18 Facts About Bernard Bresslaw

Bernard Bresslaw was an English actor and comedian.

Bernard Bresslaw was best known as a member of the Carry On film franchise.

Bernard Bresslaw was born the youngest of three boys into a Jewish family in Stepney, London, on 25 February 1934.

Bernard Bresslaw attended the Coopers' Company's School in Tredegar Square, Bow, London, and became interested in acting after visits to the Hackney Empire.

Bernard Bresslaw's first Carry On film was Carry On Cowboy in 1965.

Bernard Bresslaw later made a comedy version of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde for Hammer titled The Ugly Duckling.

Bernard Bresslaw made great efforts to prepare for roles, for example learning Fanagalo phrases for Carry On Up the Jungle.

Bernard Bresslaw played Varga, the lead villain in the 1967 Doctor Who story The Ice Warriors.

Bernard Bresslaw played the genie on the Sooty Show and voiced Gorilla on The Giddy Game Show.

Between 1985 and 1987, Bernard Bresslaw provided the voice of Gorilla in Yorkshire TV's animated series The Giddy Game Show.

Bernard Bresslaw performed with The English Stage Company, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Young Vic and the Chichester Festival Theatre.

Bernard Bresslaw was the author of a privately published volume of poetry, Ode to the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Bernard Bresslaw was married to the dancer Betty Wright from 1959 until his death in 1993.

Bernard Bresslaw was a member of the Grand Order of Water Rats, a British entertainment fraternity and in 1988 he was elected "King Rat" of the order.

Bernard Bresslaw was a Freemason and member of Chelsea Lodge 3098.

Bernard Bresslaw died of a sudden heart attack on 11 June 1993.

Bernard Bresslaw had collapsed in the green room at the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park, London, where he was to play Grumio in the New Shakespeare Company's production of Taming of the Shrew.

Bernard Bresslaw's body was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium, north London, where his ashes were buried on 17 June 1993.