Ben Aris

Benjamin Patrick Aris (16 March 1937 – 4 September 2003) was an English actor who was best known for his roles in Hi-de-Hi! and To the Manor Born, and was also very active on stage. He was often cast in roles portraying eccentric, upper-class or upper-middle class characters.

Early life and education Benjamin Patrick Aris was born on 16 March 1937 in London. Following the Second World War, he trained at the Arts Educational School.

At the age of 16, he joined a national tour of the show Zip Goes a Million. He then did his national service in the British Army.

He also appeared in Tony Richardson's 1969 production of "Hamlet" at London's Roundhouse, its New York transfer to the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, and also its film version the same year. He also appeared in Invasion of the Dinosaurs, a 1974 Doctor Who serial. His other early television roles included Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, Sam and the River (1975), Crown Court, Wodehouse Playhouse and Target. During that time he also appeared in the films Get Carter, The Three Musketeers, Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World and Juggernaut. He also worked several times for director Ken Russell, in films The Music Lovers, Savage Messiah, and Tommy, and in TV's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Lady Chatterley. In 1984, he made his first appearance in Hi-de-Hi! as Julian Dalrymple-Sykes, a dancer. He became a regular in 1986 and played the part until the show's end in 1988. His son Jonathan Aris followed him into acting.

Selected filmography

Film

Tom Brown's Schooldays (1951) - Tadpole (uncredited) The Plague of the Zombies (1966) - John Martinus The Mini-Affair (1968) - TV Producer The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968) - Lt. Maxse if.... (1968) - John Thomas: Staff Lionheart (1968) - Capt. Harris Hamlet (1969) - Rosencrantz The Reckoning (1970) - Moustached Party Guest (uncredited) Say Hello to Yesterday (1971) - Floor Walker (uncredited) The Music Lovers (1971) - Young Lieutenant Get Carter (1971) - Architect #2 Savage Messiah (1972) - Thomas Buff O Lucky Man! (1973) - Mr. MacIntyre / Dr. Hyder / Flight Lt. Wallace Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World (1973) - Army Captain The Three Musketeers (1973) - 1st Musketeer Juggernaut (1974) - The Walker Vampira (1974) - Policeman Smokey Joe's Revenge (1974) - Mr. Fawcett Alfie Darling (1975) - Advertising Man Tommy (1975) - Reverend Simpson Royal Flash (1975) - Fireman I'm Not Feeling Myself Tonight (1976) - Trampas B. Hildebrand The Ritz (1976) - Patron With Bicycle Voyage of the Damned (1976) - German Jewish Passenger (uncredited) Sir Henry at Rawlinson End (1980) - Lord Tarquin of Staines King of the Wind (1990) - Squire Dunn U.F.O. (1993) - Doctor Up at the Villa (2000) - Col. Trail Relative Values (2000) - (uncredited) Undertaker's Paradise (2000)

TV

Gazette (1968) - Potter (1 episode) The Wednesday Play - Mad Jack (1970) - Jenkins Jamie (1971) - David Dodger (9 episodes) Owen, M.D. (1971) - Mr. Clarke (2 episodes) The Silver Sword (1971) - Russian Commisar (1 episode) Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em' - Brown (1 episode) Doctor Who - Invasion of the Dinosaurs (1974) - Lieutenant Shears (1 episode) Crown Court (1975) - Dr. Bruce Morgan (3 episodes) Sam and the River (1975) - Lt. Hodges (6 episodes) Village Hall (1975) - Stan (1 episode) Wodehouse Playhouse (1976) - Lester Mapledurham (1 episode) Get Some In! (1977) - Dr. Purnell (1 episode) Target (1977) - Phillips (1 episode) Hazell (1978) - T.P. Eades (1 episode) The Famous Five (1978) - Mr Durleston (1 episode) Clouds of Glory (1978 miniseries) - Robert Southey Spy! (1980) - Skier (1 episode) The Assassination Run (1980) - Frank Lloyd (3 episodes) To the Manor Born (1980-1) - Spalding (3 episodes) Cribb (1981) - Captain Allbright (1 episode) The Bagthorpe Saga (1981) - P.J. (1 episode) The Trechary Game (1981) - Frank Lloyd (3 episodes) Bergerac (1982) - Executive (1 episode) By the Sword Divided (1983) - Edmund Waller (1 episode) Night Train to Murder (1984) - Theatre Manager (TV Movie) Shine on Harvey Moon (1984) - Doctor (1 episode) He-De-Hi! (1984-8) - Julian Dalrymple-Sykes (13 episodes) All in Good Faith (1985) - Dillforth (1 episode) Star Quality (1985) - Eric Larch (TV Movie) Call Me Mister (1986) - Registrar (1 episode) Chance in a Million (1986) - Club Secretary (1 episode) Executive Stress (1986) - Andrew Morgan (2 episodes) Paradise Postponed (1986) - TV Newsreader (1 episode) Slinger's Day (1986) - Forbes-Fortescue (1 episode) A Hazard of Hearts (1987) - Lieutenant of Dragoons (TV Movie) Hold the Dream (1987) - Doctor (1 episode) First of the Summer Wine (1988) - First Visitor (1 episode) The Comic Strip Presents... (1988) - Party Guest Poirot (1989) - Captain Fowler (1 episode) Young Charlie Chaplin (1989) - Mr. Vernon (1 episode) Boon (1990) - Maitre D' (1 episode) Mr Majeika (1990) - Flight Office Pongo (1 episode) You Rang, M'Lord? (1990) - Special Branch Policeman (1 episode) Further Up Pompeii (1991) - Flatus (TV Movie) No Job for a Lady (1991) - Roland (1 episode) Eldorado (1992) - Kenneth Owen (2 episodes) Me, You and Him (1992) - Headmaster (1 episode) The Bill (1992) - Judge (1 episode) Lady Chatterley (1993) - Tommy Dukes (1 episode) September Song (1994) - Simon Anderson (5 episodes) The Last Englishman (1995) - Doctor, 1917 (TV Movie) The Queen's Nose (1996-9) - Max (4 episodes) Equinox (1998) - Director General BBC (1 episode)