Robert Douglas Fyfe (25 September 1930 – 15 September 2021) was a Scottish actor, best known for his role as Howard in the long-running British sitcom Last of the Summer Wine from 1985 to 2010.
Early life
Fyfe was born in
Kirkcaldy on 25 September 1930, the son of Douglas Fyfe, a watchmaker, and Mary Fyfe née Irvine. He attended Kirkcaldy High School,
before studying English literature at the University of Edinburgh. He did not complete his degree and instead trained under Esmé Church at the Northern Theatre School in
Bradford, graduating in 1954. Whilst studying, he performed in Halifax,
York and Scarborough, including appearing in the York Mystery Plays in 1954.
Career
Fyfe appeared in the films
Xtro,
The 51st State,
Around the World in 80 Days,
Gaolbreak and
Babel. In 2012 he appeared in
Cloud Atlas. Other credits include guest appearances on
Z-Cars,
Survivors,
The Gentle Touch,
The Return of Sherlock Holmes and
Monarch of the Glen. Fyfe appeared as Malcolm Lagg, a lollipop man, in
Coronation Street in December 2012. His character was seen training
Dennis Tanner, played by
Philip Lowrie, to take over his job.
Personal life
He married stage director Diana Rush in 1957. She died in August 2021. Fyfe died from
kidney disease on 15 September 2021, at the age of 90. They were survived by their three sons, Timothy, Nicholas and Dominic.
Filmography
Film
|
| 1962 | Gaolbreak | Wally | | |
| 1982 | Xtro | Doctor | | |
| 2001 | The 51st State | Hector Dougal McElroy | | |
| 2004 | Around the World in 80 Days | Jean Michel | | [ Robert Fyfe: Last of the Summer Wine star dies aged 90] |
| 2006 | Babel | Tourist Number 14 | | |
| 2010 | Burke & Hare | Old Donald | | |
| 2011 | The Decoy Bride | Ancient Crofter | | |
| 2012 | Cloud Atlas | Old Salty Dog / Mr. Meeks / Prescient 1 | | |
| 2016 | Pride and Prejudice and Zombies | Butler Edwin | | |
Television roles
External links
