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Vivienne Martin (actress)

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New Zealand-born English actress (1930–2023) Not to be confused with Vivian Martin, a silent film actress, or Vivienne Gapes, a Paralympic skier.

Vivienne Martin
Born(1930-12-28)28 December 1930
Kaitaia, New Zealand
Died22 January 2023(2023-01-22) (aged 92)
OccupationActress
Years active1950s–2000
Notable work
Spouse John Burgess ​(m. 1976)​

Vivienne Ann Martin (28 December 1930 – 22 January 2023) was a New Zealand-born character actress. She had a career in British television, radio, stage and film which spanned over 40 years. She was best known for her portrayal of Mrs Lillian Rudd in the radio sitcom King Street Junior, of which she starred for the entire series from 1985 to 1998. She also starred in the radio sitcom It Sticks Out Half a Mile as Miss Perkins, and in eleven episodes of The Dick Emery Show from 1974 to 1980. From 1994 to 1995, she appeared in three episodes of the sitcom As Time Goes By, in which she played secretary Gwen Flack.

Early life and career

Martin was born in Kaitaia, New Zealand on 28 December 1930. In the early 1950s, after receiving a bursary from the New Zealand Government, Martin moved to England in order to take up acting. In 1967, after starring in a number of unsuccessful musical comedy stage productions, Martin decided to focus her acting career on television roles.

Martin's first on-screen appearance was in the 1954 film The Belles of St Trinian's, in which she played Arabella. She landed her first television role in 1957 with The Benny Hill Show, but her first regular role was in the 1958 television adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, in which she played Lydia Bennet.

Martin appeared in many sitcoms throughout her career. Her first regular sitcom role was in the 1961 musical sitcom Moody In..., followed by the 1971 six-episode television series Keep It in the Family. She appeared in the second series of the ITV sitcom Up the Workers in 1976, and had a starring role as Miss Perkins in It Sticks Out Half a Mile, the radio sequel to Dad's Army. She again played the same character, now called Miss Baxter, in the television adaptations of the series: Walking the Planks in 1985 and High & Dry in 1987.

Martin was best known in her role as Mrs Rudd in the radio sitcom King Street Junior. She appeared throughout the sitcom's entire run, from 1985 to 1998.

From 1994 to 1995, Martin appeared in three episodes of the British television sitcom As Time Goes By, in which she played secretary Gwen Flack.

Personal life and death

In June 1976, Martin married British actor John Burgess; she was his third wife. Their marriage lasted just six weeks.

Martin died on 22 January 2023, at the age of 92. Her death was announced by the performing arts trade union Equity in their Spring/Summer 2023 magazine.

Filmography

Film and television

Sources:
Year Title Role Notes
1954 The Belles of St Trinian's Arabella Film, first on-screen role
1954 Aunt Clara Maid Film, uncredited
1954 Carrington V.C. Private Smith Film, uncredited
1955 As Long as They're Happy Kay Film
1955 The Water Gypsies Daisy Fig Television film
1955 Secret Venture Lola Film
1957 Town on Trial Film, uncredited
1957–60 The Benny Hill Show Various ATV series
1958 Hancock's Half Hour Elizabeth Episode: "Matrimony, Almost"
1958 Pride and Prejudice Lydia Bennet Five episodes
1958 Rush Hour Episode: "Murder He Says"
1960 Two-Way Stretch Fred's Wife Film
1960 Bootsie and Snudge Enid Episode: "The Blind Date"
1960 BBC Sunday-Night Play Fanny Marryot Episode: "Tuppence in the Gods"
1961 The Benny Hill Show Various BBC series, Series 4
1961 Moody In... Various Musical sitcom
1961 Armchair Theatre Robbie Episode: "Tune on the Old Tax Fiddle"
1962 A Pair of Briefs Hotel Maid Film, uncredited
1963 Armchair Theatre Daphne Perkins Episode: "Little Doris"
1965 Public Eye Eileen Osborne Episode: "And a Very Fine Fiddle Has He"
1965 Undermind Dorothy Episode: "The New Dimension"
1967 Thirty-Minute Theatre Frankie One Episode: "Boa Constrictor"
1967 Before the Fringe Various Four episodes
1968 The Dickie Henderson Show Mrs Ashburton Episode: "The Amateur Professional"
1969 Playhouse Judy Jenkins Episode: "The Beauty Operators"
1970 Bachelor Father Mrs Moore Episode: "A Spot of Natural Expression"
1971 Keep It in the Family Yvonne Bannister
1971 Please Sir! Miss Petting Eight episodes
1972 Dead of Night Jessie Episode: "Two in the Morning"
1974 Z-Cars Georgia Jones Episode: "Certain Parties"
1974–80 The Dick Emery Show Various Eleven episodes
1976 Up the Workers Mavis Series 2
1979 Rings on Their Fingers Girl in Restaurant Episode: "Anniversary Jig"
1980 Angels Audrey Mears Two episodes
1980–81 The Good Companions Elsie Longstaff Miniseries, nine episodes
1982 Legacy of Murder Mrs Harper Episode: "Holy Smoke"
1982 The Further Adventures of Lucky Jim Lollipop Lady Episode: "The Ties That Bing"
1983 Spyship Mrs Franklin Miniseries, three episodes
1985 Walking the Planks Miss Baxter
1986 Ever Decreasing Circles Diana Danby Episode: "House to Let"
1987 High & Dry Miss Baxter
1987 Divided We Stand Edna Five episodes
1992 Garbo Bin Lady with Budgie Film
1993 The Bill Mrs Fuller Episode: "Return to Sender"
1993 Paul Merton: The Series Series 2, Episode 2
1994–95 As Time Goes By Gwen Flack Three episodes
1996 EastEnders Aunt Betty One episode

Radio

Source:
Year Title Role Notes
1967 Sam and Janet Janet Marshall
1983–84 It Sticks Out Half a Mile Miss Perkins
1985–98 King Street Junior Mrs Lillian Rudd
2000 King Street Junior Revisited Mrs Lillian Rudd Episode: "Centenary"

Theatre

Source:
Year Title Theatre Role Notes
1963 Oliver! West End, London Nancy
1966 The Matchgirls Globe Theatre, London Kate Lead role
1966 The Great Grimaldi Palace Theatre, Manchester
1967 The Ballad of Queenie Swann Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford Queenie Swann Lead role
1984 Little Me Prince of Wales Theatre, London Mrs. Eggleston

References

  1. ^ "Vivienne Martin". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  2. "It Sticks Out Half A Mile cast and crew credits". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Vivienne Martin". IMDb. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  4. ^ "N. Z. actress to star in musical - Triumph for N.Z. actress in London". National Library of New Zealand. 3 March 1966. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  5. "Flops drive her from stage". National Library of New Zealand. 24 November 1967. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  6. "BFI Screenonline: Belles of St Trinian's, The (1954) Credits". British Film Institute Screenonline. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  7. ^ Pertwee, Bill (2009). Dad's Army: The Making of a Television Legend (3rd ed.). London: Conway Publishing. pp. 178–181. ISBN 9781844861057.
  8. ^ Evans, Rhianna (25 April 2021). "It Sticks Out Half A Mile: Discover the Dad's Army spin-off - Comedy Rewind". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  9. "FreeBMD Entry Info". FreeBMD. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  10. Hagan, Angela (23 September 1996). "Brookie Star to Wed Wife No. 4". The Daily Mirror. London.
  11. "Vivienne Ann Martin". Probate Search. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  12. "Vivienne Ann Martin". Forever Missed. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  13. "Equity Magazine Spring/Summer 2023". issuu. 25 May 2023. p. 45. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  14. Lewisohn, Mark (2003). Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy (2nd ed.). London: BBC Worldwide. ISBN 0563487550.
  15. "Vivienne Martin". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  16. "Playgoers' Diary". The Stage. London. 18 August 1966. p. 8. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  17. "Ephemera and theatre programmes for performances of opera and light musicals in Great Britain, mainly featuring New Zealand performers. 1967". National Library of New Zealand. 1967. Retrieved 17 January 2024.

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