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Ballard Berkeley

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Actor

The Resume

    (August 6, 1904-January 16, 1988)
    Born in Margate, England, United Kingdom
    Birth name was Ballard Blascheck
    Portrayed Major Gowen on Fawlty Towers
    Appeared in the films 'The Chinese Bungalow' (1930), 'White Ensign' (1934), 'East Meets West' (1936), 'The Last Adventurers' (1937), 'The Saint in London' (1939), 'In Which We Serve' (1942), 'I Became a Criminal' (1947), 'Stage Fright' (1950), 'Evidence for Hire' (1952), 'The Blue Parrot' (1953), 'The Men of Sherwood Forest' (1954), 'Teenage Bad Girl' (1956), 'Just My Luck' (1957), 'Night Caller from Outer Space' (1965), 'Confessions of a Driving Instructor' (1976) and 'National Lampoon's European Vacation' (1985)

Why he might be annoying:

    A lot of his early film appearances were in 'quota quickies' rushed out to satisfy requirements that British theaters screen a minimum number of British films.
    He was typecast as police and military officers (and later as retired police and military officers).
    Despite a long career, he remembered almost entirely for Major Gowen.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He served as a special constable with the Metropolitan Police during the London Blitz in WWII.
    He stole several scenes in Fawlty Towers amid a talented cast.
    John Cleese said Berkeley's Major Gowen was his favorite character in Fawlty Towers.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 11 Votes: 18.18% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 11 Votes: 27.27% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying