John Hewer

John Hewer (13 January 1922 – 16 March 2008) was an English actor and manager. He was born in Leyton, London.

Biography

A stalwart of London's Players Theatre throughout his career, he appeared in many musical theatrical productions, including Sail Away and Six of One in London's West End theatre, but the highlight of his theatrical career was starring opposite Julie Andrews in The Boy Friend on Broadway in the 1950s.

His television work included hosting the 1970s Canadian CTV variety series The Pig and Whistle, but he was best known for portraying the fictitious sailor Captain Birdseye, the mascot for Birds Eye frozen foods in scores of British TV commercials from 1967 to 1998.

Residing in Epping in his later years and finally Brinsworth House in Twickenham, London, Hewer died aged 86 on Sunday, 16 March 2008.^[1]

Selected filmography

• The Dark Man (1951) - 1st Taxi Driver
• Assassin for Hire (1951) - Giuseppe Riccardi
• Law and Disorder (1958) - Foxy
• Operation Stogie (1959)
• Strip Tease Murder (1961) - Bert Black
• Three Spare Wives (1962) - Rupert
• Billy Budd (1962) - Dubbing
• Mister Ten Per Cent (1967) - Townsend
• Home Before Midnight (1979) - Donelly (Last appearance)

References

External links

• John Hewer at the Internet Movie Database
• The Times, 19 March 2008: John Hewer, original Captain Birdseye, dies aged 86
• BBC bio of John Hewer as "Captain Birdseye"
• The Guardian, 18 March 2008: Captain Birds Eye actor dies
• The Daily Telegraph, 19 March 2008: Captain Birdseye actor John Hewer dies
• Obituaries:
  • The Times, 18 March 2008
  • The Guardian, 20 March 2008
  • The Independent, 20 March 2008
  • The Daily Telegraph, 22 March 2008