Stephen Lewis (actor)
| Stephen Lewis | |
|---|---|
| Born |
17 December 1926 Poplar, London, England |
| Died | 12 August 2015 (aged 88) Wanstead, London, England |
| Occupation | Actor comedian director screenwriter playwright |
| Years active | c. 1958–2007 |
Stephen Lewis (17 December 1926 – 12 August 2015), credited early in his career as Stephen Cato, was an English actor, comedian, director, screenwriter, and playwright. He is best known for his television roles as Inspector Cyril "Blakey" Blake in the LWT sitcom On the Buses, Clem "Smiler" Hemmingway in Last of the Summer Wine, and Harry Lambert in BBC Television's Oh, Doctor Beeching!, although he also appeared in numerous stage and film roles.
Lewis was born at All Saints Maternity Hospital in Poplar, East London, England. He worked as a bricklayer, electrician's mate and carpenter and also joined the Merchant Navy before turning to acting. He was persuaded to go to a performance by the Theatre Workshop, under their director Joan Littlewood. It was common, after these performances, to invite members of the audience to meet the cast. He was invited to an audition, landed the part, and left the sea to become a member of the company.
Lewis made his West End theatre debut with the transfer of Brendan Behan's The Hostage in 1958. In 1960 he wrote Sparrers Can't Sing with the Theatre Workshop, which was made into the film Sparrows Can't Sing in 1963, starring Barbara Windsor, Roy Kinnear and Lewis himself, as well as his future On the Buses co-star Bob Grant. He used the name Cato in his early stage career, but after writing Sparrows Can't Sing he was urged by his agent to use his real name.
From 1969 Lewis starred in his best-remembered role as the gruff inspector Blakey in the British sitcom On the Buses, which ran for 74 episodes and spawned three films: On the Buses (1971), Mutiny on the Buses (1972), and Holiday on the Buses (1973). He co-wrote 12 episodes with fellow star Bob Grant. Lewis was made up to look much older than his actual age; he was only 42 when the programme began. A spin-off series, Don't Drink the Water (1974–1975), ran for two series. This featured Blakey retiring to Spain with his sister Dorothy (played By Pat Coombs). In the 1990s, Blakey (or a very similar-looking character) appeared regularly on Jim Davidson's version of The Generation Game on BBC One. He also appeared in Manhunt in a rare villainous role.
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