Desmond Barrit
Desmond Barrit | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Desmond Brown 19 October 1944 Swansea, Wales |
| Died | 21 March 2026 (aged 81) Islington, London, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1979–2021 |
Desmond Morgan Barrit[1] (born Desmond Brown; 19 October 1944 – 21 March 2026) was a British actor, best known for his stage work.
Life and career
[edit]Desmond Brown was born in Morriston, near Swansea in the historic county of Glamorgan on 19 October 1944.[2] His start as a professional actor was late, having spent early adulthood working as an accountant and in amateur theatre. When he acquired an Equity card in the mid-1970s, he had to change his name, since Desmond Brown was already taken. An early screen role for Barrit came in Alice through the Looking Glass (1998), in which he played Humpty Dumpty.[1]
In 2003, he played Shylock in the Chichester Festival Theatre's production of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, while in 2007 he appeared in The History Boys at Wyndham's Theatre portraying the general studies teacher, Hector, made famous by Richard Griffiths in the film version.[3]
In 2004, in a limited-run revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Royal National Theatre Barrit played Pseudolus opposite Philip Quast as Miles Gloriosus, Hamish McColl as Hysterium and Isla Blair as Domina (who had previously played Philia in the 1963 production).[4] The production was nominated for the 2005 Olivier Award, Outstanding Musical Production.[5]
In January 2007, he played Raymond Clandillon in Midsomer Murders (series 10; episode 7: "They Seek Him Here"). On 7 July 2008, he took over the role of The Wizard from Nigel Planer in the West End production of Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Originally set to begin 9 June, his performance had to be postponed as he had to undergo an operation.[6]
Beginning 12 December 2011, he returned to Wicked, reprising his role of the Wizard, taking over from Clive Carter. He ended his third return engagement with the show on 7 July 2012 (four years after his debut), and was replaced three weeks later by Keith Bartlett.[7]
In 2014, he appeared as Michaud in Helen Edmundson's adaptation of Therese Raquin at the Theatre Royal, Bath.[8]
Death
[edit]Barrit died at his home in Islington, London, on 21 March 2026, at the age of 81.[2][9][10]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Lassiter | Cop 1 | |
| 1992 | Rebecca's Daughters | Jack Wet | |
| Homer and His Pigeons | Des | ||
| 1996 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Nick Bottom | |
| 1997 | Daylight Robbery | Kesso | Short film |
| 1998 | St. Ives | Biggerstaff |
Television
[edit]| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Follow the Star | Shepherd | Television film |
| 1987 | Valentine Park | Vicar | Episode: #1.1 |
| 1989 | Great Expectations | Jagger's Client | Mini-series; episode 2 |
| Somewhere to Run | Bus Conductor | Television film | |
| 1990 | A Kind of Living | Vicar | Episode: #3.1 |
| 1991 | The Bill | Dando | Episode: "Jobs for the Boys" |
| Agatha Christie's Poirot | Samuel Naughton | Episode: "The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor" | |
| The Lisa Maxwell Show | Guest | Episode: #1.2 | |
| 1992 | The Old Devils | Tarquin Jones | Mini-series; episodes 1–3 |
| Boon | Father McShane | Episode: "Away from It All" | |
| 1995 | Pirates | Bogus Malarky | Episode: "Gran's Back!" |
| 1996 | Dalziel and Pascoe | Henry Saltcombe | Episode: "An Advancement of Learning" |
| 1997 | True Tilda | Mr. Mortimer | Unknown episodes |
| 1998 | Alice Through the Looking Glass | Humpty Dumpty | Television film |
| The Bill | Mr. Pierson | Episode: "S.A.D." | |
| 1999 | Oliver Twist | Flinders | Mini-series; episode 2 |
| A Christmas Carol | Ghost of Christmas Present | Television film | |
| 2000 | Madame Bovary | Guillaumin | 2-part television film |
| 2002 | Midsomer Murders | Jonathan Eckersley-Hyde | Episode: "Murder on St. Malley's Day" |
| Young Arthur | Bullwhit | Television films | |
| 2007 | Northanger Abbey | Mr. Allen | |
| Midsomer Murders | Raymond Clandillon | Episode: "They Seek Him Here" | |
| 2008 | Zip and Hollow | Harry | Television films |
| 2009 | The Fairy Queen | Basses / Bottom | |
| 2014 | Endeavour | Stephen Fitzowen | Episode: "Nocturne" |
| 2015 | Holby City | 'Aubrey' Alan Bacon | Episode: "Bad Blood, Fake Snow" |
| 2021 | It's a Sin | Timothy Mottram | Mini-series; episode 4 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Coveney, Michael (2 April 2026). "Desmond Barrit obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ^ a b "Desmond Barrit, Olivier Award-winning actor who was a giant of Shakespearean comedy and panto". The Telegraph. 1 April 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ^ Rees, Jasper (31 December 2007). "The History Boys: The school trip of a lifetime". London: The Telegraph online. Retrieved 31 July 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Inverne, James. "Thoroughly Modern Millie Closes in London as New Musicals Prepare to Open". Playbill, 7 June 2004, accessed 25 December 2016
- ^ "Olivier Winners, 2005". olivierawards.com, accessed 27 December 2016
- ^ "Desmond Barrit to Join Wicked in June". Broadway.com. 24 March 2008. Archived from the original on 1 April 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
- ^ "London's Wicked Will Welcome a New Wizard This Summer - Playbill.com". Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ^ "Thérèse Raquin | Main House at Theatre Royal Bath | Theatre Royal Bath". Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
- ^ "Desmond Barrit (1944 – 2026)". Gorleston Pavilion. 26 March 2026. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
- ^ Collins, Frankie (30 March 2026). "Midsomer Murders star dies suddenly and unexpectedly as tributes pour in". The Express. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
External links
[edit]- Desmond Barrit at IMDb
- Desmond Barrit discography at Discogs
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