Michael Bates (actor)

Michael Bates (actor)
Michael Bates

Michael Bates as Cyril Blamire in Last of the Summer Wine.
Born Michael Bates
4 December 1920(1920-12-04)
Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Died 11 January 1978(1978-01-11) (aged 57)
Cambridge, England
Occupation Actor
Years active 1953–77

Michael Bates (4 December 1920 – 11 January 1978) was a British actor born in Jhansi, United Provinces, India.

Contents

Biography

Bates served as a Major serving with the Brigade of Gurkhas in Burma before his discharge at the end of World War II. In 1953, while an ensemble member with the Stratford Festival in Stratford Ontario, he appeared in Richard III and All's Well That Ends Well. In 1956 he appeared in Hotel Paradiso, which starred Alec Guinness, at the Winter Garden Theatre in London.

He appeared in many UK television series including Last of the Summer Wine from 1973 to 1975 as Cyril Blamire and It Ain't Half Hot Mum from 1974 to 1977 as Rangi Ram, as well as many others. His role as Rangi Ram caused some controversy as it required Bates to be made-up with fake tan to look like an Indian, which he took to naturally as he was born in India and spoke the Hindi language fluently. On radio he played a variety of characters in the BBC's long-running comedy series The Navy Lark. These were: Able Seaman Ginger, Lt. Bates, Rear Admiral Ironbridge, the Padre and Captain Ignatius Aloysius Atchison.

Bates's film roles include Battle of Britain (1969) as Warrant Officer Warwick, Oh! What a Lovely War (1969) as a Lance-corporal, Patton (1970) as Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law Montgomery (to whom he bore a striking resemblance), Frenzy (1972) by Alfred Hitchcock, and the Stanley Kubrick film A Clockwork Orange (1971). On stage, he did Shakespeare at Stratford and at the Old Vic and made a big impression as Inspector Truscott in the West End production of Loot by Joe Orton in 1966. He died of cancer in Cambridge, aged 57. His son, Rupert is also an actor.

Selected television roles

Year Title Role
1973–1975 Last of the Summer Wine Cyril Blamire
1974–1977 It Ain't Half Hot Mum Bearer Rangi Ram

Selected filmography

External links


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