Eric "The Plank" Sykes

[vegster]

He may have come across that way because he struggled with deafness for much of his life and genuinely had problems communicating with people as a result.
Must agree with you on Ronnie Corbett though. I followed him 2 or 3 times when he used to partner Ian Woosnam in the Pro-Ams at Woburn in the late 80's and early nineties. A very funny guy and very unfairly overshadowed by Ronnie Barker IMO.

When you are only 5 ' high, I think being overshadowed is an occupational hazard.

 

[glasfryn]

I thought he was older than that. Remember him on TV with Hattie Jaques and Deryck Guyler in the 1970s.

Or is that Patrick Moore?

unbelievable that Hattie Jaques was his sister their timing together was great
he was one of the greats along with many others now gone
RIP Eric

 

[Manx Shearwater]

Hattie wasn't his REAL sister, you know that?

 

[daveinprague]

Quite sad about this, although if im honest, I thought he had died years ago...
RIP Eric.

 

[brakespear]

There goes another part of my childhood.

Same for me - RIP Eric, just about the last of the great 'old wave' of comedians (unless I'm doing someone else a disservice).

edit: reading the rest of the thread, yes, Ronnie Corbett is still with us.

 

[Norman Potting]

Hattie wasn't his REAL sister, you know that?

She was his identical twin sister according the TV shows.

 

[Manx Shearwater]

You'll be telling us that Derek Guyler was a real policeman next!

 

[ALBION28]

Thanks for the memories Eric. R.I.P

 

[Silk]

You'll be telling us that Derek Guyler was a real policeman next!

Wasn't he??

 

[Manx Shearwater]

No.

He was a school caretaker/janitor.

 

[Vegas Seagull]

Tee'd off behind me at East Brighton many moons ago, when I were a lad, said I had a 'beautiful swing' unlike the inbulit natural slice i have now

 

[happypig]

No.

He was a school caretaker/janitor.

And a Desert Rat you know..

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Apart from contactual reasons how come he never appeared in any 'Carry-on' films ?

 

[rocker959]

How ironic as I was talking to Jim Chambers ex - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band member who lives in Cowfold just yesterday lunchtime about Eric Sykes ..... spooky !! RIP to another one of the greats.

 

[FamilyGuy]

We shall not see his like again ... a sad day


... and I for one think his autobiography is simply one of the best books I have ever read!

 

[The Large One]

Apart from contactual reasons how come he never appeared in any 'Carry-on' films ?

He didn't do 'smut' generally.

Plus, more pertinently, he was a cut above them.

 

[Albumen]

He didn't do 'smut' generally.

Plus, more pertinently, he was a cut above them.

Yep, apart from Kenneth Williams there wasn't a great overlap of Radio stars/writers and the Carry On smutty actors. The former had a little more intelligence!