Frank Barrie, who starred as Edward Bishop in EastEnders and enjoyed a celebrated stage career spanning six decades, has died peacefully at home aged 88, his agents have confirmed.
The Yorkshire-born actor, who played church choir leader Edward Bishop in the BBC soap from 2010 to 2011, passed away on June 30 surrounded by his wife Mary and daughter Julia.
His agents Scott Marshall Partners announced: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved client, Frank Barrie, at the age of 88. He died peacefully at home, with his wife Mary and daughter Julia.
National Theatre Leading Man
Barrie enjoyed a distinguished theatrical career as a member of Sir Laurence Olivier’s prestigious National Theatre Company at the Old Vic from 1969 to 1973.
During his four years with Olivier’s company, he played many leading roles including Mirabell in The Way of the World opposite Geraldine McEwan and Bassanio opposite Olivier’s Shylock.
His performance as Wendoll in John Dexter’s production of A Woman Killed with Kindness opposite Joan Plowright drew particular acclaim, with The Stage noting that “Frank Barrie is an excellent Wendoll” and praising his “characterisation of richness and power.
The actor also appeared as Brachiano in The White Devil, Barelli in The Rules of the Game with Paul Scofield, Ganya in The Idiot with Derek Jacobi, and Desmoulins in Danton’s Death with Christopher Plummer.
International Success
Barrie achieved worldwide recognition with his one-man show Macready!, the story of Victorian actor William Macready, which he both wrote and performed.
The production came to the West End in 1981 after a triumphant run in New York and was filmed by the Bright Thoughts Company for Channel 4.
For this performance he was nominated for “best actor” in the London Critics Plays and Players Awards.
Remarkably, Barrie performed Macready! in a record-breaking 65 countries worldwide, including representing Great Britain at the 1982 Commonwealth Games Arts Festival in Brisbane, Australia.
Extensive Screen Career
The prolific actor made more than 150 screen appearances throughout his career, including roles in Emergency Ward 10, No Hiding Place, Softly, Softly, Special Branch, On Giant’s Shoulders, and Queen Of Swords.
In 1983, he played Eglamour in the BBC TV adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona, demonstrating his continued affinity for the Bard’s work.
His most recent television role was in EastEnders, where his character Edward Bishop embarked on a gentle romance with Dot Cotton, played by the late June Brown.
The storyline showcased Barrie’s ability to bring warmth and dignity to the role of the church choir leader who captured Dot’s heart.
Acclaimed Stage Performances
Beyond his National Theatre years, Barrie continued to excel in challenging theatrical roles throughout his career.
He appeared as Arthur Kipps in the long-running thriller The Woman in Black at The Fortune Theatre, bringing his commanding stage presence to the ghost story.
His performance as Crichton in the 1977 staging of The Admirable Crichton at Greenwich Theatre drew praise from the Daily Telegraph, which noted: “Frank Barrie as Crichton gives every impression that beneath the stiff butler’s uniform, there beats the heart of a true intelligent being.”
In 2008, Barrie was cast as Noël Coward in the original London production of Lunch with Marlene, opposite Kate O’Mara’s Marlene Dietrich.
The production received “rave reviews”, with The Stage describing the casting of Barrie as Coward as “impeccable”.
Director and Writer
Barrie also found success behind the scenes as a director on productions of Shylock, JM Barrie and The Life and Loves of Edith Wharton, all of which toured internationally.
His writing credits included Wellington, The Family at Ham, The Devil You Know, and The Other Woman, which was broadcast by the BBC starring the late Dame Thora Hird.
These works demonstrated his versatility as a creative force in British theatre, contributing not just as a performer but as a writer and director.
Early Life and Education
Born in Scarborough on 19 September 1936, Barrie spent his childhood in York where he attended Archbishop Holgate’s School.
He went on to Hull University, where he was elected President of the Debating Union and met his future wife, Maryann Lloyd.
The couple married in 1960 and had a daughter, Julia, who was with him when he passed away.
After graduating, Barrie spent four years acting in weekly and fortnightly repertory before joining the internationally prestigious Bristol Old Vic company in 1965, where he quickly became established as the leading man.
Tributes Pour In
The official EastEnders Instagram account posted: “We are deeply saddened to hear that Frank Barrie has passed away. Our love and thoughts are with Frank’s family and friends.”
Fellow actor Jonas Cemm paid tribute, writing: “Very sad to hear about the passing of the great actor, Frank Barrie. I worked with Frank only once, but it was a rich experience.”
“He was a gentleman, a teacher and a supportive wing man. A true man of the theatre, who will be sadly missed. RIP,” Cemm added.
One fan recalled: “Frank Barrie was the first actor I ever met when he played in Sam Cree farces for my dad in Bridlington in the 60’s.”
“Then I was spellbound when I saw him as Richard III at York rep some years later. A great testament to the sadly missed rep actors that have disappeared,” they continued.
Another admirer simply wrote: “Oh Frank such a gentleman,” whilst others described him as representing the best of British theatrical tradition.
Legacy
Frank Barrie’s career spanned the golden age of British repertory theatre through to modern television drama, demonstrating remarkable versatility and longevity.
From his early days in weekly rep to performing alongside theatrical knights at the National Theatre, his dedication to his craft never wavered.
His ability to excel in everything from Shakespeare to contemporary drama, from one-man shows to ensemble pieces, marked him as a true professional of the old school.
The actor’s worldwide success with Macready! demonstrated his ability to connect with audiences across cultures and continents, whilst his later television work introduced him to new generations.
Frank Barrie is survived by his wife Mary and daughter Julia, leaving behind a legacy of memorable performances that enriched British theatre and television for more than six decades.
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Image Credit:
Frank Barrie & Gale Hunnicutt – Photo by Allan Warren, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
