Comedy legend Ronnie Barker dies

[therockbox]

Comedy legend Ronnie Barker dies

British TV comedy actor Ronnie Barker, who starred in Porridge and The Two Ronnies, has died aged 76.

One of the most loved and respected comedy performers of his generation, he was best known as one half of a double act with Ronnie Corbett.

But he also proved himself as an outstanding sitcom actor and script writer, winning four Bafta TV awards.

Chat show host Michael Parkinson told BBC News 24 he was "one of our very greatest comedy actors".

BBC reporter Charlotte Hume said: "His wife wanted everyone to know that he died at home peacefully."

The actor had a long history of heart trouble.

Last year he was awarded a lifetime achievement Bafta for his TV work.

That led to a return for the Two Ronnies on BBC One, 34 years after the show first appeared on TV screens and 17 years after he had first retired from showbusiness.

Barker also delivered a number of dramatic performances, most recently as Winston Churchill's manservant in the award-winning TV film The Gathering Storm and in HBO film My House in Umbria.

At the peak of his career Barker, along with Corbett, entertained 17 million people every Saturday night.

"He was not just a comic. He had a writer's ear for a good script and was a very good writer himself," added Parkinson on Tuesday.

"He was also a generous performer. He was uneasy with the fame that came with the job.

"He was an object lesson to a lot of people who seek the limelight with half his talent."

Paying tribute Michael Hurll, producer of The Two Ronnies, said: "We will never see his like again.

"You felt safe with him. The whole family could watch him."

He said the comedian delivered "laughs, big laughs, and laughs that you will always remember".

Perfectionist

The BBC head of comedy Jon Plowman said Barker was "just a genius".

"He had an everyman quality and he loved words. He could just do it.

"He was a perfectionist and I think we can all respect that.

"He was an extraordinary guy and an encourager as well as a brilliant performer and writer."

BBC arts correspondent David Sillito told BBC News 24: "In many ways Barker and Corbett were the heirs to Morecambe and Wise."

In an interview with the BBC looking back on his career, Barker once said: "I would like to be remembered as one of the funniest men people have seen on TV."

[The Slickman]

Definatly RIP .

Everything the guy was in was funny especially Porridge And Two Ronnies

[King Ellis]

Holy shit, that's a shocker. The guy was a true comedy legend; Porridge, Open All Hours and The Two Ronnies especially were great shows. A sad loss.

R.I.P

[fineintent]

I didn't think he was funny, but RIP none the less.

[Kaney]

I thought he was brilliant. Porridge was always good for a laugh, whenever it was on, but I've not seen the Two Ronnies for ages. RIP

[K]

No no no, fork handles. Handles for forks.

[kliq]

I'm shell shocked by this. This man is one of the greatest and will be missed.

RIP

[AJ]

One the greatest comedic geniuses we will ever see. It's sad to see him go.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Sad as great comics passing always is.

Morcombe and Wise gone.

Two Ronnies forever divided.

Funny guy, will leave his mark on television history.

[GA!]

RIP

[Iain76er]

Definetely a comedy legend. His work in Porridge is one of the best comedy performances ever.

RIP

[IAceI]

That's terrible. RIP.

I gave him my own minutes silence in ICT when I read it on bbc.co.uk.

[Summers]

RIP.

[Pesci]

That man was a tremendous comedy actor, and a great actor in general.

R.I.P. Ronnie Barker.

[TMM]

R.I.P.

Everything he's done is brilliant. Two Ronnies, Porridge and my personal favourite, Open All Hours. What CSAMH said is true; the comedy legends are slowly going.

[probablyoliver]

I heard this this morning. Very sad, and very shocking.

Porridge is by far one of the great British sitcoms. He will be missed.

RIP.

[Benji]

It's goodnight from him for the last time, I hate just saying RIP, it feels very whorish, but there isn't much you can say for a man who is one of the best loved figures in comedy history.

[williamweasel]

RIP. I only just fount out and was shocked as hell.

Didn't really see that much of the Two Ronnies, but Porridge and Open All Hours were really good.

[Hobo]

R.I.P Ronnie B.

[Scott McFly]

I really don't know what to say. I'm still shocked. The guy was one of the most geniunely funny people the UK has ever seen and will likely ever see. There will never be another like Ronnie Barker.

Rest In Peace