David Battley

David Battley (5 November 1935 - 20 January 2003) was a British actor specialising in laconic, lugubrious comedy roles. The elder son of John Battley, post-WW2 Labour MP, David was born in Battersea, London. Born with a hole in the heart, he was initially taught at home before attending a special school. He later enrolled at Camberwell Art School but left before completing the course. He earned a living working for the family printing firm, Battley Brothers, before applying to Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Battley found steady work as a character actor and comic stooge. His TV work ranged from the satire show BBC-3 and the military police drama Redcap (1964), the 1975 TV adaptation of Moll Flanders, and the 1977 Christmas Special of The Good Life, as well as in episodes of such television serials as The Bill, Lovejoy, The Climber, Comrade Dad, Don't Rock the Boat, Roger Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Thicker Than Water, Crown Court, Annie's Bar, and As Time Goes By. His best-known work in the mid-1970s was as comic foil to Monty Python team member Eric Idle in the BBC series Rutland Weekend Television (1975). Idle praised Battley's dry, poker-faced style on the show. Battley played the Paul McCartney part in the original RWT sketch of The Rutles, a parody of The Beatles, but did not appear in The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash (1978), the American version of the sketch. He also appeared in films and made-for-television movies including Alice in Wonderland (1966), Hotel Paradiso (1966), Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), S.O.S. Titanic (1979), Mrs. Wilson's Diary (1969), Up the Front (1972), The Chastity Belt (1972), The London Connection (1979), and Krull (1983). Among his last roles were a golf course employee in the episode "Tee Off, Mr. Bean" (1995) of the comedy series Mr. Bean (1990) and as a doctor examining new regimental recruits in Sharpe (1993). Battley died on 20 January 2003, after a heart attack, aged 67, in Epsom, Surrey, England.