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Robert Helpmann

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Dancer

The Resume

    (April 9, 1909-September 28, 1986)
    Born in Mount Gambier, Australia
    Birth name was Robert Murray Helpman
    First danced solo at the Theatre Royal, Adelaide in The Ugly Duckling (1922)
    Principal dancer at Sadlers Wells Ballet (1933-50)
    Played the Child Catcher in 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' (1968)
    Also appeared in the films 'The Red Shoes,' 'Henry V,' 'Tales of Hoffman,' and 'Patrick'
    Made a Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in 1968

Why he might be annoying:

    He was a chain smoker.
    He made his theatrical debut at eleven, dancing in a tutu for a charity concert.
    He added the extra 'n' to his stage name to avoid there being 13 letters in it.
    He liked to spout witticisms like 'The trouble with nude dancing is that not everything stops when the music does.'
    He worked with Katharine Hepburn and Vivien Leigh during the span of his 60-year career but will only ever be remembered as the maniacal Child Catcher from 'Chitty Chitty.'
    His Child Catcher was creepy enough to inspire Marilyn Manson's persona, as well as the cover/title for his 'Smells Like Children' album.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was a frequent dance partner of Moira Shearer.
    He directed the world tour of Margot Fonteyn (1963).
    He was described as sweet-tempered and gentlemanly by those who worked with him.
    His received critical praise for his portrayal of the Child Catcher, even as 'Chitty Chitty' itself was panned as overproduced.
    He was nearly killed on the set of 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' when the carriage that he was driving spun out of control and turned over (only his dancer's reflexes saved him, and he landed safely on his feet).
    His performance was parodied hilariously in an episode of Family Guy in which Peter Griffin is kidnapped by the 'Peter Catcher' driving a faux candy wagon ('I am gonna get so molested...')
    He maintained his dancing career until nearly the end of his life - dying only two months after playing the Red King in 'Checkmate.'

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 211 Votes: 52.13% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 18 Votes: 11.11% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying