English Veteran Comedian And Writer Barry Cryer Dies
Tributes have been paid to comedian and writer Barry Cryer, who has died at the age of 86.
Cryer wrote for comedy giants including The Two Ronnies, Bob Hope, Tommy Cooper and Morecambe and Wise.
He was also a star of the airwaves and the stage in his own right, including on BBC radio panel shows like Just A Minute and I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue.
His son Bob Cryer said the comedian died “peacefully, in good spirits and with his family around him”.
He added: “He leaves behind him a life of fun, joy, love and silliness and we’ll all be doing our best to maintain that legacy.”
Leading the tributes on Twitter, broadcaster Gyles Brandreth described Cryer as “just the loveliest guy; funny and generous”.
RIP #BarryCryer. Here we are only a few weeks ago. Baz was just the loveliest guy: funny & generous. He’d worked with everybody & everybody he worked with liked him. I shall miss his happy company so much – & his regular phone calls: he gave you a gem of a joke with each one. pic.twitter.com/O8AgZyMYYt
Stephen Fry described him as “one the absolute greats of British comedy”, while actor and writer Mark Gatiss added: “Barry Cryer was the real deal.
“An incredibly funny man who worked with – and wrote for – the giants of comedy. Yet he remained forever curious and delighted by whatever was fresh and original. Kind, encouraging, generous and a one off.”
Bob Cryer continued in his statement on social media: “Dad was a talented comedy writer and comedian in a particularly golden vintage.
“It’ll be of no surprise to those that knew and worked with him that he was telling an Archbishop of Canterbury joke to a nurse not long before he died. That was one of his gifts, making strangers feel welcome, making them laugh.”
Tributes flooded in from fellow comedians and actors. Rebecca front said Cryer “was an utter genius, endlessly intrigued by and supportive of everyone who worked in comedy…. he made us all feel special”.
Victoria Coren Mitchell, whose father Alan Coren was a long-time friend and colleague of Cryer, remembered him as “a lovely lovely man”. Her husband David Mitchell described Cryer as “a brilliant man and a bringer of huge joy who never stopped being delighted by comedy”.
Actress Sherrie Hewson said: “Barry Cryer, the most gifted talented extraordinary man I had the honour to work with and more importantly call my friend. A huggable gorgeous human being.”
Comedian Ross Noble tweeted that Cryer’s death was “devastating news”, adding: “He was a legend of his generation and more engaged with the many new generations of writers and comics who followed him than anyone else in the business.
“Spending time with him was always a great joy. Such a funny and nice man.”
- Obituary: Barry Cryer
Cryer was born in Leeds in 1935, and started his career as a variety performer while appearing in a university revue.
He began writing for Irish performer Danny La Rue after a move to London. One evening at a nightclub performance, Cryer was spotted by Sir David Frost who suggested they work together.
The pair went on to collaborate on several shows on the BBC and ITV, including The Frost Report on the BBC, Frost Over England and Frost On Sunday.
BBC