The Camomile Lawn", a 1992 TV dramatisation of Mary Wesley's novel and as the voice of Badger in "The Adventures of Mole" (1995).

Shortly before his death in 1995, Eddington made a moving appearance on the television series "Face to Face", discussing his life, career and disease with Jeremy Isaacs. His autobiography, "So Far, So Good", was published by Hodder & Stoughton - also in 1995.

Awards and Honours

Eddington was made a "Commander of the Order of the British Empire" (CBE) in 1987 and in 1992, won the Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor, for his performance in "No Man's Land".

Personal Life

Politically, Eddington's faith as a Quaker led him to be a supporter of unilateral nuclear disarmament and an opponent of the Trident missile programme.

Eddington died from cancer in 1995 and was survived by his wife, Patricia Scott and their four children. BBC1 aired a half-hour tribute to him on 15 July 2001 called "Paul Eddington: A Life Well Lived".

Further reading

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External links

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