A History Of Liverpool Thespians - John Quarmby

 

 

John Staniland Quarmby was born on the 18th of June 1929 in Liverpool, the son of Harold Sykes Quarmby. Following two years' national service in the RAF he joined RADA in 1949 and repertory work dominated the first twenty years of his career, although he began appearing in television in 1950 as a cast member in the BBC production, 'The Cruise of the Toytown Belle'. This was followed with a role as a police constable in the TV movie 'The Man Who Sold Death' (1958) and a cast member in the 1959 film 'Volpone'.
John played a variety of roles from the 1960s to the 1990s, appearing in many long-running drama series, with his first role in a major TV series coming in the popular series 'Z Cars', when he played the Station Sergeant in 1967 then in 'Softly, Softly' (1973), 'Juliet Bravo' (1983) and 'Howards Way' (1987). He also had more minor roles in many TV hit shows, including the BBC 'Play of the Month' (1965), 'The Liver Birds' (1976), 'Rumpole of the Bailey' (1979) and 'Minder' (1993).

The Health Inspector

His most famous role came when he appeared alongside John Cleese and Prunella Scales playing a Health Inspector in the famous 'Basil The Rat' episode of 'Fawlty Towers' in 1979.
As the emotionless health inspector Mr Carnegie, he was tasked with investigating the hotel’s hygiene procedures. The Kodak moment of Quarmby’s appearance on the classic British comedy occurs as Manuel (Andrew Sachs) frantically searches the dining room for Basil, his pet 'Siberian hamster'. Polly (Connie Booth) offers the unsuspecting Mr. Carnegie a biscuit, only to be confronted by the four-legged Basil hiding in the biscuit tin. This was moments after Mr. Carnegie had informed Basil (John Cleese) and Sybil (Prunella Scales) that the hotel is below standard. As well as the much-loved 'Fawlty Towers', Quarmby also appeared in another of Britain's favourite comedy series, 'Porridge'. He starred alongside Ronnie Barker in the show in an episode in 1974. Appearing as a prison officer in an episode entitled 'The Hustler' (1974), he fondly recounts being paid £50 for the day's work.

With Michael Gough in 'A Christmas Carol' (1984)

His 50-year career in TV continued after the brief appearance in Fawlty Towers as he appeared as Lord Hobart in the 1986 children's drama 'The December Rose', and played Grumpus in 1989 adaptation of CS Lewis's works 'Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader'.

As well as his TV work, he also appeared in a number of films, including the 1971 drama 'Get Carter', 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' in 1982 and he also made an appearances in the 1984 adaptation of A Christmas Carol, the 1985 film 'Thirteen At Dinner', 'Little Dorrit(1987), 'The Fool (1990), 'Black Beauty' in 1994, 'I Don't Speak English' (1995) and 'Restoration' (1995). He also played Henry Tobias (the newspaper editor) in Doctor Who's 'K-9 and Company: A Girl's Best Friend' (1981).

John Quarmby died on the 5th of April, 2019 in London aged 89. Fellow TV star John Cleese announcing John's death on Twitter tweeted, "Sad to hear of the death of John Quarmby who played the health inspector in Basil the Rat episode. Lovely chap. I shall never forget the expression on his face when he saw the rat sitting in the biscuit tin."

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2023/08/a-history-of-liverpool-thespians-john.html