Who played Mr Rigsby in Rising Damp?
Leonard Rossiter
The original cast are not on stage, of course – Leonard Rossiter, who played Rigsby, and Richard Beckinsale, who played Alan, died many years ago. As for Frances de la Tour and Don Warrington, who played lovelorn singleton Miss Jones and student Philip, they are 35 years older.
What was the cat called in rising damp?
Answer has 18 votes. Rigsby’s cat’s name was Vienna. As he pries and spies upon his tenants, Rigsby often carries Vienna, his large, fluffy, black-and-white tomcat.
How old was Leonard Rossiter when he died?
A keen sportsman, he excelled in squash, tennis and football. He was also a connoisseur of fine wines. His busy career came to a tragically premature end on October 5th 1984, just sixteen days short of his 58th birthday. During a performance of Joe Orton ‘s play “Loot”, Leonard suffered a heart attack in his dressing room.
How old was Leonard Rossiter when he played Gay Dog?
Mini Bio (1) Leonard Rossiter was born on October 21st, 1926 in Liverpool. Unable to afford to go to university, he worked in an insurance office until he was 27, when he joined Preston repertory company and made his professional stage debut in “The Gay Dog”.
Where did Leonard Rossiter make his stage debut?
Unable to afford to go to university, he worked in an insurance office until he was 27, when he joined Preston repertory company and made his professional stage debut in “The Gay Dog”. After Preston, he starred in productions at Wolverhampton, Salisbury and The Old Vic Company at Bristol’s Theatre Royal.
What did Leonard Rossiter do in the West End?
His portrayal of “Adolf Hitler” in the 1969 play, “The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui”, made him a West End star. His roles as “Rigsby” in Rising Damp (1974) and the title role in The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976) made him a household name, and his Cinzano commercials with Joan Collins were comic masterpieces.