11 min read
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2,128
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Published
76
Film credits
5
Books
1
Award
Ronnie Corbett, born December 4, 1930 in Edinburgh, formed the comedy duo The Two Ronnies with Ronnie Barker in 1971. The show ran on BBC One for nearly two decades. He also starred in the sitcom Sorry! from 1981 to 1988 and appeared in films like Casino Royale 1967. He received a CBE in 2012 and died in 2016 from motor neurone disease.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Ronnie Corbett — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Ronnie Corbett by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Ronnie Corbett — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Ronnie Corbett’s father worked as a baker in Edinburgh, Scotland. He attended Royal High School and James Gillespie’s High School. Before entering show business, he worked as a civil servant and served in the Royal Air Force as a commissioned officer during National Service, at 5 feet tall becoming the shortest commissioned officer in the British Forces.
Corbett’s big break came in the 1960s when he joined The Frost Report 1966, performing alongside John Cleese, David Frost, and Ronnie Barker. The chemistry with Barker led to their own series, The Two Ronnies 1971, which remained popular on BBC One until the late 1980s. Corbett also starred in the sitcom Sorry! 1981 for over seven years and appeared in films including Casino Royale 1967 and No Sex Please, We’re British 1973. Later in his career, he reunited with Barker in 2005 for a special series looking back at their favorite moments.
Corbett married Anne Hart on May 30, 1965. They had three children: Sophie Corbett, Emma Corbett, and Andrew Corbett, who died only weeks old in April 1966. Corbett was an enthusiastic golfer, with his London home backing onto the Addington Golf Course and his Scottish home onto Muirfield. He was a gourmet and an enthusiastic cook. In August 2014, he was one of 200 public figures who signed a letter urging Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom.
Ronnie Corbett received an OBE in 1978 and a CBE in 2012 for services to entertainment and charity. A memorial service was held for him at Westminster Abbey on June 7, 2017. He is remembered as half of one of the most successful comedy duos of all time, The Two Ronnies, and as a brilliant entertainer who complemented Ronnie Barker perfectly.
The complete filmography of Ronnie Corbett — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Ronnie Corbett — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
Ronnie Corbett's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.
A wall of memorable lines from Ronnie Corbett — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
Ronnie Barker and I Didn’t Have to Knock Booze on the Head, or Go into the Priory to Overcome Drug Addiction. We’re Fortunate We Were Quite Grown Up, Family Men with Children, and Lucky with Our Wives Before We Had What You Might Call a Touch of Fame. We Were Never Temperamental, Fractious, or Walked Out Slamming Doors. We Were Fussy, Though. We Wanted Everything Doing Properly.
Miranda Hart Is Outstandingly Funny and Different in a Refreshing, Sparkly Way. She’s Wordy and Intelligent, yet Broad and Physical When She Wants to Be.
When I Was Small… Well, When I Was Very Small…
I Think People Feel Starved of Nice, Glamorous Entertainment. They Want to See Costumes and Gaiety and a Singer; Old-fashioned Entertainment – It Won’t Die Easily.
Have You Ever Noticed? Anybody Going Slower Than You Is an Idiot, and Anyone Going Faster Than You Is a Maniac.
Little-known facts about Ronnie Corbett — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
In the 1970s, Corbett and Barker were two of the highest-paid performers on British television. In 1979, they moved their families to Australia for a year to exploit a tax loophole, avoiding the 83% top income tax rate for top earners in the UK, a move also made by many film and rock stars.
He received an OBE in the 1978 Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for services to entertainment.
His firstborn son, Andrew Corbett, died only weeks old at St. Thomas Hospital in London of heart problems.
Stanley Kubrick wanted Corbett for a role as an alien in 2001: A Space Odyssey 1968, as Corbett recounts in his autobiography.
Despite his small stature, Corbett served in the Royal Air Force as a commissioned officer during National Service.
At the end of The Two Ronnies 1971, they would close with Corbett saying Well, it’s goodnight from me, to which Barker would reply And it’s goodnight from him.
He was the father of Emma Corbett, Sophie Corbett, and Andrew Corbett born March 1966, died April 1966.
He received a CBE in the 2012 New Year’s Honours List for services to entertainment and charity.
He attended The Royal High School in Edinburgh, Scotland.
He appeared as a guest panelist in a special celebrity edition of Blankety Blank 1978 on The Prince’s Trust 30th Birthday: Live.
His father was a baker.
In October 2005, while driving along Park Lane in London, he received a call from Ronnie Barker, who was saying goodbye knowing he was near death. Corbett offered to drive to Oxfordshire, but Barker asked him not to. Two days later, Barker died aged 76.
He attended the Royal Variety Performance in 1986.
He appeared on a tribute show marking the closure of BBC Television Centre, called Goodbye Television Centre 2013.
Westminster Abbey held a memorial service for him on June 7, 2017.
He performed regularly at Danny La Rue’s club, where he was first spotted by David Frost.
He worked as a civil servant in Edinburgh.
His London home backs onto the Addington Golf Course, while his Scottish home backs onto the course at Muirfield, ideal for someone who enjoys the game.
Corbett carried out national service with the Royal Air Force, during which he was the shortest commissioned officer in the British Forces.
The film Monsieur Lecoq 1967 was unfinished and abandoned.
He performed in You’re Only Young Twice in Glasgow in 1963, and in London’s West End in Boys From Syracuse and Twang, which only lasted 43 performances.
In August 2014, Corbett was one of 200 public figures who signed a letter to The Guardian expressing hope that Scotland would vote to remain part of the United Kingdom in the September referendum.
He made his first stage appearance in a pantomime for his youth club, playing a wicked aunt.
He was a gourmet and an enthusiastic cook.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Ronnie Corbett.
Celebrities similar to Ronnie Corbett — same craft, ranked by reach.
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