About Tony Capstick
Lived 1944 – 2003 (aged 59). Tony Capstick was a British comedian, journalist and television actor.
Joseph Anthony Capstick (27 July 1944 – 23 October 2003) Outside Sheffield, he is perhaps better known as one of the policemen in the long-running British sitcom, Last of the Summer Wine, where he played the role until his death in October 2003, with his final appearance on the show broadcast in April 2004.
Biography
A regular performer on the folk circuit, he recorded many albums. The first was for the Newcastle based record label Rubber Records (His Round with Hedgehog Pie, Punch and Judy Man, Tony Capstick Does a Turn, Songs of Ewan MacColl with Dick Gaughan and Dave Burland and There Was This Bloke with Mike Harding, Derek Brimstone and Bill Barclay). In 1981, he unexpectedly reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart with "The Sheffield Grinder" / "Capstick Comes Home". It was recorded with the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band.
As a comedian, he had an eight-part television series, Capstick's Capers, on Channel 4 in 1983. Capstick was also a prolific bit-part actor, with a career including minor roles in the soap operas Emmerdale and Coronation Street. In the latter he played the recurring character of the brewer Harvey Nuttall.
His career at Radio Sheffield came to an end in January 2003. He continued to write a regular column in a local weekly newspaper, the Rotherham Advertiser.
Capstick was an author, with Paul Donoghue, of a book on the Appleby Horse Fair.
Death On 23 October 2003, Capstick was found dead at his cottage in Hoober, near Wentworth, South Yorkshire, he had suffered an aneurysm following a bout of pneumonia. He was survived by wife Gillian and his two children from his first marriage.
Discography His Round (with Hedgehog Pie), 1971 Punch and Judy Man (with Hedgehog Pie), 1974 Does a Turn, 1978 Songs of Ewan MacColl (with Dick Gaughan and Dave Burland), 1978 "Capstick Comes Home" / "The Sheffield Grinder, No. 3 UK Singles Chart, 1981
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1989 Resurrected Photographer
Television
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Tony Capstick's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Tony Capstick's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Tony Capstick?
British actor (1944-2003)
When was Tony Capstick born?
Tony Capstick was born on 27 July 1944 in Rotherham.
When did Tony Capstick die?
Tony Capstick died on 23 October 2003 in Wentworth.
What was Tony Capstick's occupation?
Tony Capstick was a comedian, journalist and television actor.
What nationality was Tony Capstick?
Tony Capstick was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Tony Capstick. https://biography.guide/tony-capstick/
MLA: "Tony Capstick." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/tony-capstick/.
Chicago: "Tony Capstick." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/tony-capstick/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:09 UTC