John George Norman Bird (30 October 1924 – 22 April 2005) was an English character actor.
Early life Bird was born in Coalville, Leicestershire, England. A RADA graduate, he made his West End debut in Peter Brook's production of The Winter's Tale at the Phoenix Theatre in 1951. He was also a member of the BBC's Radio Drama Company."Radio and audio book companies", in Lloyd Trott, ed., Actors and Performers Yearbook 2016, pp. 353-354 His first film appearance was as the foreman in An Inspector Calls (1954).
Film career He was a familiar face to British cinema audiences of the 1950s and 1960s, appearing in nearly 50 films such as The Angry Silence (1960), The League of Gentlemen (1960), Whistle Down the Wind (1961), Victim (1961) and Term of Trial (1962) with Laurence Olivier and The Hill with Sean Connery (1965).
Television appearances He had over 200 television appearances, notably as Mr Braithwaite in Worzel Gummidge (1979–81) and Mr Arrad in the Fawlty Towers episode "Waldorf Salad" (1979). His long list of credits include Steptoe and Son, Till Death Us Do Part, Rising Damp, Ever Decreasing Circles, Yes Minister, To Serve Them All My Days, All Creatures Great and Small, Z-Cars, Public Eye, The Saint, Department S, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and Boon. In 1990 he appeared in Stay Lucky, with Dennis Waterman, which marked his 200th television appearance. One of his last film appearances was as a taxi driver in Richard Attenborough's Shadowlands (1993).
Personal life At 16 he left school and spent six months working in an office before studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. During the Second World War, he served with Royal Air Force, being demobbed in 1947.
He met his wife Nona Blamire (Joan Hood in radio's The Archers) in rep in Northampton. They married in 1953 and lived in Teddington for many years. In 1992 they moved to Bridgnorth, Shropshire, to be nearer to their two daughters and five grandchildren.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1954 An Inspector Calls Foreman Jones-Collins Uncredited 1957 A Woman of Property Clerk of the court TV film1960 The Angry Silence Roberts The League of Gentlemen Captain Frank Weaver Man in the Moon Herbert1961 The Secret Partner Ralph Beldon Very Important Person Travers, Senior British Officer Whistle Down the Wind Eddie Victim Harold Doe Cash on Demand Arthur Sanderson1962 Night of the Eagle Doctor Term of Trial Mr. Taylor In Search of the Castaways Senior Yacht Guard 1963 The Mind Benders Aubrey The Punch and Judy Man Reginald Fletcher August for the People Mr. Bolt TV film Maniac Salon The Cracksman Policeman 80,000 Suspects Harold Davis Bitter Harvest Mr. Pitt1964 Hot Enough for June Employment Exchange Clerk Uncredited The Bargee Albert Williams The Beauty Jungle Mr. Freeman First Men in the Moon Stuart The Black Torment Harris 1965 The Hill Commandant, Major. Horace Appleby1966 Sky West and Crooked Cheeseman The Wrong Box Clergyman1968 A Dandy in Aspic Copperfield The Limbo Line John Chivers1969 Oh! What a Lovely War Training Sergeant Uncredited All at Sea Mr. Danvers Run a Crooked Mile Sergeant Hooper TV film1970 The Virgin and the Gypsy Uncle Fred The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer Alderman Poot Put Out More Flags Geoffrey Bentley TV film1971 The Raging Moon Dr. Matthews Please Sir! Reynolds Hands of the Ripper Police Inspector1972 Doomwatch Brewer Young Winston Party Chairman Ooh... You Are Awful Warder Burke 1975 King Arthur, the Young Warlord Ambrose Direct-to-video 1976 The Slipper and the Rose Dress Shop Proprietor1978 The Medusa Touch Major. Henry Morlar Margie and Me Cheeseman Short The Lord of the Rings Bilbo Voice role1981 Omen III: The Final Conflict Dr. Philmore If You Go Down in the Woods Today Doctor TV film1982 A Voyage Round My Father Ham TV film The Ghost Downstairs Mr. Morris TV film 1984 This Office Life Seeds TV film 1985 On Your Way, Riley Frank TV film 1993 Shadowlands Taxi Driver Witness
Television