Robertson Hare

Robertson Hare as the Ven. Henry Blunt, Archdeacon of St. Ogg's, in All Gas and Gaiters, late 1960s

John Robertson Hare, OBE (17 December 1891 – 25 January 1979) was an English actor, who came to fame in the Aldwych farces. He is remembered by more recent audiences for his performances as the Archdeacon in the popular BBC sitcom, All Gas and Gaiters.

Short in stature and of unheroic appearance, Hare made his stage career in character roles. From his early days as an actor he was cast as older men. One of his favourite parts, which he played in the provinces before achieving West End success, was "Grumpy", a retired lawyer, in which he toured before the First World War.

After war service in the army, Hare got his big break. He was cast in a long-running farce with Ralph Lynn and Tom Walls. His meek and put-upon character was repeated in various incarnations in the eleven Aldwych farces presented by Walls between 1923 and 1933. He also appeared in film versions of most of the farces. After the Aldwych series came to an end, Hare continued to be cast in similar roles in new plays by Ben Travers and many others.

Occasionally Hare took a break from farce, appearing in revue with Benny Hill and in a musical with Frankie Howerd. His final major role was on television in the late 1960s, as the Archdeacon of St Ogg's in the BBC comedy series All Gas and Gaiters.

Life and career

Early years Hare was born in Islington, London, the middle child and eldest son of Frank Homer Hare, an accountant, and his wife, Louisa Mary, née Robertson. He was educated at Margate College in Kent and then studied drama with the actor and educator Cairns James.

In 1911 Hare made his professional stage debut, playing the Duke of Gallminster in a provincial production of The Bear Leaders. Even at this early stage of his career Hare was playing old men: "Grumpy" is an irascible retired lawyer. In December 1915 he married (Alice) Irene Mewton (1890/91–1969); they had one daughter. The play ran for nearly two years, after which Walls recruited Lynn and Hare to join him in a series of new farces at the Aldwych Theatre. There were eleven plays in this series, which came to be known as Aldwych farces; they played continuously from 1923 to 1933. Hare played in them all; his roles were: William Smith (It Pays to Advertise); The Rev Cathcart Sloley-Jones (A Cuckoo in the Nest); Harold Twine (Rookery Nook); Hook (Thark); Oswald Veal (Plunder); Ernest Ramsbotham (A Cup of Kindness); Miles Tuckett (A Night Like This); Edwin Stoatt (Turkey Time); Clement Peck (Dirty Work); Montague Trigg (Fifty-Fifty); and Augustus Pogson (A Bit of a Test). In 1963 Hare played in a long-running stage musical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (762 performances), in which he was cast as Erronius to Frankie Howerd's Pseudolus. He went on to be a regular cast member in Howerd’s 1966 BBC radio show.

In the 1960s Hare toured in Arsenic and Old Lace. George Melly wrote:

Hare was awarded the OBE in 1979, shortly before his death. He died in London at the age of 87. - Sitter in Bath Studio Our Girl Friday (1953) - Professor Gibble My Wife's Family (1956) - Noah Parker Three Men in a Boat (1956) - Photographer Seven Keys (1961) - Mr. Piggott The Night We Got the Bird (1961) - Doctor Vincent (uncredited) Out of the Shadow (1961) - Ronald Fortescue The Young Ones (1961) - Chauffeur Crooks Anonymous (1962) - Grimsdale Hotel Paradiso (1966) - Duke Salt and Pepper (1968) - Dove Raising the Roof (1972) - Old Gent (final film role)