Rodney Bewes
Biography
Rodney Bewes was an English actor and writer for television who became known for playing Bob Ferris in the BBC sitcom The Likely Lads, from 1964 to 1966, and its color follow-up Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, from 1973 to 1974. Born in Bingley, he moved to London as a teenager to train at RADA's preparatory school and later attended RADA after RAF national service. Early screen work included Dixon of Dock Green (1962), Z-Cars (1963) and the film Billy Liar (1963), where he played Arthur Crabtree. He created and co-wrote the ITV sitcom Dear Mother...Love Albert, later called Albert!, which ran from 1969 to 1972. His films included The Likely Lads (1976), Jabberwocky (1977) and Unidentified Flying Oddball (1979). Later he remained active in theater, touring one-man shows based on Three Men in a Boat and on Diary of a Nobody, and published an autobiography, A Likely Story, in 2005.
79years old at death
- Born Bingley
- Died Manchester
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 16 years1963 to 1979
Every film, newest first
- 1979Unidentified Flying OddballIMDb rating 5.2
- 1977JabberwockyIMDb rating 6.1
- 1976The Likely LadsIMDb rating 6.6
- 1963Billy LiarIMDb rating 7.2
Genres
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A role that slipped away
After spotting an advertisement in the Daily Herald, Bewes tried out for the title part in Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School shortly before his 13th birthday. He made the final two but lost the role to Gerald Campion.
Big break
Bewes landed the role of Bob Ferris in The Likely Lads after Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais saw him in the film Billy Liar, helped by his Northern working-class background and natural accent.
Early training
Bewes financed his RADA studies by washing up in hotels at night, was often asleep in class, and was expelled during his final year.
First role
Bewes independently approached the casting director for the part of Arthur Crabtree in Billy Liar after seeing the script of his flatmate Tom Courtenay, and won the role.
Rodney Bewes movies on Netflix
Worked with
Rodney Bewes shares two films with John Le Mesurier, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
John Le Mesurier's page
Sheila Fearn's page
Julie Christie's page
Finlay Currie's page
Tom Courtenay's page
Alun Armstrong's page
All films by Terry Gilliam
All films by John Schlesinger
Russ MayberryDirector, 1 film, 1979
All films by Russ Mayberry
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.