Tim Healy (actor)

Summary

Timothy Malcolm Healy (born 29 January 1952) is an English actor. He played Dennis Patterson in the comedy-drama series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983–2004), Les/Lesley Conroy in the sitcom Benidorm (2009–2018), and Gastric in the comedy series Still Open All Hours (2014–2019).[1]

Tim Healy
Healy in 2007
Born
Timothy Malcolm Healy

(1952-01-29) 29 January 1952 (age 72)
OccupationActor
Years active1976–2023
Spouses
(m. 1988; div. 2012)
Joan Anderton
(m. 2015)
Children2, including Matty Healy

Early life edit

Timothy Malcolm Healy was born in the Benwell area of Newcastle upon Tyne on 29 January 1952, the son of Sadie (née Wilson) and Timothy Malcolm Healy Sr.[2]

He grew up in Ouston, County Durham west of Birtley, Tyne and Wear in former Chester-le-Street (district).[3] He attended Pelton Secondary Modern School in Pelton, County Durham.

He worked as a welder in a factory and joined the British Army, serving part-time in the 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment.[citation needed] In 1973, he successfully responded to an advert for the Northern Arts School, obtaining a student grant and moving into acting. He was an early member of the Live Theatre Company, a touring company which put on drama productions in community halls and working men's clubs.[4]

Career edit

In 1982, Healy appeared in A Captain's Tale, depicting the triumph of West Auckland F.C. in the Sir Thomas Lipton Cup. In 1983, Healy was brought to public attention for his role in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet a TV comedy drama series about British builders working in Germany.

In 1984 Healy appeared in the Minder episode "A Star is Gorn", in which he played George, an enforcer for Cyril Ash, a crooked music agent.

During the mid-80s, Healy also played Barney Bodger, the blundering handyman in the Children's ITV series Tickle on the Tum, becoming a favourite with young viewers.

In the early-1990s, he appeared as a cockney ex-pat in the BBC series Boys From The Bush and played a binman in Common as Muck. In 1994, he appeared in one episode of the fourth series of Heartbeat, he played Cedric Shanks. In 2001, Healy appeared in the surreal BBC situation comedy Breeze Block, playing the head of a strange family. Healy had high hopes for the series, but was reportedly upset when it was only screened on the digital channel BBC Choice (later relaunched as BBC Three) and never broadcast on BBC One or BBC Two. He starred as a folk musician in the first episode of comedy series, Phoenix Nights. His band, "Half a Shilling", sang a song called "Send the Buggers Back", supposedly about a set of Holy Communion shoes, but clearly intended as a racist anthem. He played Jackie Elliot in the West End musical Billy Elliot.

Healy appeared in the film Purely Belter as the abusive father of delinquent teenager Gerry and appeared in Coronation Street as Paul Jones, the father of barman Sean Tully. Healy previously appeared on the show in 1976 as a bingo caller. In 2002, Healy appeared as DS Philip Carter in an episode of Silent Witness. 2003, Healy appeared as Inspector Colin Duggan in an episode of the BBC drama Murder in Mind. In 2009, Healy appeared in the BBC drama Waterloo Road as a Security Guard, Dave Miller, a love interest for Steph Haydock, played by his wife at the time, Denise Welch. In 2013, Healy appeared as Eric in the Sky Living Sitcom The Spa for one series.

When Healy's ex wife, Denise Welch, was a guest on The Paul O'Grady Show, an apparently aged man came on the show to talk about a subject. He sounded unwell while Welch was speaking, and to her and everyone's surprise, he revealed himself to be Healy. Healy starred in the third series of the ITV comedy Benidorm playing a cross dresser called Lesley. He later became a regular in the fourth series in 2011.

Healy has also had a role in Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer's show Catterick as a helpful man with a chronically cold wife. In November 2013, he filmed a cameo in the first episode of the second series of the BBC sitcom Hebburn.[5]

In September 2009, Healy became the voice of The Greener Company – a wood-burning stove company based in Lymm, Cheshire. Working in conjunction with The Greener Company and Smooth FM, Healy plays the role of David – The Wood-Burning Stove fitter for The Greener Company. David is a character in a series of radio commercials used to promote the company.[citation needed]

He played Gastric in Still Open All Hours (2014–2019).

Personal life edit

Healy married actress Denise Welch in 1988.[6] They had two sons before divorcing in 2012; their oldest son, Matty, is the lead singer of the band The 1975.

Healy married Joan Anderton in 2015.[7]

He is an avid supporter of Newcastle United FC.

Philanthropy edit

Healy often shows support for the children's charity, Children North East, which is based in Newcastle, by making appearances at events and showing support at their community based projects. The charity raise funds for youth projects, such as WEYES project, in the west end area where Healy grew up.

He co-founded the Sammy Johnson Memorial Fund, established to support young talent in North East England. He hosts the biannual Sunday for Sammy concerts in aid of the fund.[8]

Filmography edit

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1976 Crown Court Matthew Cole 1 episode
1977 Emmerdale Steven 3 episodes
Here I Stand Guy 1 episode
1982 The World Cup: A Captain's Tale Charlie Hogg Television film
1983–2004 Auf Wiedersehen, Pet Dennis Patterson
1984 Minder George Episode: "A Star is Gorn"
1984–1988 Tickle on the Tum Barney Bodger
1987 A Perfect Spy Syd Lemon
1988–1990 A Kind of Living Brian Thompson
1989 Casualty Ken Gardner Episode: "Victim of Circumstances"
1991–1992 Boys from the Bush Reg Toomer
1993 Cracker Mr. Lang 2 episodes
1994 Heartbeat Cedric Shanks Episode: "Turn of the Tide"
Frank Stubbs Promotes Sandy 1 episode
Common As Muck Foxy
1996 Soldier Soldier Mr. Osbourne 1 episode
1997 The Student Prince Mr. Grimes Television film
King Leek Matthew Cromer
1997–1998 The Grand Jacob Collins
1998–2000 Heartburn Hotel Harry Springer
2000 A Dinner of Herbs Mr. Mulcaster
2001 Phoenix Nights Mike Fiddler Series 1 Episode 1
The Lost World McArdle 2 episodes
2002 Silent Witness DS Philip Carter 1 episode
The Jury Eddie Fannon 3 episodes
Breeze Block Ralph Breeze
2003 Murder in Mind Colin Duggan Episode: "Cornershop"
Magic Grandad Magic Grandad
2004 Catterick Ian
Dalziel and Pascoe Mike Pitman Episode: "Great Escapes"
2005 Dead Man Weds Paul King
The Last Detective Harvey Troupe 1 episode
2006 Coronation Street Brian Tully 4 episodes
2007 Dream Team John Jackson / Dave 1 episode
2009 Waterloo Road Security Dave 5 episodes
2009–2018 Benidorm Les / Lesley Conroy
2013 The Spa Eric 1 series
Hebburn Stuart Episode: "Welcome Home"
2014–2019 Still Open All Hours Gastric
2015 People Behaving Badly Narrator
2021 Wonderful World of Trucking

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
1996 The Snow Queen's Revenge Eric (voice)
1998 Shadow Run Daltrey
2000 Purely Belter Mr. McCarten
2004 School for Seduction Derek
2008 Sunday for Sammy Dennis
Alberts Speech Eric Short
2009 Faintheart Geoff
2011 United Tommy Skinner
Man in Fear Sargent Brown Short
2021 You Are Not Alone Narrator

References edit

  1. ^ Stephenson, John-Paul (17 September 2014). "Tim Healy joins Still Open All Hours". Giggle Beats. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Pay as you go".
  3. ^ Gateshead Post Thursday 2 October 1986, page 12
  4. ^ "Home - Benidorm All Year Round". www.benidormallyearround.com.
  5. ^ Dipper, Andrew (6 November 2013). "Tim Healy to appear in series two of Hebburn". Giggle Beats. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Series 1, Episode 5". Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 4 February 2016. ITV. Repeated 24 August 2016 on Challenge TV.
  7. ^ Davies, Katie (1 February 2015). "North East actor Tim Healy to wed partner Joan Anderton this year". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  8. ^ Stephenson, John-Paul (9 February 2014). "Hebburn stars join Sunday for Sammy". Giggle Beats. Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2015.

External links edit

  • Tim Healy at IMDb
  • Voice of Wood Burning Stoves[permanent dead link]
  • www.sitcom.co.uk: Boys from the Bush