Barry Stanton (actor)

Barry Stanton
Born (1940-02-17) 17 February 1940
Manchester, England
OccupationActor
Years active1963–2007 (film & TV)

Barry Stanton (born 17 February 1940)[1] is a British stage, film and television actor.[2]

Biography

Growing up in Accrington, Stanton discovered he was a good dancer at the age of seven when he played an elf in a school play.[3] He hoped to become a ballet dancer and for nine years studied classical ballet at the Carlotta Ballet School/Blackburn School of Dancing, winning a scholarship to Sadler's Wells Theatre.[4][5] Unfortunately, while on holiday in France at the age of 15 to watch the Tour de France (he was a keen club cyclist), he was involved in a cycle accident where he caught his foot in a bicycle wheel, resulting in a permanently damaged ankle, ending any hopes of a dancing career.[6][7][8][9][10][11]

Stanton then tried chemical engineering but realised this was not the job for him[10][11] after breaking equipment and blowing up a laboratory.[9] Persuaded by his sister to go to drama school, he went to London, aged 17[3] and attended the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] alongside Julie Christie and James Bolam. During this time, Stanton worked part-time as a washer-up at a nearby restaurant at nights[12] with Bolam to earn an extra bit of money.[4][5]

After completing his three-year course at drama school, winning an acting diploma for his performances,[8] Stanton's first professional engagement was with summer repertory in Exmouth.[6][7] This was followed by various theatre work in other repertories including Liverpool Playhouse Company,[8] as well as going on worldwide tours such as playing Bottom in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1972–1973[13] and various roles in The Wars of the Roses with the English Shakespeare Company in 1988[14] in addition to appearances in film and television.

Selected filmography

Film

Television

References

  1. ^ National Archives of Australia (NAA): Passenger Microfiche Index – 1973-1989
  2. ^ Brand p.80
  3. ^ a b "It's really exhausting being a drunk!". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 24 April 1998. p. 37. Retrieved 17 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c "Always the heavy role for 16-stone Barry". Birmingham Evening Mail. 28 November 1978. p. 2. Retrieved 17 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c "When Barry washed up with a Likely Lad". Manchester Evening News. 5 December 1978. p. 3. Retrieved 17 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c "He fought back". Manchester Evening News. 1 July 1960. p. 6. Retrieved 17 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c "First step on the road to stardom". Lancashire Telegraph. 4 July 1960. p. 4. Retrieved 17 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b c d "To be in new play". Lancashire Telegraph. 30 September 1963. p. 6. Retrieved 17 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c "A part for Barry". Lancashire Telegraph. 1 April 1965. p. 8. Retrieved 17 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b c "Barry gets play part at Aldwych". Lancashire Telegraph. 12 October 1966. p. 2. Retrieved 17 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b c "Barry's Part in the Street". Lancashire Telegraph. 29 September 1967. p. 7. Retrieved 17 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b "Why Falstaff loves the 'cheating' city". Bristol Evening Post. 3 December 1987. p. 7. Retrieved 17 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Dazzling Dream". Southern Daily Echo. 19 August 1972. p. I. Retrieved 17 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Wars of Roses over three days". Derby Evening Telegraph. 10 December 1987. p. 12. Retrieved 17 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.

Bibliography

  • George W. Brand. British Television Drama in the 1980s. Cambridge University Press, 1993.