Born on April 10, 1916 Bethnal Green, London, England (UK).
Birth Name: Abraham Basalinsky
Mother: Ada Miller; Father: Jacob Bass
Spouse: Beryl Margaret Bryson; has two children-a son and daughter.
Died on July 15, 1987 in London, England from a heart attack.
TV Appearances
(1997-archive)The Life and Times of Alf Garnett(Bert)
(1991-archive)Robin Hood: The Movie (Edgar)
(1982)"Minder"
- The Son Also Rises (Morrie Levin)
©Euston Films
(1982)"Dick Turpin"- Sentence of Death: Part 1+2 (Isaac Rag)
(1980)"Dick Turpin" (RKO)- Blood Money (Isaac Rag)
(1980)High Rise Donkey (Donkey Derby Photographer)
(1979)"Dick Turpin"
---- The Jail-Birds (Isaac Rag)
---- The Impostor (Isaac Rag)
---- The Blacksmith(Isaac Rag)
(1979)Moonraker (Consumptive Italian)
Both images ©Danjaq
(1979)"Danger UXB"- Just Like a Woman (Reg Preston)
(1978)Death on the Nile
(1978)"Return of the Saint"- Tower Bridge Is Falling Down (Sammy)
(1978)High Rise Donkey
(1978)The Revenge of the Pink Panther (Fernet)
Both images ©United Artists
(1978)Five Are Together Again-The Famous Five: Parts 1+2
All 5 images ©Southern Television/Portman Productions
(1977) Come Play with Me (Kelly/Luigi)
©Roldvale
(1977)"A Roof Over My Head" ( Flamewell)
(1976)"The Howerd Confessions"- Episode #1.5 (Chalky White)
(1976)"Star Maidens"- Nightmare Cannon (Gatekeeper)
(1976)"Our Mutual Friend" (Silas Wegg)
Bottom 3 images shown with Leo McKern from "Rumpole and Bailey" fame. All 6 images ©BBC.
(1965)"Till Death Us Do Part" (Bert Reed)
(1960-1974)"Bootsie and Snudge" ('Bootsie' Bisley)
All 7 images ©Granada Television
(1974)"The Adventures of Black Beauty"- Where's Jonah? (Wilf)
All 3 images ©London Weekend Television (LWT)/The Fremantle Corporation/Talbot Television
(1973)"The Goodies"
---- The Goodies and the Beanstalk(The Giant)
©BBC
---- Camelot (Town Planner)
©BBC
(1973)"Arthur of the Britons"- The Swordsman (Trader)
(1972)"Budgie"- 24,000 Ball Point Pens (Dickie Silver)
(1972)This Is Your Life
(1971)The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins-Pride segment(Mr. Spencer )
All 3 images
©Tigon Pictures
(1970)"This Is Your Life"- Alfie Bass
©Ralph Edwards Productions
(1969)A Challenge for Robin Hood
(1969)The Bespoke Overcoat
(1968)The Fixer (Potseikin)
(1968) Up the Junction (Charlie)
©BHE Films
(1968)It Always Rains on Sunday
(1968)A Challenge for Robin Hood (Pie Merchant)
Both images ©Hammer Film Productions
(1967)"Sanctuary"- The Cheapest Tailor in London. (Juggy Simpkin)
(1967)"Vacant Lot" (Alf Grimble)
(1967)The Dance of the Vampires/The Fearless Vampire Killers/Pardon Me but Your Teeth Are in My Neck (Yoine Shagal, the Inn-Keeper)
All 3 images ©Cadre Films
(1966)A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Gatekeeper)
(with Frank Thornton!)
All 5 images ©Quadrangle Films S.A.
(1966) Alfie (Harry Clamacraft)
Both images©Lewis Gilbert
(1966)Doctor in Clover/Carnaby, M.D.(Fleming)
Both images ©The Rank Organisation
(1966)The Sandwich Man (Yachtsman)
©The Rank Organisation
(1966)Bindle/One of Them Days (Joseph Bindle)
(1965) Help!(Doorman for Indian Restaurant)
All 3 images
©Subafilms
(1965)"Frankie Howerd" - Episode #1.4
(1964)"Gideon's Way" - State Visit (Max Fischer)
Both images ©Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
(1964)"Z Cars" - Bring Back the Cat(George Hasty)
(1964) "Foreign Affairs" (Montagu 'Bootsie' Bisley)
(1964) Mr. Scrooge( Bob Cratchett)
(1962)The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins
(1960)The Millionairess (Fish Curer)
©Dimitri De Grunwald Production
(1959)The Night My Number Came Up
(1958)I Was Monty's Double (Small Man)
(1958)I Only Asked! (Excused Boots Bisley)
Both images ©Granada Film Productions
(1958)Hell, Heaven or Hoboken/I Was Monty's Double (The Small Man)
©Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)
(1958)A Tale of Two Cities (Jerry Cruncher)
Both images ©The Rank Organisation
(1957-1960)"The Army Game" (Pvt. 'Bootsie' Bisley)
All 3 images ©Granada Television
(1957)Hell Drivers (Tinker/Truck Driver)
Both images ©The Rank Organisation
(1957)The Ship was Loaded/Carry on Admiral (Orderly)
©George Minter Productions
(1957)"The Adventures of Robin Hood"- The Goldmaker's Return (Lepidus)
(1957) No Road Back (Rudge Harvey)
(1957)Time Is My Enemy (Ernie Gordon)
(1957)Carry on Admiral/The Ship Was Loaded(Orderly)
©George Minter Productions
(1956)Cash on Delivery (Cab Driver)
(1956)Child in the House (Ticket collector)
(1956)The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp
(Lennox)
(1956)"The Adventures of Robin Hood"--The Goldmaker (Lepidus)
(1956)"The Adventures of Sir Lancelot"- Theft of Excalibur(Barney Brandygore)
(1956)A Touch of the Sun (May)
(1956)The Bespoke Overcoat (Fender-Ghost)
(1956)"The Buccaneers"- Blackbeard (Sawney)
©Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
(1956)Behind the Headlines/Berufsrisiko (Sammy)
©Kenilworth Film Productions
(1956)"The Scarlet Pimpernel"- Lady in Distress (Citizen)
©Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
(1956)Jumping for Joy (Blagg)
(1956)Sailor Beware/Panic in the Parlor(Organist)
© Remus, Romulus Films
(1956)Make Me an Offer (Fred Frames)
(1955)A Kid for Two Farthings (Alf the Birdman)
© London Film Productions
(1955-1957)"The Adventures of Robin Hood"
---- The Ordeal (Edgar)
All 3 images ©Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
---- The Moneylender(Edgar)
All 4 images ©Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
---- The Coming of Robin Hood (The Pie Seller)
All 4 images ©Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
(1955) King's Rhapsody (Man in crowd)
(1955)The Ship That Died of Shame (Sailor on 1087)
(1955)The Night My Number Came Up (Soldier)
All 3 images ©Michael Balcon Productions/Ealing Studios
(1955)Svengali (Carrell)
(1954)To Dorothy a Son (Cab Driver)
(1954)Passing Stranger (Harry)
(1954)Time Is My Enemy (Ernie Gordon)
(1954)Murder by Proxy/Blackout (Ernie)
©Hammer Films
(1954)The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp (Lennox)
(1954)Make Me an Offer (Fred Frames)
(1953)The Square Ring (Frank Forbes)
(1953)Top of the Form (Artie Jones)
©British Film-Makers / Paul Soskin Productions
(1952)The Bespoke Overcoat(Fender)
(1952)The Planter's Wife (Soldier)
(1952)You Can't Beat the Irish (Lorcan)
(1952)Treasure Hunt (Tipster)
(1952) Derby Day (Spider Wilkes)
(1952)Made in Heaven (Bert Jenkins)
(1952)Brandy for the Parson (Dallyn)
(1952)Outpost in Malaya (Soldier)
(1951)High Treason (Albert Brewer)
(1951)The Lavender Hill Mob (Shorty Fisher)
All three images ©Ealing Studios
(1951)Talk of a Million (Lorcan)
(1951)The Galloping Major (Newsboy)
© British Lion Film Corporation
(1951) Pool of London (Alf/henchman)
©Ealing Studios
(1950)Stage Fright (Stage Hand With Microphone)
Both images © Warner Bros.
(1949)Boys in Brown (Basher)
(1949)The Hasty Heart (Orderly)
(with Ronald Reagan!)
All 4 images ©Warner Bros./Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)
(1949)Man on the Run (Bert the Barge Mate)
©Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)
(1948)The Monkey's Paw (Speedway Track Manager)
(1948)Vice Versa (1st Urchin)
(1947)Jassy (Witness)
(1947)Holiday Camp(Redcoat)
(1947)It Always Rains on Sunday (Dicey Perkins)
©Ealing Studios
(1946) Johnny Frenchman (Corporal)
(1945)Brief Encounter (Waiter at the Royal)
©Cineguild
(1943)The Bells Go Down (uncredited)
AYBS Stats
Menswear Department
AYBS Timeframe: 1979
Episodes:
"The Junior"
"Strong Stuff, This Insurance"
"The Apartment"
"Mrs. Slocombe, Senior Person"
"The Hero"
"Anything You Can Do"
"The Agent"
"The Punch and Judy Affair"
Left AYBS after one season.
Magazine/Newspaper Covers/Articles/Audio
Magazine
Variety, July 22, 1987
Radio
(1950's) Journey Into Space (BBC) (Lemuel "Lemmy" Barnet)
Music
(1955)Pity the Downtrodden Landlord
Poster
(May 1958)The Army Game to promote the HMV single.
Award
-Nominated in 1956 for the BAFTA Film Award for his performance in the movie "The Bespoke Overcoat".
Real Life Facts
-Youngest of 10 children.
-Left school at 14 to work as a messenger, tailor's apprentice and Shopwindow display fitter.
-During WWII he joined the Middlesex Regiment and took part in Army Fim Unit documentaries.
Public Information Film
(1946) It Might Be You
©Ministry of Information/Crown Film Unit
Theater
(1972)Caste (Eccles) at the Greenwich Theatre, London
(1968)Fiddler on the Roof (Tevye) at Her Majesty's Theatre, London
(1958?)Army Game at the Hippodrome in Blackpool
(1956)The Silver Whistle (Emmett) at the Duchess Theatre
(1955)The World of Sholom Aleichem at the Embassy Theatre
(1955)The Punch Revue at the Duke of York's Theatre, London
(1954)The Bespoke Overcoat (Fender) at the Arts Theatre, 1953, then Embassy Theatre
(1953)Starched Aprons (Jimmie Thomson) at the Embassy Theatre
(1952)Trelawny of the Wells (Augustus Colpoys) at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, London
(1949)The Golden Door (Benjamin Brownstein) at the Embassy Theatre
(1949)The Gentle People (Philip Anagnos) at the Embassy Theatre
(1948)The Vigil
(1948)King John (Gurney) at the Stratford Memorial Theatre Company, Stratford-on-Avon, U.K.
(1948)Gobbo (Launcelot) at the Stratford Memorial Theatre Company, Stratford-on-Avon, U.K.
(1948)The Merchant of Venice (Second Gravedigger) at the Stratford Memorial Theatre Company, Stratford-on-Avon, U.K.
(1948)Hamlet (Grumio) at the Stratford Memorial Theatre Company, Stratford-on-Avon, U.K.
(1948)The Taming of the Shrew (Autolycus) at the Stratford Memorial Theatre Company, Stratford-on-Avon, U.K.
(1948)The Winter's Tale at the Stratford Memorial Theatre Company, Stratford-on-Avon, U.K.
(1947)He Who Gets Slapped (Tilly) at the Duchess Theatre, London
(1947)Headlights on A5 (Fred Bassett) at the Embassy Theatre, London
(1947)Finian's Rainbow (Og) at the Palace Theatre, London
(1947)Those Were the Days (Morgan) at the Q Theatre, London
(1945)Alice in Thunderland (Rooky) at the Unity Theatre, London
(1945)The Alchemist (Abel Drugger) at the Liverpool Old Vic Company+Playhouse Theatre
(1943)Mr Bolfry (Cohen) at the Playhouse Theatre, London
(1943)Buster at the Arts Theatre, London
(1939)Babes in the Wood (Pantomime King)
(1939)Plant in the Sun (Izzie) at the Unity Theatre, London (First stage appearance)
Pantomime
(1974)Jack and the Beanstalk at the Palladium Theatre
(1973)Cinderella at the Palladium Theatre, London
(1930's)Babes In the Wood
TV Plays
(1977)"ITV Playhouse"- The Bass Player and the Blonde
(1973)BBC Play:"Black and Blue"- Soap Opera in Stockwell (Sylv)
(1967)Theatre 625-Stan's Day Out
(1966)"Armchair Theatre"- Daughter of the House(Bert)
(1964)A Midsummer Night's Dream (Flute)
(1956)"Lilli Palmer Theatre"- Mister Betts Runs Away ( Mr. James)
Beryl Bass, wife of Alfie Bass
(The 2 images above used with permission from Andrew at: http://www.andrewwhitehead.net/blog/a-unity-theatre-outing-to-box-hill).
1:Beryl Bass, wife of Alfie Bass
2:
3:Muriel Dobkin
4:
5:Betty Oxenbould
6:Alec Bernstein (Alexander Baron)
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10:Ray Bernard
11:
12:Joyce Kirby
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23A:
24:Fred Bishop
25:
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28:Tom Kernot
29:Gerry Sharpe, general manager of Unity
30:
31:Anita Davis
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34:
Just in case.. if anyone can identify any of the others in the picture please let me know, so I can pass it along to Andrew. Thanks!
Recollections
"The lady in the picture is my late mum Olive. She was Olive Pearson back then & worked for a few years as a bus conductress ('clippie') with London Transport in the late 1950s. She told me that Alfie Bass was on her bus a few times & was a true gentleman, very polite."-Hev (Used with permission)
