Harry H. Corbett
| Harry H. Corbett OBE |
|
|---|---|
Publicity photo of Corbett in the 1970s.
|
|
| Born |
Harry Corbett 28 February 1925 Rangoon, British Burma |
| Died |
21 March 1982 (aged 57) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1945–82 |
| Notable work | See below |
| Home town | Wythenshawe, Manchester, Lancashire, England |
| Television | Steptoe and Son |
| Spouse(s) |
Sheila Steafel (m. 1958–64) (divorced) Maureen Blott (1969–1982) (his death) |
| Children |
Susannah Corbett Jonathan Corbett |
21 March 1982 (aged 57)
Hastings, East Sussex, England
Harry H. Corbett, OBE (28 February 1925 – 21 March 1982) was an English actor.
Corbett was best known for his starring role in the popular and long-running BBC Television sitcom Steptoe and Son in the 1960s and 1970s. Corbett was regarded as one of Britain's first Method actors and early in his career he was dubbed "the English Marlon Brando" by some sections of the British press.
Corbett was born in Rangoon, Burma, the youngest of seven children where his father, George Corbett (1885/86-1943), was serving as a company quartermaster sergeant in the South Staffordshire Regiment of the British Army, stationed at a cantonment as part of the Colonial defence forces. Corbett was sent to Britain after his mother, Caroline Emily, née Barnsley, (1884-1926) died of dysentery when he was 18 months old. He was then brought up by his aunt, Annie Williams, in Earl Street, Ardwick, Manchester and later on a new council estate in Wythenshawe. He attended Ross Place and Benchill Primary Schools; although he passed the scholarship exam for entry to Chorlton Grammar School, he was not able to take up his place there and instead attended Sharston Secondary School.
Corbett enlisted in the Royal Marines during the Second World War, and served in the Home Fleet on the heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire. After V-J Day in 1945 he was posted to the Far East, where he was involved in quelling unrest in New Guinea and reportedly killed two Japanese soldiers there whilst engaged in hand-to-hand fighting. He was then posted to Tonga, but deserted and remained in Australia before handing himself in to the Military Police. His military service left him with a damaged bladder following an infection and a red mark on his eye caused by a thorn which was not treated until late in his life.
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