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Ben Aris

{{short description|English actor (1937–2003)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2016}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Ben Aris

| image = Actor_Ben_Aris.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1937|3|16|df=y}}

| birth_name = Benjamin Patrick Aris

| birth_place = London, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|2003|9|4|1937|3|16|df=y}}

| death_place = Esher, Surrey, England

| spouse = {{marriage|Yemaiel Oved|1966}}

| children = 2, including Jonathan Aris

| yearsactive = 1951–2002

}}

Benjamin Patrick Aris (16 March 1937 – 4 September 2003) was an English actor who was best known for his parts in Hi-de-Hi! and To the Manor Born, and was also very active on stage. He was often cast as an eccentric, upper-class or upper-middle class man.

Early life and education

Benjamin Patrick Aris was born on 16 March 1937 in London, and following the Second World War, he trained at the Arts Educational School.{{cite news |title=Ben Aris |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/ben-aris-2469125 |access-date=26 November 2022 |work=The Scotsman |date=12 September 2003}}

At the age of 16, he joined a national tour of the show Zip Goes a Million. He then did his national service in the British Army.

Early career

After completing his national service, Aris appeared in many musicals and films, including The Plague of the Zombies, The Charge of the Light Brigade and if.....

On stage, Aris was in the 1960 production of the revue "One Over The Eight" at the Duke of York's Theatre in London.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/oct/22/guardianobituaries1|title=Obituary: Ben Aris|date=22 October 2003|website=the Guardian}}

He also appeared in Tony Richardson's 1969 production of "Hamlet" at London's Roundhouse, its New York transfer to the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, and also its film version the same year.{{Cite web| url=https://theatricalia.com/play/2/hamlet/production/v8x|title=Production of Hamlet | Theatricalia|website=theatricalia.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/ben-aris-98528|title=Ben Aris – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB|website=www.ibdb.com}}

Film and television career

His first television role was in the children's series Jamie in 1971.{{Cite web|url=https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1970s/jamie/|title=Jamie | Nostalgia Central|date=7 May 2011 }} He also appeared in Invasion of the Dinosaurs, a 1974 Doctor Who serial.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/invasiondinosaurs/detail.shtml|title=BBC - Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide - Invasion of the Dinosaurs - Details|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} His other early television roles included Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, Sam and the River (1975), Crown Court, Wodehouse Playhouse and Target.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=522|title=Ben Aris|website=www.aveleyman.com}} During that time he also appeared in the films Get Carter, The Three Musketeers, Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World and Juggernaut.{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba0443c15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720195256/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba0443c15|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 July 2016|title=Ben Aris|website=BFI}} He also worked several times for director Ken Russell, in films The Music Lovers, Savage Messiah, and Tommy, and in TV's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Lady Chatterley.{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ben-aris-37105.html|title=Ben Aris|date=15 September 2003|website=The Independent}}

For three episodes, from 1980 to 1981, he played Mr Spalding in To the Manor Born, and then in 1983, he portrayed Edmund Waller, one of Tom Lacey's friends at the court of Charles I, in By the Sword Divided.{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/33b0453c897d4fe6aa6344fb6879c871|title=By the Sword Divided|date=23 October 1983|issue=3128|pages=33|via=BBC Genome}} In 1984, he made his first appearance in Hi-de-Hi! as Julian Dalrymple-Sykes, a dancer. He became a regular in 1986 and played the part until the show's end in 1988. He also starred in Bergerac, Agatha Christie's Poirot, You Rang, M'Lord? and Boon. As well as acting with Penelope Keith in To the Manor Born, he also appeared with her in Executive Stress and No Job for a Lady.

Later years

One of the most memorable stage performances was in the West End playing Geoffrey in Stepping Out by Richard Harris. His final stage appearance was in The Lady in the Van by Alan Bennett, opposite Dame Maggie Smith. His final TV appearance was in the 2002 drama Ready. He died in Surrey in 2003 aged 66.{{cite news|url=http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=ONSDeath93&so=2&_8000C002=&_8000C003=Aris&_80004002=Benjamin&_80004003=Aris&_80008002=&_80008003=&gsby=&gsb1co=1%2cAll+Countries&gsb1pl=1%2c+&gsdy=&gsd1co=1%2cAll+Countries&gsd1pl=1%2c+&sbo=0&ufr=0&prox=1&db=&ti=5538&ti.si=0&gss=angs-b&o_iid=21417&o_lid=21417&o_it=21417&offerid=0%3a7935%3a0&rank=0&srchb=r|title=BMD Indexes 1984-2004|publisher=Ancestry.co.uk}} His son Jonathan Aris followed him into acting.

Selected filmography

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References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{IMDb name|id=0034873}}
  • {{IBDB name|98528}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Aris, Ben}}

Category:1937 births

Category:2003 deaths

Category:Actors educated at the Arts Educational Schools

Category:English male film actors

Category:English male stage actors

Category:English male television actors

Category:Male actors from London