Is Reg varney really 91?

[Velvetee]

I've just been watching the film "Holiday on the buses" and decided to read up on the characters.

On the IMDB website, it states the leading actor, Reg Varney, who played Stan Butler was born in 1916. This would have made him aged 57 at the time of filming (1973), 20 years older than Stephen Lewis, who played Inspector Blakey.

Either Reg Varney ages very slowly, as he looked alot younger than Stephen Lewis, or there is an error in his date of birth. Does anyone know if 1916, is his correct year of birth?

[Fay Mousse]

Yes, he was born 11th July 1916, so will soon be 92.

Stephen Lewis was born in 1936, so as you say Lewis is 20 years older than Varney. I think Lewis just has an unfortunate face and exaggerates it.

By the way, Varney is quite an accomplished singer and pianist:

http://bootsalesounds.blogspot.com/2008/02/reg -varney.html

[winebuyer]

Good for him.

Reg V has been part of the British comic scene since before I can remember .

[Postdog]

This post reminded me that my dad would be 91 now as well.....

anyway, back to Reg, an interesting fact is that he was the first first person in the UK to use a cash machine.

Also, in case you didn't go there on IMDb, poor old Jack ended up committing suicide.

[~Wingnut~]

This is why I love AB! You find out interesting facts about things you may not necessarily really think about. I have just amazed my husband with this lol

Whose Jack Postdog?

[~Wingnut~]

Suddenly realised and just checked on google to confirm it was who I was thinking of lol

I am going to impress others now about the fact Reg was the first person in the UK to use a cash machine lol

[gina32]

fay,dont you mean 20 years younger than varney

[Ethel]

Yes, Fay did mean 20 years younger. :)

Sorry.

Ethfay

[gina32]

jack was the bloke who was the conductor on the bus, real name bob grant

[dot.hawkes]

I remember watching him in Rag Trade, though I was only about 8 or 9 : )

[littleoldme]

I remember finding it very hard to believe when I heard that Reg Varney was in his early 70s (obviously 20 years ago now). He would have been in his early to mid 50s when On The Buses was popular - I guess he just looked young for his age.

[andy-hughes]

It does back up my assertion - voiced on here a couple of times, that apart from Michael Barrymore, and The Goodies, Reg Varney is possibly the un-funniest man ever seen on television.

[Ethel]

He was in The Plank, so not all bad.

[Rtaxron]

What was the name of the bloke with the long nose, I think it was his brother in law or something like that?

[bravejordy]

I saw Reg on telly a couple of weeks ago, in a documentary about Benny Hill. I was quite surprised to be honest, because for some reason I thought Reg had died years ago. I must say he looked well for his age and still had all his hair (jammy sod!)

[Ethel]

The Plank - a hugely funny 45 minute comedy

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plank-Eric-Sykes/dp/B0 0004CJQE

[vehelpfulguy]

>I guess he just looked young for his age.

I never thought he looked young in On the Buses. He looked like what he was, a 50 year old bloke.

I found it rather sordid, this middle aged man chatting up all the dolly birds.

Mind you I always thought On the buses one of WORST comedy shows even seen, certainly considering its so-called reputation.

[Quizmonkey]

In a similar vein, I remember being shocked when I discovered the birthdates of Dick Van Dyke and Lionel Jeffries. Jeffries is younger - but played Grandpa Potts (Van Dyke's character's father) in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

[tonymclark]

Clive Dunn often played older than he was at the time, take Jones in Dad's Army and his Grandad character in the BBC Children's TV show of the 1980's.