Leonard made it all look so effortless which I'm sure it wasn't. He immersed himself in the characters he played and his comedic timing was up there with the very best. Such a shame we lost him so young ! RIP Leonard and thanks for keeping me laughing through the dark times !
How on earth he leaned such tongue-twisting monologues and recited them so flawlessly is a wonder. Even Sir Humphrey would graciously nod to that effort.
I'm in America and discovered Leonard when the local PBS ran "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin" on Saturday nights as part of its British comedy series. I immediately became a fan.
One of Comedies true geniuses.......There are very few Actors in the world of Comedy that can match Leonard,s timing......Always an absolute joy to watch.
Leonard Rossiter was a great character actor, and his portrayal of the miserly landlord in the classic Rising Damp is pure genius, and the rise and fall of Reginald Perry was brilliantly written , and Rossiter was perfect in the lead. He was a sad lose to telly and comedy when he passed far to young at only 57 in 1984. Leonard Rossiter (RIP).
It takes a very intelligent man to play a fool and be funny. He was such a truly great actor. Not many are a master of both comedy and serious drama as Leonard Rossiter was.
Leonard Rossiter was a terrific character actor, and definitely one of Britain's finest comedy actors,...he was acclaimed for both his stage and tv work,...and gave us two of comedies best and most iconic characters to grace our screens......Rigsby ( Rising Damp) and Reggie Perry ( The fall and rise of Reginald Perry)........he was sadly taken far to young at only 57 in 1984,..., but he remains one the true greats in sitcom comedy history.
I grew up ln the 70s watching this guy and he had me rolling on the floor with laughter Leonard Rossiter the LEGEND . Half the time he needn't say anything it was just his face and expressions that did it all .
WHen RIsing Damp toured as a stage production before the series the man who wrote the play said that at the start of the play when Leonard walked on the stage and glowered at the audience they began laughing without a word being said . The writer was saying that he was afraid that people would fail to find his writing laughable and was much encouraged to see and hear that happen.
Len had a long career in the theatre but he was/is famous for his 'Rigsby' in Rising Damp from 1974 to 1978, and Reginald Perrin in the BBC's The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin from 1976 to 1979. Besides a household name he was a published writer, a stage actor, and radio star. Also a stage manager, film actor, was in repertory, and played in musicals. He made his first film in 1962. Len also had a marvellous knack for learning lines. He was never Hamlet but he was Richard III at Nottingham. Old Skool, and you can't knock 'em.
I loved Leonard Rossiter in just about anything he did. He had great timing and the chemistry between him and Joan Collins in the Cinzano ads was just right. Very sad that he died when he did.
yes so crap life can be !!!!!!!! HE started out NOT being an "Actor" at ALL !!!! what is what his wife joined the local dramatics society as a hobby and Lenord used to stay to watch the play............and on one occasion the actor in the play they were doing didn't turn up ...so they asked him to take his place which he did ,,,,,,,AND the rest is History so to speak !!!!!!!!
Wonderful comic actor. He put so much into his portrayals of Rigsby and Reggir Perrin, you do wonder sometimes if it puts extra strain on the heart having to be 'on' like that for so many years. The 70s was the golden age for British TV drama and comedy
Totally agree the 70's was the golden age for drama and comedy. Been watching as much as I can of what is available - nothing comes near it today. Great actor Leonard Rossiter
Great actor in theatre, film and TV which not many people have achieved. My favourite characters that Leonard played were Mr Shadrack in Billy Liar and Mr Sowerberry in Oliver, both undertakers in these films, and Rigsby, of course who I think had a hint of both aforementioned film characters. He died well before his time.
Thankyou this is wonderful I have never seen him being interviewed and this is excellent. He was a unique & such a brilliant actor,and judging by this a nice man toboot
Just a brilliantly funny interesting comic. Everything he did was great. I was a kid/teenager at that time. Still loved watching with my dad. Happy days
He and Ronnie Barker had an amazing ability to remember dialogue...and they didn't have much time to learn the stuff. I'd love to know how they managed it.
I'd have loved to have heard Leonard talk about 'Rising Damp', one of the all-time greatest sitcoms - and specifically his feelings about co-star the great Richard Beckinsale who, when this interview was recorded, had died 18 months previously aged just 31. Leonard Rossiter had a reputation among some of his fellow actors for being difficult to work with but he adored Richard Beckinsale and was devastated at his premature death. I'd have loved to have heard him talk about that and share some 'Rising Damp' anecdotes - I guess the interviewer was a bigger fan of Reggie Perrin as they seemed to talk more about that. Shame.
Apparently so, they were poles apart politically - Frances a staunch Socialist and Leonard a true blue Tory. I think it is testament to the talent of both actors that they were professional enough to put their differences aside and turn in all those wonderful performances as Rigsby and Miss Jones - many in very close proximity on the sofa in Rigsby's grotty bedsitting rooms!
Fantastic interview, really enjoyed watching it. Such a gifted and talented man who gave us so many great memories. He seemed very relaxed and happy answering the questions.
wow what a great speech in that mock interview clip. I remember seeing The Reggie PErrin series in the 70s as a kid and I didn't get anything other than the silyl slapstick stuff like chairs that made fart sounds and those men who said "Great", "super"", and the mother-in-law hippo. But now it really looks like a different animal. I kind of assumed that this sense of disatisfaction with the modern wage slavery way of life was something that came about later but it's all there in Reggie Perrin. Really great upload this - thank you.
His portrayal of Rigsby was second to none. He was completely natural and it was as if he hadn’t even read a script. Wonderful. I still watch Rising Damp often and still laugh after all these years. RIP 🦋
Thumminf thru' my old theatre programmes, I remember watching him play The Heretic at The Nottingham Playhouse in 1970 (as a 6th former) For me he was a first rate actor who could have turned his hand to any part
+Colin Grimshaw ha ha- many thanks for the interview and for checking out my video. The jury has always been out on Rossiter being of Lizard stock but I think I can give him a pass. His Reggie and Rigsby were that good:)
Absolutely fascinating, thanks for uploading! The interviewer looks very young - perhaps his inexperience explains why again and again he keeps talking over LR's responses, it gets a little frustrating! I would love to know more about how this interview came about? I just noticed Leonard Rossiter was born the same year as Marilyn Monroe and The Queen - tragic that MM and LR died young, Her Maj is the last one standing, 90 this year God bless her! Thanks again for sharing this.
I watched the first Reggie at a young age and thought it was great, his part with Geoffrey Palmer when Geoffrey proposes form a secret army to fight against the forces of anarchy is a stand out moment in British comedy. It spawned a series on channel 4 called Fairly Secret Army.
@ 3:30 wonderful demonstration of the complexity of the English vocabulary, soon to be forgotten and replaced with vibrantly enriching multicultural English phrases such as innit, nom'sayin and other assorted primitive grunts. That's progress I suppose.
He seemed more relaxed talking to this youngster, he could be quite prickly during interviews especially if anyone mentioned type casting. Wavertree in Liverpool where he's from is quite a rough area in places.
That brief scene with Dr Floyd and the ladies I have watched a gazillion times. I have no idea why. But there are plenty others of us. Of course the other scene with Wm. Sylvester (Floyd) in the briefing room is just as mesmerizing.
I’m one of those. I can’t put my finger on what it is exactly, but there IS something quite exceptional about his performance in 2001. I have many theories, but no conclusions. I often cite it as one of the all time greatest movie/acting moments for me personally, yet I cannot say why with any great precision.
Chrisopher Stauli who played Alan in the spin off of Rising Damp said that his lowest point was when he was working with Leonard on the film. He believed Leanard resented him and that his sadness and frustration of Alan's passing was directed at him and so making it difficult during the filming. Irrespective of whether fellows actors had a pretty tough time with him, I always enjoyed watching Leonards performances.
Christopher Strauli who was probably best known for hospital comedy "ONLY WHEN I LAUGH" in the bar scene with Leonard. He also appeared in another hospital series , "ANGELS" in a straight role.
In the opening credits to Reginald Perrin, you can tell it's a different actor entering the water as he appears to the left of where Rossiter disappeared from view. They didn't line it up very well.
Leonard made it all look so effortless which I'm sure it wasn't. He immersed himself in the characters he played and his comedic timing was up there with the very best.
Such a shame we lost him so young ! RIP Leonard and thanks for keeping me laughing through the dark times !
Brilliant actor. Him and Harold H Corbett are the finest ever actors I have ever seen on a british sitcom.
Leonard Rossiter was a total genius. He was a dreadful loss to the world of show business.
I love this man ,I think he was a brilliant actor
How on earth he leaned such tongue-twisting monologues and recited them so flawlessly is a wonder. Even Sir Humphrey would graciously nod to that effort.
Perfect in every role he played. One of the true greats. RIP indeed.
He will never be forgotten in the history of British comedy
I'm in America and discovered Leonard when the local PBS ran "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin" on Saturday nights as part of its British comedy series. I immediately became a fan.
It is a glorious show; so bitter, tragic, and yet still funny!
Rising Damp, starring Leonard Rossiter, is the best British sitcom ever, in my opinion.
Nice to see this interview. Along with Ronnie Barker and Harry H Corbett in this period Leonard Rossiter was one of the great comic actors.
We were spoilt for choice back then with comic acting talent in Britain.
One of Comedies true geniuses.......There are very few Actors in the world of Comedy that can match Leonard,s timing......Always an absolute joy to watch.
What a lovely relaxed interview. It almost seems like they're just having a chat.
Leonard Rossiter was a great character actor, and his portrayal of the miserly landlord in the classic Rising Damp is pure genius, and the rise and fall of Reginald Perry was brilliantly written , and Rossiter was perfect in the lead. He was a sad lose to telly and comedy when he passed far to young at only 57 in 1984. Leonard Rossiter (RIP).
Jim Hope My father died young that year too.
It takes a very intelligent man to play a fool and be funny. He was such a truly great actor. Not many are a master of both comedy and serious drama as Leonard Rossiter was.
Leonard Rossiter was a terrific character actor, and definitely one of Britain's finest comedy actors,...he was acclaimed for both his stage and tv work,...and gave us two of comedies best and most iconic characters to grace our screens......Rigsby ( Rising Damp) and Reggie Perry ( The fall and rise of Reginald Perry)........he was sadly taken far to young at only 57 in 1984,..., but he remains one the true greats in sitcom comedy history.
Perrin.
Watching the likes of Leonard Rossiter act, it makes me realise that a lot of Hollywood actors are overrated and overpaid.
Lol, just a bit! They're not fit to lace his boots, as my old dad used to say.
@@thadtuiol1717 that's so correct brilliant actor 💯 so funny absolutely classic 💯
I grew up ln the 70s watching this guy and he had me rolling on the floor with laughter Leonard Rossiter the LEGEND .
Half the time he needn't say anything it was just his face and expressions that did it all .
WHen RIsing Damp toured as a stage production before the series the man who wrote the play said that at the start of the play when Leonard walked on the stage and glowered at the audience they began laughing without a word being said . The writer was saying that he was afraid that people would fail to find his writing laughable and was much encouraged to see and hear that happen.
His acting in "2001 Space Odyssey" is superb. One of my favorite movie scenes.
Yeah really subtle and fascinating performance.
Completely agree. His scene in 2001 is very special indeed.
shame he didn't get more meaty roles
Crazy how he died just four years after this interview. Always missed. Great actor, great interview.
Len had a long career in the theatre but he was/is famous for his 'Rigsby' in Rising Damp from 1974 to 1978, and Reginald Perrin in the BBC's The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin from 1976 to 1979. Besides a household name he was a published writer, a stage actor, and radio star. Also a stage manager, film actor, was in repertory, and played in musicals. He made his first film in 1962. Len also had a marvellous knack for learning lines. He was never Hamlet but he was Richard III at Nottingham. Old Skool, and you can't knock 'em.
I loved Leonard Rossiter in just about anything he did. He had great timing and the chemistry between him and Joan Collins in the Cinzano ads was just right. Very sad that he died when he did.
Sadly missed, such talent, all those facial expressions, genius god bless him 😁
Great great actor Leonard was sadly missed loved him in risein damp genuis
Both him and Richard Beckinsale taken far to early with heart attacks, so sad
yes so crap life can be !!!!!!!! HE started out NOT being an "Actor" at ALL !!!! what is what his wife joined the local dramatics society as a hobby and Lenord used to stay to watch the play............and on one occasion the actor in the play they were doing didn't turn up ...so they asked him to take his place which he did ,,,,,,,AND the rest is History so to speak !!!!!!!!
They lived in a place with a damp problem.
I liked that. A nice historical record as it turned out. Well produced Colin 👍
He's funny as !!! Clever as great actor 💯 aww they don't come any greater than him 💯💕
Wonderful comic actor. He put so much into his portrayals of Rigsby and Reggir Perrin, you do wonder sometimes if it puts extra strain on the heart having to be 'on' like that for so many years. The 70s was the golden age for British TV drama and comedy
Totally agree the 70's was the golden age for drama and comedy. Been watching as much as I can of what is available - nothing comes near it today. Great actor Leonard Rossiter
Great actor in theatre, film and TV which not many people have achieved. My favourite characters that Leonard played were Mr Shadrack in Billy Liar and Mr Sowerberry in Oliver, both undertakers in these films, and Rigsby, of course who I think had a hint of both aforementioned film characters. He died well before his time.
Fantastic in Rising Damp
What a charming interview!
Thankyou this is wonderful I have never seen him being interviewed and this is excellent. He was a unique & such a brilliant actor,and judging by this a nice man toboot
He was brilliant in rising damp
Absolutely.
When the plane flew over during the interview, I was just waiting for him to shout, "I see we're on the flight path again today!"
Ha ha yes. He lived in Chelsea, where we recorded this interview.
I found this most interesting. Such an intelligent, interesting man, and a wonderful character actor - what a tragedy his early death was!
A great comic actor and very manic.All the greats from the 70s are now dead.A great era for British comedy and nothing today compares.
rising damp just brilliant
My favourite... loved it so much that I named my dog rigsby 😀
Thank you for uploading this. Marvellous to see. :)
The greatest comedy actor that I have seen during my lifetime. A pure genius.
i agree Barry, just seen a great in interview with Harry Corbett as well
@Barry Allen Peter Sellers?
Masterful Brilliant Actor, great Interview.
Just a brilliantly funny interesting comic. Everything he did was great. I was a kid/teenager at that time. Still loved watching with my dad. Happy days
I grew up with Rising Damp and it was one of my favourite shows.
He and Ronnie Barker had an amazing ability to remember dialogue...and they didn't have much time to learn the stuff. I'd love to know how they managed it.
Leonard's speed of dialogue was also incredible.
@@chestnutsev7 the writer of Rising Damp had to write more lines because Leonard delivered his dialogue so fast.
I'd have loved to have heard Leonard talk about 'Rising Damp', one of the all-time greatest sitcoms - and specifically his feelings about co-star the great Richard Beckinsale who, when this interview was recorded, had died 18 months previously aged just 31. Leonard Rossiter had a reputation among some of his fellow actors for being difficult to work with but he adored Richard Beckinsale and was devastated at his premature death. I'd have loved to have heard him talk about that and share some 'Rising Damp' anecdotes - I guess the interviewer was a bigger fan of Reggie Perrin as they seemed to talk more about that. Shame.
glamdolly20 is it true Leonard and Frances did not get on?
Apparently so, they were poles apart politically - Frances a staunch Socialist and Leonard a true blue Tory. I think it is testament to the talent of both actors that they were professional enough to put their differences aside and turn in all those wonderful performances as Rigsby and Miss Jones - many in very close proximity on the sofa in Rigsby's grotty bedsitting rooms!
Leonard seems very relaxed the most I've seen him in a interview
Class actor, love him!
Excellent. Best describes the state we are in today, the clip of Reggie being interviewed.
Leonard Rossiter the LEGEND
One off the best on English TV
Loved this guy. His Capt. John Quin (from Barry Lyndon) is a rare treat.
Just watching complete Reggie series, adore Leonards work, much missed true genius
He was a vey difficult actor to work with as he was so competitive. Not liked much by fellow actors but he was a terrific actor.
He gives me the impression of being a perfectionist but the Greats need to be even if colleagues find them annoying
watched many comedy actors over the decades, but Len Rossiter, is in my top 3.
robert harding Agree mate, Leonard rossiter.. Harry h.corbitt..ronny barker all comedy genius,sadly all missed.
Fantastic interview, really enjoyed watching it. Such a gifted and talented man who gave us so many great memories. He seemed very relaxed and happy answering the questions.
WHAT A TERRIBLE DECADE THE 80'S WERE FOR THE LOSS OF SO MANY GREAT COMEDY/ACTORS.
1984 in particular
Great interview. Well done to whoever. *We* really enjoyed it here down at the *station* That's one for the archives.
Glad you enjoyed it! The interviewer was Graeme Shaw.
@@ColinGrimshaw And who was/is Graeme Shaw?
As in all of these videos, he was an undergraduate student at Imperial College in London. He was not a professional interviewer or in the TV industry.
@@ColinGrimshaw its intriguing - did he just film the interviews himself as a student project?
For STOIC, see - wwwf.imperial.ac.uk/blog/videoarchive/stoic-one/
wow what a great speech in that mock interview clip. I remember seeing The Reggie PErrin series in the 70s as a kid and I didn't get anything other than the silyl slapstick stuff like chairs that made fart sounds and those men who said "Great", "super"", and the mother-in-law hippo. But now it really looks like a different animal. I kind of assumed that this sense of disatisfaction with the modern wage slavery way of life was something that came about later but it's all there in Reggie Perrin.
Really great upload this - thank you.
great actor,naturally funny.gentleman.a dieing breed
The Master.
Great interview!
very good interview.......a great actor
His portrayal of Rigsby was second to none. He was completely natural and it was as if he hadn’t even read a script. Wonderful. I still watch Rising Damp often and still laugh after all these years. RIP 🦋
🙏🙏 what a great man 🙏🙏
Thumminf thru' my old theatre programmes, I remember watching him play The Heretic at The Nottingham Playhouse in 1970 (as a 6th former) For me he was a first rate actor who could have turned his hand to any part
Very well precise actor who characters he so well put together were so well created and studied before he made them his own
Thanks. That was a treat! An amazing performer.
+Deaner Hockings And I don't 'think' he was a lizard either :-)
+Colin Grimshaw ha ha- many thanks for the interview and for checking out my video. The jury has always been out on Rossiter being of Lizard stock but I think I can give him a pass. His Reggie and Rigsby were that good:)
Cried when len died genius Worked himself into an early grave Rest in peace Leonard Rossiter
no you didnt
Absolutely fascinating, thanks for uploading! The interviewer looks very young - perhaps his inexperience explains why again and again he keeps talking over LR's responses, it gets a little frustrating! I would love to know more about how this interview came about? I just noticed Leonard Rossiter was born the same year as Marilyn Monroe and The Queen - tragic that MM and LR died young, Her Maj is the last one standing, 90 this year God bless her! Thanks again for sharing this.
I went to the same school as Leonard Rossiter.🤫👌
Tell us more amigo....:)
“People with identity problems” David Nobbs was ahead of his time given what is happening in 2021
Great interview.
Genius of comedy
I watched the first Reggie at a young age and thought it was great, his part with Geoffrey Palmer when Geoffrey proposes form a secret army to fight against the forces of anarchy is a stand out moment in British comedy. It spawned a series on channel 4 called Fairly Secret Army.
@ 3:30 wonderful demonstration of the complexity of the English vocabulary, soon to be forgotten and replaced with vibrantly enriching multicultural English phrases such as innit, nom'sayin and other assorted primitive grunts. That's progress I suppose.
- AND THE OVER USE OF-- 'MAZING, WOW, ABSOLUTELY, BRILLIANT , ISSUES ( NOW I'M FEELING SICK) --NO-WAY---ANYONE ?
Such a wonderful actor----I liked him best as one of the emperor's advisers in "I, Claudius"
He seemed more relaxed talking to this youngster, he could be quite prickly during interviews especially if anyone mentioned type casting. Wavertree in Liverpool where he's from is quite a rough area in places.
When comedy was not political. And I didn't object to paying the BBC poll tax.
"When comedy was not political" jeepers creepers mate.
the David Brent of his day (following on from Hancock)
Transcendent comic/acting ability.
He was great as Superintendent Quinlan Pink Panther Strikes Again
his short scene in 2001 was memorable
That brief scene with Dr Floyd and the ladies I have watched a gazillion times. I have no idea why. But there are plenty others of us. Of course the other scene with Wm. Sylvester (Floyd) in the briefing room is just as mesmerizing.
I’m one of those. I can’t put my finger on what it is exactly, but there IS something quite exceptional about his performance in 2001. I have many theories, but no conclusions. I often cite it as one of the all time greatest movie/acting moments for me personally, yet I cannot say why with any great precision.
I was brought up on him and his programs that he was in.
Thanks very much for this. Leonard comes across as a nice guy but his body language is amusing at times.
A comic actor of genius."My God you students".
Chrisopher Stauli who played Alan in the spin off of Rising Damp said that his lowest point was when he was working with Leonard on the film. He believed Leanard resented him and that his sadness and frustration of Alan's passing was directed at him and so making it difficult during the filming. Irrespective of whether fellows actors had a pretty tough time with him, I always enjoyed watching Leonards performances.
Do you mean Richard Beckinsale?
terrific actor - as Reggie Perrin - so brilliantly funny-
Christopher Strauli who was probably best known for hospital comedy "ONLY WHEN I LAUGH" in the bar scene with Leonard. He also appeared in another hospital series , "ANGELS" in a straight role.
I was watching Barry Lyndon and had to stop it to go google the actor playing Captain Quinn. Ended up here.
DJ Waterman And we're very glad you did !
@@ColinGrimshaw I like Leonard Rossiter but he was dreadful in Barry Lyndon and totally miscast.
Los ingleses harán un buen jamón cuando los españoles hagamos un buen actor.Un recuerdo para el gran Leonard Rossiter.
Ti rispondo in italiano che è quasi come lo spagnolo... sono inglese (63 anni) ed ho guardato Rossiter dall'inizio - FANTASTICO!
Goodnight Vienna
In the opening credits to Reginald Perrin, you can tell it's a different actor entering the water as he appears to the left of where Rossiter disappeared from view. They didn't line it up very well.
He mentions doing a Cinzano ad set in a roller disco - did that actually get finished? I don't remember ever seeing it?
Now the next item on Pillock Talk...
Neyyahh ahhahahah!!
“......well known household name.”
Either well known or household but not both.
He's incredibly clever
If it wasn't for the war........ who knows?
loved Rossiter really
such a pity he s died
not many ppl HERE or as in THESE days will know him
👌😆 They don't make like it. Classic
When he was talking about movies why didn't he mention The Pink Panther Strikes Again? That was a great movie.
Vienna!
Leonard Rossiter's character Andre Smyslov is reminiscent of Christoph Waltz portrayal as Hans Landa in Inglorious Basterds