Kenneth Waller

Kenneth Waller (5 November 1927 – 28 January 2000) was an English actor. He was known for portraying Old Mr. Grace in Are You Being Served? and Grandad in Bread.

Early life Kenneth Waller was born in Lowerhouses Huddersfield, Yorkshire on 5 November 1927. Waller left school aged 16 and worked as a wages clerk until being called up for National Service.

In 1949, he was a member of the Christ Church Woodhouse men's choir.

After serving in the Royal Air Force as a Radar Mechanic, Waller worked for a firm of auctioneers. In 1985, he appeared in an episode of The Optimist.

In 1986, Waller became a household name as Grandad in Carla Lane's Liverpool sitcom, Bread and his catchphrase, "Where's my tea?", quickly caught on with the viewing public.

Waller continued to stay in touch with the theatre during the final years of his life, touring successfully with Barbara Windsor in Joe Orton's classic black comedy, Entertaining Mr Sloane and appearing in a musical version of Beauty and the Beast at the Manchester Opera House, in 1998.

Personal life and death Despite his television fame, Waller never lost his affection for Yorkshire, taking great pride in retaining both his accent and his many friends within the Huddersfield Choral Society.

Kenneth Waller died on 28 January 2000 in London, England, at the age of 72, after a brief illness. He never married or had children.

Filmography

Z-Cars (1963-1977, TV Series) - Wilfred Wilson / Pianist / Fred Jones / Stanley Collins Room at the Top (1959) - Reggie (uncredited) Crossroads (1964, TV Series) - Mr. Hardgreaves Mr. Brown Comes Down the Hill (1965) - Journalist / Patron of the Bar A Game of Murder (1966, TV Series) - Dr. Hasting Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) - Inventor #4 Softly, Softly (1970, TV Series) - Potter Scrooge (1970) - Party Guest (uncredited) The Onedin Line (1971, TV Series) - Drayman On the Buses (1971, TV Series) - Busman Fiddler on the Roof (1971) - (uncredited) The Love Pill (1972) - Professor Edwards Dixon of Dock Green (1972-1974, TV Series) - Dealer / Porter Menace (1973, TV Series) - Manager Doctor on the Go (1975, TV Series) - Mr. Pole Carry On Behind (1975) - Barman The Venetian Twins (1976, TV Movie) Doctor Who (1977, Episode: "The Invisible Enemy") - Hedges Target (1977, TV Series) - Warehouse Transport Manager The Mayor of Casterbridge (1978, TV Mini-Series) - Clerk of Court The Famous Five (1978, TV Series) - Enemy Agent All Creatures Great and Small (1980, TV Series) - Mr. Ronald Beresford Are You Being Served? (1981, TV Series) - Old Mr. Henry Grace Juliet Bravo (1982, TV Series) - Sidney Dorkins Fair Ground! (1983, TV Series) - Mr. Grant Minder (1984, TV Series) - Roland Ellis Island (1984, TV Mini-Series) - Shepherd #1 Big Deal (1984-1986, TV Series) - Ferret The Optimist (1985, TV Series) - Solicitor Roll Over Beethoven (1985, TV Series) - Mr. Beckett The Pickwick Papers (1985, TV Series) - Fogg The Beiderbecke Affair "Harry the Supergrass" (1985) Bread (1986-1991, TV Series) - Grandad Boon (1987, TV Series) - Mr. Newell Coronation Street (1988, TV Series) - Arthur Watts, Curly Watts's father Romuald the Reindeer (1996, TV Series) - Grandpa Ivy (voice)