Robert Michael Bilton (14 December 1919 – 5 November 1993) was an English actor best known for his roles in the British television sitcoms To the Manor Born (playing the gardener and sometime butler Ned) and Waiting for God (playing Basil, a octogenarian satyr).
Early life He attended Hymers College, Hull. In the Second World War, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and was wounded at the Battle of El Alamein. After his recovery he began his acting career in repertory theatre.
Career He had a strong comedic bent and featured in Keeping Up Appearances, One Foot in the Grave and Grace and Favour (1992). He also appeared in Brideshead Revisited, Pennies From Heaven, The Saint, The Avengers, The Prisoner, Quatermass II, The Champions, the doorman at a hotel in Terry and June, in the Doctor Who stories, The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve, Pyramids of Mars, Wodehouse Playhouse, (as Malay, the Butler), Dad's Army (as Mr Maxwell, the solicitor), "The Adventure of Shoscombe Olde Place" episode of The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes; (also notable in the cast was Jude Law as an aspiring jockey). Bilton's film appearances included A Taste of Honey (1961), The Thirty Nine Steps (1978) and The Fourth Protocol (1987), as Kim Philby.
Bilton appeared in a well-remembered Yellow Pages television commercial as an elderly gardener receiving a sit-on lawnmower from a couple with a large rear garden. The male half of the couple was played by David Hargreaves, who also appeared in the BBC drama series Juliet Bravo.
In later years, crippling arthritis prevented him from working in the theatre. His last London West End appearance, in the early 1980s, was alongside Penelope Keith in Hobson's Choice at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.
Bilton's final role was that of Basil Makepeace in the BBC sitcom Waiting for God. His final appearance was in the last episode of the fourth series. He died shortly after completing filming. In the 1993 Christmas episode, his absence was explained by his character having gone on an "Icelandic wife-swapping cruise" and he is not mentioned again. The character of Basil was essentially "replaced" by Jamie Edwards, Jane's spirited Irish grandfather, who was played by Paddy Ward.
Personal life and death Bilton was married and divorced twice, first to Sally West from 1944 and later to actress Valerie Newbold, from 1953 until 1967.
Bilton died aged 73, on 5 November 1993 in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1933 Crime on the Hill Youth With Straw Boater Uncredited1952 Sing Along with Me 1961 A Taste of Honey Landlord 1965 The Early Bird Nervous Man 1966 Arabesque Camera Shop Owner Uncredited1966 Press for Time Councilor Hedge 1972 Frenzy Blaney Trial Jury Foreman Uncredited1977 Full Circle Salesman 1978 The Thirty Nine Steps Vicar 1979–1981 To the Manor Born Ned 1981 Brideshead Revisited Hayter 1987 The Fourth Protocol Kim Philby 1989 First of the Summer WineBucks Free Press. 1 September 1989. Page 64. Customer Episode: "Compo Drops In"1990 The New Statesman Sir William Horsey QC Episode: "Who Shot Alan B'Stard?"1992-1993Grace & FavourMr Thorpe1990–1993 Waiting for God Basil Makepeace 27 episodes, (final appearance)
References
External links
Michael Bilton at British Film Institute