Jump to content

Danny O'Dea

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Danny O'Dea
Danny O'Dea as Eli Duckett in Last of the Summer Wine
Born
Peter Anthony Joseph Daniel Wrenshall

22 December 1911
Durrington, Sussex, England
Died16 April 2003(2003-04-16) (aged 91)
Years active1970–2003
SpouseDoris Smith (m. 1950 - 2000)
Children2
External image
image icon Cast of Swansea Grand Theatre's Robin Hood, including Danny O'Dea. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012.

Peter Anthony Joseph Daniel Wrenshall (22 December 1911 – 16 April 2003),[1] better known by his stage name Danny O'Dea, was an English actor.

O'Dea was a British funnyman born out of the music hall tradition. He left a legacy which spans eight decades and reads like a history of British comedy. He performed alongside some of the biggest names in the business including Arthur Askey, Les Dawson, Dick Emery, John Inman, Victoria Wood and Cilla Black, entering showbiz at an early age thanks to an enviable pedigree and working until he was 90, latter enjoying fame as the long-sighted Eli Duckett in the British sitcom Last of the Summer Wine between 1986 and 2002. His film roles include Paddie, an elderly man in Rita, Sue and Bob Too in 1986. His stage work included two pantomimes at the Swansea Grand Theatre in Wales: Robin Hood and Puss in Boots.[2]

Personal life and death

[edit]

He was married to Doris Smith from 1950 until her death on 10 October 2000, the marriage produced two children. He died on 16 April 2003 in Hartshead, Yorkshire, aged 91.[1]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1970 Queenie's Castle Albert Episode: "Trial by Fury"
1978 All Creatures Great and Small Tom Episode: "Faint Hearts"
1979 Ripping Yarns Man at Gum Factory Episode: "Golden Gordon"
1983 Bingo! champion Bingo player TV movie
1985 Juliet Bravo Old Man Episode: "Jobs for the Boys"
1986–2002 Last of the Summer Wine Eli Duckett 93 episodes, (final appearance)[3]
1987 Rita, Sue and Bob Too Paddy
1988 All Creatures Great and Small Rupe Episode: "The Pig Man Cometh"
1989 Victoria Wood Ted Episode: "The Library"
1990 One Foot in the Grave Michael Episode: "The Big Sleep"
Emmerdale Wilf Henshaw
1991 Josie Episode: "Episode No. 1.2"
1997 25 Years of Last of the Summer Wine Himself TV documentary
2003 30 Years of Last of the Summer Wine Himself TV documentary

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Danny O'Dea". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  2. ^ "Swansea Grand Theatre Pantomime Archive". Wales: Swansea Grand Theatre. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  3. ^ "Last Of The Summer Wine : Cast". British TV Comedy. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
[edit]