Wikipedia

Andrew Tourell

Andrew Ernest Tourell (18 January 1946 - 17 January 2004) was an English actor. He was known for his extensive work in television and theatre.

Andrew Tourell
Born
Andrew Ernest Tourell

(1946-01-18)18 January 1946
Islington, London, England
Died17 January 2004(2004-01-17) (aged 57)
Haywards Heath, West Sussex, England
OccupationActor
Years active1967–1994
Spouse
Janet Marshall
​
(m. 1975)​

Career edit

Television edit

Tourell began his career working with the Swansea Repertory Company in 1967,[1] appearing in plays including The Ghost Train as Saul Hodgkin, The Winslow Boy as Dickie Winslow, Dial M For Murder as Inspector Hubbard and Home at Seven as Dr. Sparling.[2]

He was best known on television for his role as Geoffrey Ballard in Waiting For God where he appeared in 46 out of a total of 47 episodes.[3] The son of leading character Tom (Graham Crowden), Geoffrey was known for his genial and mild mannered personality, yet could be insufferably dull at times. Although a successful businessman, his marriage to Marion (Sandra Payne) is a disaster; he frequently has to deal with her abusive, drunken and frequently adulterous behaviour. He eventually suffers a nervous breakdown in Series 5, where he leaves Marion, resigns from his position in the company and briefly reinvents himself as the rebellious biker 'Fatboy Higgins'.[4]

Tourell also made appearances in supporting roles in a number of notable sitcoms including Napley in It Takes a Worried Man, Anthony Black in No Place Like Home, Mr. Gerrard, the prosecution counsel in the Only Fools and Horses episode 'Hole in One', Benson in Terry & June and Graham, the estranged (and later ex) husband of Penny (Jan Francis) in two episodes of Just Good Friends.

In 1982, he appeared in the Doctor Who serial Black Orchid as Constable Cummings,[5] who assists the Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) with his investigation into the murder of two servants at a fancy dress party. He also played Mark Smith in an episode of the long running soap opera Crossroads.[6]

Stage edit

In addition to his work in television, Tourell also frequently played roles on stage, appearing in various productions including Boston Story as George Fenton at the Arts Theatre, Belfast;[7] An Italian Straw Hat as Nonacourt[8] and The Owl and Pussycat as Plum Pudding Flea[9] at the Lyceum Theatre, Crewe. He later became director of productions for the Byre Theatre Company at the Byre Theatre, St Andrews, between 1972-5,[10] where he directed a number of plays including The Importance of Being Earnest,[11] The Boy Friend[12] and Wait Until Dark.[13] He also acted in various productions at the Byre, including Barefoot in the Park as Paul Bratter[14] and Babes in the Wood as Friar Tuck.[15] After leaving the Byre, Tourell directed further plays including An Evening with Marcel Proust at the Maximus Actors Arena, London[16] and Revenge which ran at the Finborough Theatre, London in November 1982.[17] He briefly returned to the Byre in 1979, where he directed Candida by George Bernard Shaw.[18]

Personal life edit

Tourell married the actress Janet Marshall in 1975, with whom he had worked at the Byre Theatre and Crewe Theatre Company.[19][20] He died suddenly from a heart attack on 17 January 2004, the eve of his 58th birthday, in Haywards Heath.[21]

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
1976 Bouquet of Barbed Wire 2nd Police Constable
Dixon of Dock Green Doctor
1977 Fathers and Families 2nd Constable
1979 Shelley Clerk
1981-3 It Takes a Worried Man Napley 18 episodes
1982 Doctor Who: Black Orchid Constable Cummings
Strangers PC Higgs
1984 Just Good Friends Graham Pratt 2 episodes
1985 Crossroads Mark Smith
Only Fools and Horses Mr. Gerrard Episode: Hole in One
1986 Troubles and Strife Ian Smith
1986-7 No Place Like Home Anthony Black 5 episodes
1987 Bread Doctor
1990-4 Waiting For God Geoffrey Ballard 46 episodes
1991 The Secret Second Policeman

References edit

  1. ^ Somerville, Matthew. "Andrew Tourell". Theatricalia.
  2. ^ "Teamwork at Swansea". The Stage. July 20, 1967. p. 16.
  3. ^ "Waiting For God (TV Series)". IMDb.
  4. ^ "Waiting For God: Series 5, Episode 5". British Comedy Guide.
  5. ^ Sullivan, Shannon (June 21, 2021). "Black Orchid". Doctor Who: A Brief History of Time Travel.
  6. ^ Moore, Jane (October 25, 1985). "Harriet's Sexy Romp". Sandwell Evening Mail. p. 2.
  7. ^ "Repertory: Belfast". The Stage. March 19, 1970. p. 36.
  8. ^ "Comedy at Crewe". The Stage. October 1, 1970. p. 20.
  9. ^ "Crewe: The Owl and Pussycat went to See...". The Stage. January 21, 1971. p. 19.
  10. ^ Murray Plumley, C. (June 19, 1975). "Regional Theatre". The Stage. p. 16.
  11. ^ Murray Plumley, C. (September 7, 1972). "Regional Theatre: St Andrews". The Stage. p. 18.
  12. ^ "Boy Friend at the Byre". The Stage. March 16, 1972. p. 16.
  13. ^ "Regional Theatre: St Andrews". The Stage. July 5, 1973. p. 20.
  14. ^ Murray Plumley, C. (May 3, 1973). "On this week.... In St Andrews". p. 22.
  15. ^ "St Andrews: Babes in the Wood". The Stage. January 10, 1975. p. 27.
  16. ^ "Current Productions". The Stage. February 19, 1976. p. 19.
  17. ^ "1980-1990 - The Finborough Theatre". Finborough Theatre.
  18. ^ "Regional Reviews: Candida". The Stage. September 13, 1979. p. 25.
  19. ^ "What's On". Crewe Chronicle. July 10, 1975. p. 36.
  20. ^ Murray Plumley, C. (June 19, 1975). "Regional Theatre". The Stage. p. 16.
  21. ^ "On This Day (United Kingdom) - 17 January". Doctor Who Guide.

External links edit

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