Wikipedia

Clive Swift

Clive Walter Swift (9 February 1936 – 1 February 2019) was an English actor and songwriter. A classically trained actor, his stage work included performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, but he was best known to television viewers for his role as Richard Bucket in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances.[1] He played many other television and film roles.

Clive Swift
Swift in Doctor Who: "Voyage of the Damned"
Birth nameClive Walter Swift
Born(1936-02-09)9 February 1936
Liverpool, England
Died1 February 2019(2019-02-01) (aged 82)
Paddington, London, England
MediumTelevision, film
Years active1962–2017
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1960; div. 1975)​
Children
Relative(s)David Swift (brother)

Life and career

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Swift was born in Liverpool on 9 February 1936,[2] the son of Abram Sampson Swift, who owned a furniture shop in Bootle, and Lily Rebecca, née Greenman.[3][4] He was educated at Clifton College and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge reading English literature. He was previously a teacher at LAMDA and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. His family was Jewish.[5]

He appeared as Snug in the Royal Shakespeare Company's 1968 film production of A Midsummer Night's Dream as part of a cast that included Diana Rigg, Helen Mirren and Ian Richardson.[6] During the 1970s, he appeared as Doctor Black in two of the BBC's M. R. James adaptations: The Stalls of Barchester and in A Warning to the Curious, as well as the BBC adaptation of The Barchester Chronicles.[6] He is best known for his role on Keeping Up Appearances as Richard Bucket, the long-suffering husband of Hyacinth.[6] Swift made two appearances in Doctor Who, in the 1985 story Revelation of the Daleks and the 2007 Christmas special. Around the time of his second appearance, he gave a "grumpy" interview to Doctor Who Magazine in which he bemoaned "not getting paid" to promote his episode, and belittled the show.[7] He also played Sir Ector, the adoptive father of King Arthur in John Boorman's 1981 film Excalibur.[6]

In addition to acting, he was a songwriter. Many of his songs were included in his shows Richard Bucket Overflows: An Audience with Clive Swift, which toured the UK in 2007,[8] and Clive Swift Entertains, in which he performed his own music and lyrics, which toured the UK in 2009.[9] He also played the part of the Reverend Eustacius Brewer in Born and Bred, which aired on BBC One from 2002 to 2005.[2] His last performance was in an episode of Midsomer Murders in 2017, after which he retired.[10]

Personal life and death

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Swift was married to novelist Margaret Drabble from 1960 until their divorce in 1975.[11] He was the father of one daughter, Rebecca (who died in April 2017), known for running The Literary Consultancy in London, and two sons, Adam Swift, an academic, and Joe Swift, a garden designer, journalist and television presenter.[12]

Swift died at home on 1 February 2019, aged 82, following a short illness.[13] Paying tribute to Swift, fellow actor James Dreyfus said he "loved this extremely talented, subtle actor".[14] His Keeping Up Appearances co-star Patricia Routledge said: "Clive was a skillful and inventive actor with wide experience, as his successful career proved", and that she was very sad to hear of her former co-star's death.[15]

Swift's elder brother, David, was also an actor.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1961 Johnny Nobody Courtroom Official Uncredited role
1965 Catch Us If You Can[16] Duffie
1968 A Midsummer Night's Dream[17] Snug
1972 Frenzy[18] Johnny Porter
Death Line[19] Inspector Richardson
1973 The National Health[20] Ash
Man at the Top[21] Massey
1978 The Sailor's Return[22] Reverend Pottock
1981 Excalibur[23] Ector
1984 Memed My Hawk[24] Magistrate
A Passage to India[25] Major Callendar
1988 Young Toscanini[26] Comparsa Uncredited role
1990 Othello[27] Brabantio DVD, re-released 2004[28]
1997 Gaston's War[29] General James
2003 Vacuums[30] AJ Johnson AKA: Stealing Bess (video title)

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1961 Theatre Night The King Episode: "Ondine"
1963 Love Story Mervyn Series 1; episode 11: "Dome Grist from Mervyn's Mill"
Compact Mr. Perrett Episode 172: "On the Run"
1965 Knock on Any Door Arkwright Series 1; episode 2: "The Knife"
1966 Armchair Theatre The Camp Doctor Series 6; episode 4: "The Sweet War Man"
Public Eye West Series 2; episode 11: "There Are More Things in Heaven and Earth"
1968 All's Well That Ends Well Captain Parolles, a follower of Bertram Television film
The Expert Graham Richards Series 1; episode 10: "He's Good for It"
1969 Dombey and Son Major Bagstock Mini-series; 7 episodes
Canterbury Tales The Pardoner's Tale First Rioter Episode 4: "The Friar's Tale / The Pardoner's Tale"
The Wednesday Play Neil Series 8; episode 18: "Birthday"
1970 Adjutant Series 9; episode 16: "Mad Jack"
Ryan International Inspector Jenet Episode 6: "Evidence of Murder"
ITV Sunday Night Theatre Max Fielder Series 3; episode 5: "Roll on Four O'Clock"
1970–1971 Thirty-Minute Theatre Inspector Waugh Series 6 (Waugh on Crime); episodes 8–13
1971 The Misfit Gerald Series 2; episode 5: "On the New Establishment"
A Ghost Story for Christmas Dr. Black Series 1; episode 1: "The Stalls of Barchester"[31]
1972 The Liver Birds[32] Jim Royle Series 3; episode 4: "Birds on Strike"
Villains Mr. Clough Episode 5: "Alice Sheree"
Dead of Night[33] Dan Episode 1: "The Exorcism"
A Ghost Story for Christmas Dr. Black Series 2; episode 1: "A Warning to the Curious"[34]
1973 The Moon Shines Bright on Charlie Chaplin Captain Television film
The Pearcross Girls Frank Pledger Episode 1: "Sweet Julia"
The Frighteners James Machen Episode 11: "The Classroom"
1974 South Riding Alfred E. Higgins Mini-series; 9 episodes
1975 BBC2 Playhouse Robbie Series 2; episode 1: "The Breakthrough"
Whodunnit? Commander Blade Series 3; episode 7: "Too Many Cooks"
Willow Cabins Matthew Television film
Play for Today Savory Series 5; episode 14: "Goodbye"
1976 Air Steward Series 7; episode 7: "Buffet"
The Brothers Griffith Trevelyan Series 6; episodes 6 & 7: "Tender" & "The Mole"
Goodbye America Lord North, the Prime Minister Television film
Clayhanger Albert Benbow Recurring role. 10 episodes
Romeo and Juliet[2] Friar Lawrence Television film. Also shown across 8 episodes of The English Programme in 1978
Victorian Scandals William Hepworth-Dixon Episode 7: "Beloved"
Beasts 'Bunny' Nettleton Mini-series; episode 6: "The Dummy"
1977 The Game Edmund Whitworth Television film
BBC2 Play of the Week Frank Series 1; episode 7: "The Kitchen"
1978 Adamson Series 1; episode 12: "Foreign Affairs"
1990 Tony Doran Series 2; episodes 1, 2 & 4
Jackanory Playhouse Professor Marvel Series 6; episode 4: "Big Pete, Little Pete"
Send in the Girls Mr. Fenton Episode 7: "Goosepimples"
Shadows Devine Series 3; episode 3: "And Now for My Next Trick..."
Bless Me, Father[35] Fred Dobie Series 1; episode 5: "Father and Mother"
A Horseman Riding By Watkins Episode 6: "1905: The Hollow Victory"
1979 Hazell Neville Fitch Series 2; episode 1: "Hazell and the Baker Street Sleuth"
A Family Affair Sir Charles Byford Mini-series; episode 10: "Finding the Words..."
The First Part of King Henry the Forth[36] Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester Television film
BBC2 Playhouse Alec Thorne Series 6; episode 5: "Home Movies"
1980 Director of Austrian State Radio Series 6; episode 25: "An Ordered Life"
The Nesbitts Are Coming Ernie Nesbitt Episodes 1–6
Cribb Dr. Probert Series 1; episode 8: "A Case of Spirits"
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Hastie Lanyon Television film
1981 BBC2 Playhouse Aaron Green Series 7; episode 18: "The Potsdam Quartet"
Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years[37] Sir Horace Wilson Mini-series; episodes 7 & 8
1982 Tales of the Unexpected[2] Latham Series 5; episode 5 "Stranger in Town"
The Gentle Touch Dalziel Series 4; episode 1: "Right of Entry"
Praying Mantis Dr. Faure Television film
The Further Adventures of Lucky Jim Lord Davenport Episode 5: "Eckersley Revisited"
The Barchester Chronicles[38] Dr. Proudie Mini-series; episodes 3–7
1983 Martin Luther, Heretic Johann Tetzel Television films
Events in a Museum Mr. Sloane
1984 Pericles, Prince of Tyre Lord Cerimon
1985 The Pickwick Papers[39] Tracy Tupman Episodes 1–12
Doctor Who Professor Jobel Series 22; episodes 12 & 13: "Revelation of the Daleks: Parts 1 & 2"[39]
Black Silk Oliver Hollingsworth Episode 3: "Barrister on Trial"
What Mad Pursuit? Bonwit Steinhauser Television film
1986 ScreenPlay James Series 1; episode 1: "All Together Now"
First Among Equals[2] Alec Pimkin Mini-series; episodes 1–10
1987 Pack of Lies[40] Ellis Television film
Inspector Morse[39] Dr. Bartlett Series 1; episode 2: "The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn"
Cause célèbre R.P. Croom Johnson K.C. Television film
1988 A Very Peculiar Practice Prof. Piers Platt Series 2; episode 2: "Art and Illusion"
The Ray Bradbury Theater St. John Court Season 2; episode 9: "The Coffin"
Les Girls Mr. Tobler Episode 2: "Spanners"
Double First Mr. Swift Episodes 3 & 4
Minder Chisholm's Director Series 7; episode: "An Officer and a Car Salesman"
Journey's End[41] Captain Hardy Television film
1989 Laura and Disorder Barry Page Episode 6: "The Metal Detector"
Storyboard Hewes Series 4; episode 4: "Hunted Down"
Gentlemen and Players Sammy Series 2; episode 6: "Another Square Mile"
Hard Cases Judge Series 2; episode 5
British Telecom Cyril (Beatie's brother-in-law in Australia) Television advertisement[42]
1990 The Return of Shelley Robson Series 2; episode 12: "A Problem Aired"
Theatre Night Brabantio / Gratiano Series 5; episode 1: "Othello"
This Is David Harper Parapope Joshua Episode 6: "Born Again Testerday"
1990–1995 Keeping Up Appearances[39] Richard Bucket Main role. Series 1–5; 44 episodes
1991 The War That Never Ends Athenagoras Television film
1992 Boon Charles Hastings Series 7; episode 2: "Queen's Gambit"
1993 Noel's House Party Richard Bucket Series 3; episode 2
Heartbeat[43] Victor Kellerman Series 3; episode 4: "Going Home"
1994 Woof! Alex Pardoe Series 7; episode 3: "Doggy Business"
1997 The Famous Five[39] Mr. Pottersham Series 2; episodes 7 & 8: "Five Have a Wonderful Time: Parts 1 & 2"
The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket Richard Bucket Television film (archive footage only)
1998 Peak Practice[44] Norman Shorthose Recurring role. Series 6; 10 episodes
1999 Aristocrats[45] King George II Mini-series; episodes 1–3
2002 Young Arthur Illtud Television film. Pilot for cancelled series
2002–2005 Born and Bred[39] Reverend Eustacius Brewer Series 1–4; 36 episodes
2007 Doctor Who Mr. Copper Series 4; Christmas Special episode: "Voyage of the Damned"[46]
2008 Keeping Up Appearances: Life Lessons from Onslow Richard Bucket Television film (archive footage only)
2009–2010 The Old Guys[39][2] Roy Series 1 & 2; 12 episodes
2010 Little Crackers Real Father Christmas Series 1; episode 2: "Chris O'Dowd's Little Cracker: Capturing Santa"
2011 Hustle[47] Yusef Series 7; episode 6: "The Delivery"
2014 Cuckoo[2] Dr. Rafferty Series 2; episode 4: "Funeral"
2015 Rosamunde Pilcher Edward Whiteley Episode: "Valentine's Kiss"[48]
SunTrap Colin Episode 2: "In the Line of Fire"
2017 Midsomer Murders[49] Felix Hope Series 19; episode 2: "Crime and Punishment" (final appearance)

Radio

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  • "Vivat Rex" as Lord Talbot in "Henry VI" by William Shakespeare, in episodes 15–16, BBC (1977)
  • Souvenirs of Chabrier - five-part series on the life and music of Emmanuel Chabrier, with Swift as the composer (1981)[50]
  • Measure for Measure as Escalus (2004)[51]
  • Oblomov as the Doctor (2005)[52]
  • The Right Time (2008)[53]
  • Jorrocks's Jaunts and Jollities as Nash (2011)[54]
  • The Price of Fear – Remains to be Seen as Fred Treiber (2012)[55]

Stage

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References

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  1. ^ "Clive Swift, classically trained actor with the RSC who was best known on television as the henpecked husband in 'Keeping Up Appearances' - obituary". Telegraph. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Barker, Dennis (1 February 2019). "Clive Swift obituary". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  3. ^ Hayward, Anthony (18 April 2016). "David Swift obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  4. ^ Clive Swift profile, filmreference.com; accessed 12 October 2016.
  5. ^ Margaret Drabble (20 April 2010). "Art Thou Contented, Jew?". Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d "Clive Swift Obituary". The Guardian. 1 February 2019.
  7. ^ Warner, Sam (30 October 2017). "Hilariously grumpy Doctor Who interview resurfaces". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  8. ^ Padman, Tony (5 April 2014). "Whatever happened to Keeping Up Appearances' Richard Bucket?". Daily Express. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Clive Swift, star of Keeping Up Appearances, dies". Daily Telegraph. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  10. ^ "The TV legend whose last major role was on tonight's episode of Midsomer Murders". 29 October 2021.
  11. ^ Sadler, Lynn Veach (1986). Margaret Drabble. Twayne Publishers. ISBN 978-0-8057-6907-4. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  12. ^ Silgardo, Melanie (25 April 2017). "Rebecca Swift obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  13. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances actor Clive Swift dies aged 82". The Independent. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  14. ^ "Tributes Pour In For Keeping Up Appearances Actor Clive Swift". HuffPost UK. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  15. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances' Clive Swift dies". BBC News. 1 February 2019.
  16. ^ "Having a Wild Weekend (1965) - John Boorman - Cast and Crew". AllMovie. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  17. ^ "Midsummer Night's Dream, A · British Universities Film & Video Council". bufvc.ac.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  18. ^ "Frenzy (1972) - Alfred Hitchcock - Cast and Crew". AllMovie. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  19. ^ "Raw Meat (1973) - Gary Sherman - Cast and Crew". AllMovie. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  20. ^ Guide, British Comedy (1 February 2019). "Actor Clive Swift dies aged 82". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  21. ^ "Man at the Top (1973)". BFI. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  22. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Sailor's Return, The (1978)". Screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  23. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Excalibur (1981) Credits". Screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  24. ^ "Memed My Hawk (1984)". BFI. Archived from the original on 7 October 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  25. ^ Barker, Dennis (1 February 2019). "Clive Swift obituary". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  26. ^ "Young Toscanini (1988)". Letterboxd.com. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  27. ^ Brooke, Michael. "Othello (1990)". BFI Screenonline. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  28. ^ "William Shakespeare Othello DVD with Michael Grandage, Ian McKellen, Clive Swift (NR) +Movie Reviews". Swapadvd.com. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  29. ^ "GASTON'S WAR (1997)". BFI. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  30. ^ "Clive Swift". IMDb. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  31. ^ "The Stalls of Barchester". British Film Institute Database. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  32. ^ Mumford, Gwilym (1 February 2019). "Clive Swift, actor in Keeping Up Appearances, dies aged 82". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  33. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Exorcism, The (1972)". Screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  34. ^ ""No diggin' 'ere!" – Revisiting the ghostly locations of A Warning to the Curious". British Film Institute. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  35. ^ TV.com. "Bless Me, Father: Father & Mother". TV.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  36. ^ "Henry IV. Part 1 (1979) · British Universities Film & Video Council". bufvc.ac.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  37. ^ "Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years". Britishdrama.org.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  38. ^ "The Barchester Chronicles". Trollope Society. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  39. ^ a b c d e f g "Clive Swift - TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  40. ^ "Pack of Lies (1987) - Anthony Page - Cast and Crew". AllMovie. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  41. ^ "Journey's End (1988), TV Movie on IMDb film database". IMDb. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  42. ^ Lipman, Maureen; Phillips, Richard (1989). You Got an Ology?. Fontana Press.
  43. ^ "Heartbeat - TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  44. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances star Clive Swift has died aged 82". HELLO!. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  45. ^ "Aristocrats (1999)". Rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  46. ^ "10 Things You May Not Know About 'Voyage of the Damned'". BBC America.
  47. ^ "BBC One - Hustle, Series 7, The Delivery". BBC. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  48. ^ https://letterboxd.com/film/rosamunde-pilcher-fighting-for-her-family/
  49. ^ "Crime and Punishment – Guest Cast | TVmaze". Tvmaze.com. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  50. ^ Souvenirs of Chabrier BBC Radio 3 (From Radio Times) accessed 21 December 2024.
  51. ^ "Measure for Measure · British Universities Film & Video Council". bufvc.ac.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  52. ^ "Oblomov - Episode 1". Radio Times. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  53. ^ "BBC Radio 4 Extra - The Right Time, Series 1, Episode 1". BBC. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  54. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Classic Serial, Jorrocks's Jaunts and Jollities, Episode 2". BBC. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  55. ^ "BBC Radio 4 Extra - The Price of Fear, Remains to Be Seen". BBC. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  56. ^ "Cymbeline, Gaskill/Allio, Royal Shakespeare Company, July 1962". Ahds.rhul.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  57. ^ "Clive Swift Biography (1936-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
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