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HENRY McGEE

Comic foil Henry McGee has died at 76.

Posted by Tim B. on 02/01/2006 at 11:12 PM
  1. Dammit.

    Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 02 02 at 12:17 AM • permalink

  2. Saw him once on a London tube train.  Taller than you’d think, immaculately tailored, and holding a Sotheby’s auction catalogue.

    Posted by cuckoo on 2006 02 02 at 12:28 AM • permalink

  3. Later McGee began his 20-year association with Benny Hill, often serving as the announcer on Hill’s television show, delivering the introduction: “Yes! It’s The Benny Hill Show!”

    So that was Henry McGee.  I loved that guy.  I will miss him. 

    Thank you Henry for making people laugh.

    Posted by wronwright on 2006 02 02 at 12:30 AM • permalink

  4. RIP Henry, and attention all TV programmers: Bring Back Benny Hill!

    Posted by Margos Maid on 2006 02 02 at 12:42 AM • permalink

  5. Another good ‘un gone.

    Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2006 02 02 at 01:12 AM • permalink

  6. Oh, no!  Rest in peace, Henry.  I particularly enjoyed his comment in a biography of Benny Hill himself; “The only country in Europe where you can’t see an episode of Benny Hill is here in England.” (The feminazis made sure of that.)

    Posted by scott crawford on 2006 02 02 at 01:19 AM • permalink

  7. Memorable and typical Benny Hill skit:

    Buxom young lady standing at a bus stop.

    Balloon seller walks past chanting “Rubber Balloons, rubber balloons”

    Buxom young lady collapses at bus stop.

    Bystanders rush to help.

    Bystander 1 “Rub her hands”

    Bystander 2 “Rub her feet”

    Bystander 3 “Rub her face”

    Balloon seller walks past ” Rubber balloons, rubber balloons”.

    No wonder they don’t show repeats :)

    Posted by amortiser on 2006 02 02 at 02:28 AM • permalink

  8. Vale Henry, a brilliant offsider of a genius comic, Benny Hill.

    —Nick

    Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2006 02 02 at 04:46 AM • permalink

  9. OOOHHHH! :-(
    I love the Benny Hill Show, and all the bit players that made it hilarious!
    I’ve said for years now that I thought Benny Hill was one of the finest actors I’ve ever seen…and his associates were too bad either.
    Rita Webb, remember her??? What a classic she was and little jackie what’s-his-name…I love ‘em all!
    God I wish I could turn back time!

    OOPPPS! I’m sounding like a Lefty now.

    Posted by Brian on 2006 02 02 at 05:39 AM • permalink

  10. Re: #7,

    Thanks for that!
    I needed a laugh. :-)

    Posted by Brian on 2006 02 02 at 05:44 AM • permalink

  11. Characteristically fine obit in The Telegraph.

    On the small screen, though, his art came necessarily in snippets, whereas in the theatre it found a wider, deeper and more imaginative scope. It still had, in farce, the same hilarious gravity; but the opportunity for characterisation and the exploitation of timing and teamwork flourished on stage…

    In farce, comedy, melodrama or pantomime, McGee was a most disciplined actor. A straight stare could be as commanding as a long face; a fixed grin as funny as a glare. Like all essentially comic actors, he could switch moods powerfully from frivolity to tragedy.

    His gift for never showing in his looks or voice the least sign of anticipating laughter made him one of the funniest actors on the British stage. Unlike most of the clowns with whom he worked on television, he never let it be felt for a moment that he was contributing to the fun.

    Posted by walterplinge on 2006 02 02 at 06:01 AM • permalink

  12. “The only country in Europe where you can’t see an episode of Benny Hill is here in England.” (The feminazis made sure of that.)

    How funny, they showed Benny Hill obsessively on BBCAmerica (a station available on digital cable over here).

    Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2006 02 02 at 08:01 AM • permalink

  13. Probably my favorite Henry McGee skit was his role as long-suffering promoter to Benny’s rock star Tex Cymbal…

    “My life.  It shouldn’t happen to two dogs.  One dog couldn’t handle it.”

    Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 02 02 at 11:50 AM • permalink

  14. Quoting Fred Scuttle, Space Ace:

    “‘Enry Mac Gee. Are you Egyptian?”

    McGee’s placid reaction to that and all that follows was perfect. To this day whenever I meet one of the professional Irishmen one does meet in New York, I frequently ask, “Are you Egyptian?”

    Posted by Monroe Doctrine on 2006 02 02 at 06:19 PM • permalink

  15. Re:#12,

    Andrea I regret to say that a great many of those “feminazis” are actually, quote…men…end quote!

    Posted by Brian on 2006 02 03 at 04:47 AM • permalink

  16. Henry McGee was an excellent foil to Benny Hill.  I’ve read a few obits and Henry was much more than being in the Benny Hill show, but is probably best remembered for it by telly watchers.

    Benny Hill would be guaranteed to raise a belly laugh, with McGee and my favourite Jackie Wright.  Anyone remember Little Jackie?  Slap on the head if you don’t.

    If you don’t know who any of these actors are, have a look at
    Benny’s Place.  All the cast are there including McGee.

    PS: I’ve said it here once before, and I’m doing it now, I never appreciated the criticism of Hill by the “sometimes funny” Ben Elton.  That was a PC spray.  That lost Elton for me.

    Posted by Stevo on 2006 02 03 at 05:58 AM • permalink

  17. Re: #16,

    Yeah Stevo! That was Jackie Wright.
    Love him too!

    Posted by Brian on 2006 02 03 at 10:05 PM • permalink

  18. #17 Brian:

    You might find the Benny Hill tune here.

    Posted by Stevo on 2006 02 04 at 08:36 AM • permalink

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