Fresh faced actor Barry Evans was a regular on our TV screens in the 1970's.
The star of "Doctor at Large" and "Mind Your Language" who became a British sitcom favourite, was born in 1943 in the Surrey town of Guildford.
His first leading role was in the 1967 film "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush" with Judy Geeson and three years later he gained the part of Michael Upton in the UK smash hit comedy "Doctor In The House" moving on to the sequel hit "Doctor at Large".
Doctor in the House - episode 1
In 1975 he starred in the hit big screen sex comedy "The Adventures of a Taxi Driver", but soon returned to ITV for the leading role in a new sitcom "Mind Your Language".
Here he played the part of a teacher of English to foreign students. Again the show was a big TV success, gaining a worldwide audience.
Mind Your Language - episode 1
However, as the 80's came, Evans found it more and more difficult to find work. His so called youthful image worked against him and he found difficulty in finding parts to match his age.
By the late 1990's, as his acting work diminished, he was known to be working as a mini-cab driver in the English East Midlands.
Sadly, in 1997 he was found dead in his bungalow at Claybrooke Magna, Leicestershire aged only 53.
He was found to have suffered a blow to the head and an autopsy showed he had high levels of alcohol in his system. Although an 18 year old man was initially arrested for the murder, he was subsequently released without charge.
The Coroner eventually gave an open verdict and to this day it is still unclear how Evans met his end.
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hi, from Turkey, I know Barry Evans from Mind Your English. And he is an amazing actor. İ liked him so much.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing actor, loved him in the Doctor series. Cannot understand why he could not find work in the acting profession. His heart must have been broken to have to resort to earning a living driving a taxi. RIP Barry You will not be forgotten.
ReplyDeleteI liked all the programmes that Barry Evans played in, I often wondered what happened to him, I was very surprised to find out that he became a taxi driver and lived not far from me in Claybrooke Magna, Leicestershire, I am really sad to hear that he died aged 53 in suspicious circumstances,
ReplyDeletei miss him too im. 15 and i really loved dr in the house and all his other roles when. was the photo taken when he was in his kitchen cooking
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