Derek Nimmo

Derek Robert Nimmo (19 September 1930 – 24 February 1999) was an English character actor, producer and author. He is best remembered for his comedic upper class "silly ass" and clerical roles, including Revd Mervyn Noote in the BBC1 sitcom All Gas and Gaiters (1966–71). In the role of theatrical impresario, he took his own touring production to 30 countries; he died from complications following a fall at his home in London.

Career Nimmo was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, the son of an insurance salesman, and grew up in Mossley Hill in an environment he described as "old merchants' houses, comfy English suburbia". He was educated at Booker Avenue Infants and Junior School and Quarry Bank High School for Boys, then a grammar school under headmaster R. F. Bailey, who brought with him, from his previous position as assistant headmaster at leading independent school Shrewsbury School, "the finest traditions of public schools". He then followed his father into the insurance business, and after National Service in Cyprus, became a salesman for a paint company. He began his stage career at the Hippodrome Theatre in Bolton, Lancashire. It was during this time that he made a cameo appearance in the Beatles' film A Hard Day's Night (in which he appeared as "Leslie Jackson", a magician with doves).

He appeared in a number of British films and television series, as aristocrats, including starring roles in the television comedy series The World of Wooster (as "Bingo Little"), In 1969, Nimmo received an award for his performances in both sitcoms, when the Royal Television Society awarded him a silver medal. Another sitcom in which he appeared in a starring role as a clergyman, many years later, was Hell's Bells (by now promoted to a dean) which ran for one series in 1986. echoing a stammer he had used for his character in All Gas and Gaiters. In 1996, he voiced Mr Smiley in one episode of Dennis the Menace.

In December 1998, having recently returned from a Middle East tour of Run For Your Wife, he was a guest for a National Treasures celebrity lunch, in the boardroom of the Daily Express. Other guests included Sir Peter O'Sullevan, Joan Collins, Dame Beryl Bainbridge, Dickie Davies and Sue MacGregor. He was to die, after complications, from an accidental fall later that evening.

Nimmo is buried in the churchyard at Easton Maudit, Northamptonshire.

Selected filmography Film The Millionairess (1960) as Assistant Butler (uncredited) It's Trad, Dad! (1962) as Head Waiter Go to Blazes (1962) as Fish Fancier The Amorous Prawn (1962) as Pvt. Willie Maltravers The Small World of Sammy Lee (1963) as Rembrandt Heavens Above! (1963) as Director-General's Assistant Tamahine (1963) as Tim Clove Hot Enough for June (1964) as Fred The Bargee (1964) as Dr. Scott Murder Ahoy! (1964) as Sub-Lt. Eric Humbert A Hard Day's Night (1964) as Leslie Jackson as Magician (uncredited) The System (1964) as James (uncredited) Joey Boy (1965) as Lt. Hope Coast of Skeletons (1965) as Tom Hamilton The Liquidator (1965) as Fly The Yellow Hat (1966) as Douglas Mister Ten Per Cent (1967) as Tony Casino Royale (1967) as Hadley A Talent for Loving (1969) as Moodie One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975) as Lord Southmere

Television Angel Pavement (1957, 1 episode) The Buccaneers (1957, 1 episode) Kenilworth (1957, 2 episodes) The Adventures of Peter Simple (1957, 1 episode) Ghost Squad (1962, 1 episode) Citizen James (1962, 1 episode) Mr Justice Duncannon (1963, 1 episode) Z-Cars (1963, 1 episode) Hancock (1963, 1 episode) Armchair Theatre (1963, 1 episode) More Faces of Jim (1963, 1 episode) Comedy Playhouse (1963–1974, 5 episodes) Hugh and I (1963–1964, 2 episodes) Baxter On... (1964, 1 episode) Sykes and A... (1964, 1 episode) Boyd Q.C. (1964, 1 episode) The Graham Stark Show (1964, 1 episode) The Scales of Justice (1965, 1 episode) Steptoe and Son (1965, 1 episode) Undermind (1965, 1 episode) A World of Comedy (1965, 1 episode) The Bed-Sit Girl (1965–1966, 7 episodes) The World of Wooster (1965–1967, 5 episodes) All Gas and Gaiters (1966–1971, 33 episodes) Blandings Castle (1967, 3 episodes) Sorry I'm Single (1967, 9 episodes) Oh Brother! (1968–1970, 19 episodes) Oh, Father! (1973, 7 episodes) My Honourable Mrs (1975, 7 episodes) Life Begins at Forty (1978–1980, 14 episodes) Third Time Lucky (1982, 7 episodes) Hell's Bells (1986, 6 episodes) Neighbours (1990, 2 episodes) Cluedo (1990, 1 episode) The Good Guys (1993, 1 episode) Dennis the Menace (1996, 1 episode)