John Francis Junkin (29 January 1930 – 7 March 2006) was an English actor and scriptwriter who had a long career in radio, television and film, specialising in comedy.
John Junkin | |
|---|---|
 Junkin in 1975 | |
| Born | 29 January 1930 |
| Died | 7 March 2006 (aged 76) Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, scriptwriter |
| Years active | 1955–2004 |
| Spouse |
Jenny Claybourn
(m. 1977; sep. 1992) |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
editBorn in Ealing, Middlesex, the son of a policeman, Junkin and his parents subsequently moved to Forest Gate so that he could attend St Bonaventure's Catholic School there, before qualifying as a teacher at St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill. He worked as a primary school teacher in the East End for three years before becoming a professional actor and scriptwriter.[1]
Career
editIn 1960, Junkin joined Joan Littlewood's Stratford East Theatre Workshop and played the lead in the original production of Sparrers Can't Sing.[2] A few years later, he joined the Royal Court Theatre company, and was the foil to Tony Hancock in some of Hancock's last work for British television.[3] Junkin played a diverse range of roles on the small screen; however, he is best remembered for his comedy roles and his appearances as a television quiz master. To international audiences, he may be best remembered for playing Shake, the assistant to Norman Rossington, in the Beatles film A Hard Day's Night.[4] In comedy roles, Junkin was rarely short of work, on account of his ability to play the stony-faced symbol of low level, petty-minded and unquestioning authority, whether the army sergeant, police constable or site foreman.
In 1964 Junkin recorded a number of radio programmes on land for the fledgling ship-based pirate radio station Radio Caroline. His announcements did not include any topical references, and the music was played in by studio engineers. When the programmes were broadcast, the onboard DJs occasionally cut in to give live time checks .[5]
One of his rare leading roles was in the BBC series The Rough with the Smooth, in which he and Tim Brooke-Taylor played comedy writers (with both actors contributing scripts to the series as well).[6] He also hosted his own afternoon television series in the mid-1970s. Titled simply Junkin, it was produced by Southern Television for the ITV network.[1]
Junkin has an entry in the Guinness Book of Records as the voice of Mr Shifter, one of the chimps in the PG Tips tea advertisement, the longest-running series of commercials on television.[6]
With Barry Cryer, Junkin wrote for Morecambe and Wise from 1978 to 1983, in addition to two Christmas specials in 1972 and 1976.[7]
Personal life and death
editJunkin lived in Wendover, Buckinghamshire. He married public relations executive Jenny Claybourn in 1977 and had a daughter, Annabel.[1] Junkin and his wife separated in 1992. He died from lung cancer on 7 March 2006 in the Florence Nightingale House, Aylesbury, several miles from his home. A heavy smoker, he had also been suffering from emphysema and asthma.[8] His life and work were honoured at the British Academy Television Awards in 2006.[9]
Acting credits
editFilm
edit- Doctor in Love (1960) – Policeman (uncredited)
- The Dock Brief (1962) – Dock brief barrister (uncredited)
- The Primitives (1962) – Arthur
- The Brain (1962) – Frederick (uncredited)
- The Wrong Arm of the Law (1963) – Maurice (uncredited)
- Sparrows Can't Sing (1963) – Bridge Operator (uncredited)
- Heavens Above! (1963) – Reporter at Space Launch Site (uncredited)
- The Break (1963) – Harry
- Hot Enough for June (1964) – Clerk in Opening Scene
- The Pumpkin Eater (1964) – Undertaker
- A Hard Day's Night (1964) – Shake
- Doctor in Clover (1966) – Prison Warder (uncredited)
- The Wrong Box (1966) – First Engine Driver
- Kaleidoscope (1966) – Dominion Porter
- The Sandwich Man (1966) – Chauffeur
- How I Won the War (1967) – Large Child
- The Plank (1967) – One Eyed Truck Driver
- Simon, Simon (1970) – 2nd Workman – Driver
- Confessions of a Driving Instructor (1976) – Luigi
- Confessions from a Holiday Camp (1977) – Whitemonk
- Rosie Dixon – Night Nurse (1978) – Mr. Dixon
- Wombling Free (1978) – County Surveyor
- Brass Target (1978) – Carberry
- That Summer! (1979) – Mr. Swales
- Licensed to Love and Kill (1979) – Helicopter Mechanic
- A Handful of Dust (1988) – Blenkinsop
- Chicago Joe and the Showgirl (1990) – George Heath
- Girl from Rio (2001) – Mr. Bigelow
- The Football Factory (2004) – Albert Moss (final film role)
Radio
edit- Floggit's
- Radio Caroline (first voice of the test transmissions in March 1964)
- Hello, Cheeky! with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Barry Cryer
- Just a Minute as an occasional guest
- I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue
- Junkin's Jokers
Television
edit- Winning Widows (1962, 1 episode)
- Dr. Finlay's Casebook Series 1 episode 6: "Cough Mixture", 1962 – Dougal Todd
- Hancock (1963, 1 episode) – Jerry Spring
- The Plane Makers, (1963) – Dusty Miller
- The Avengers (1963–1967) – Sergeant / Sheriff
- The Blackpool Show (1966 series with Tony Hancock) – Himself
- Further Adventures of Lucky Jim (1967) –
- Sam and Janet (1967) ITV, Two series of sitcom with Joan Sims (1) and Vivienne Martin (2)
- Marty, comedy television series with Marty Feldman, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Roland MacLeod (1968–69) – various characters
- Catweazle: "The Flying Broom-sticks" (1969) – Police Sergeant
- The Goodies (1972) – Police Sergeant
- The Shadow of the Tower (1972) – Master John
- Looking For Clancy (1975) – Jim Clancy
- Lord Peter Wimsey: "Five Red Herrings" (1975) – Mr. Alcock
- Out (1978) – Ralph Veneker
- The Sweeney (1978) – Taxi Yard Proprietor
- Only When I Laugh (1979) – Landlord
- Coronation Street (1981) – Bill Fielding (a short-lived boyfriend of Elsie Tanner)
- Odd One Out (1982) – Himself – Voiceover (voice)
- The Professionals (1983) – Hollis
- Blott on the Landscape (1985) – Waiter
- Crosswits (1985, quiz panelist)
- Ask No Questions (1986)
- Picking Up the Pieces (1988) – Vinny
- Mr. Bean (1990) – The Maitre D'
- Inspector Morse (1992) – Chief Inspector Holroyd
- The Thing About Vince (2000) – Frankie
- The Sins (2000) – Archie Rogers
- McCready and Daughter (2001)
- EastEnders (2001–2002) – Ernie Johnson
References
edit- ^ a b c "Obituary: John Junkin". the Guardian. 8 March 2006.
- ^ "John Junkin". The Independent. 8 March 2006. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022.
- ^ "The Avengers Forever: John Junkin". theavengers.tv.
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Hard Day's Night, A (1964)". BFI Screenonline.
- ^ "Disc Jockeys I-J". The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ a b "John Junkin". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 8 March 2006. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
- ^ Dixon, Stephen (27 January 2022). "Barry Cryer obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Comedy veteran John Junkin dies". BBC News. BBC. 7 March 2006. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
- ^ "John Junkin". www.bafta.org. 11 May 2012.