Michael Anthony Robbins (14 November 1930 – 11 December 1992) was an English actor best known for his role as Arthur Rudge in the television sitcom '' On the Buses'' (1969–73) and its film spinoffs.

Early life

Michael Robbins was born in

Croydon Croydon is a large town in South London, England, south of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Croydon, a Districts of England, local government district of Greater London; it is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater Lond ...

, Surrey, to Percival W. Robbins (1899–1956) and Bertha May ''née'' Sindall (1900–1997), who outlived him. From 1939 to 1944 Robbins was a pupil at St Michael's College, a Catholic school for boys, in

Hitchin Hitchin () is a market town in the North Hertfordshire Districts of England, district of Hertfordshire, England. The town dates from at least the 7th century. It lies in the valley of the River Hiz at the north-eastern end of the Chiltern Hills ...

, Hertfordshire. He then went on to work as a bank clerk and later became an actor after appearing in amateur dramatic performances also in Hitchin, where he and his family lived at the time.

Career

Robbins made his television debut as the cockney soldier in ''Roll-on Bloomin' Death''. Primarily a comedy actor, he is best remembered for the role of Arthur Rudge, the persistently sarcastic husband of Olive ( Anna Karen), in the popular sitcom '' On the Buses'' (1969–73). Robbins and Karen provided the secondary comic storyline to

Reg Varney Reginald Alfred Varney (11 July 1916 – 16 November 2008) was an English actor, entertainer and comedian. He is best remembered for having played the lead role of bus driver Stan Butler in the London Weekend Television, LWT sitcom ''On the Buse ...

's comedy capers at the bus depot. Robbins appeared in the first six series but left before what would become the final season because he wanted to return to theatre work. He appeared in the series film spin-offs, '' On the Buses'', '' Mutiny on the Buses'', and '' Holiday on the Buses'' (which came out after he had left the series in 1973). Robbins' other comedy credits include non-recurring roles in ''How's Your Father'', ''

Man About the House ''Man About the House'' is a British sitcom created by Brian Cooke and Johnnie Mortimer. It starred Richard O'Sullivan, Paula Wilcox, Sally Thomsett, Yootha Joyce and Brian Murphy (actor), Brian Murphy. Six series were broadcast on ITV (TV netw ...

'', '' Oh Brother!'', '' The Good Life'', ''

One Foot in the Grave ''One Foot in the Grave'' is a British television British sitcom, sitcom written by David Renwick. There were six series (each consisting of six half-hour episodes) and seven Christmas specials over a period of ten years from early 1990 to late ...

'', '' The New Statesman'', '' George and Mildred'', '' Hi-de-Hi!'' and '' You Rang, M'Lord?''. He appeared as a rather humorously portrayed police sergeant in the TV adaptation of '' Brendon Chase''. As well as these comic roles, Robbins assumed various straight roles in some of the major British television shows of the 1960s and 1970s, including that of the hard-drinking old sea dog Harry Baxter in '' The Saint'' episode ''The People Importers''. He made appearances in '' Minder'', '' The Sweeney'', ''

Z-Cars ''Z-Cars'' or ''Z Cars'' (pronounced "zed cars") is a British television police procedural series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police and CID detectives in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, near Liverpool. Produced by ...

'','' Return of the Saint'', ''Murder Most English'', ''Rumpole Of The Bailey'', '' The Avengers'', ''

Dixon of Dock Green ''Dixon of Dock Green'' is a BBC police procedural television series about daily life at a fictional London police station, with the emphasis on petty crime, successfully controlled through common sense and human understanding. It ran from 1955 ...

'', ''

The Bill ''The Bill'' is a British police procedural television series, broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV from 16 October 1984 until 31 August 2010. The programme originated from a one-off drama, "Woodentop (The Bill), Woodentop" (part of the ''Storyb ...

'', and the 1982 ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...

'' story '' The Visitation''. Robbins' film credits included '' The Whisperers'', '' Up The Junction'', '' Till Death Us Do Part'', '' The Looking Glass War'', ''

Zeppelin A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship named after the German inventor Ferdinand von Zeppelin () who pioneered rigid airship development at the beginning of the 20th century. Zeppelin's notions were first formulated in 1874Eckener 1938, pp. 155� ...

'', '' The Great Muppet Caper'' and

Blake Edwards Blake Edwards (born William Blake Crump; July 26, 1922 – December 15, 2010) was an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Edwards began his career in the 1940s as an actor, but he soon began writing screenplays and radio scripts ...

' films '' The Pink Panther Strikes Again'' and '' Victor/Victoria.'' He also had an extensive career as a radio actor, including a role in the soap opera '' Waggoners' Walk''. Robbins appeared as a councillor in ''

EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a British television soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the East End of London, the ...

'' in June 1989.

Personal life

Robbins was married to actress Hal Dyer (1935–2011), from 1960 until his death from

prostate cancer Prostate cancer is the neoplasm, uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system below the bladder. Abnormal growth of the prostate tissue is usually detected through Screening (medicine), screening tests, ...

in 1992 aged 62. Dyer died in 2011 from a brain haemorrhage. Robbins was an indefatigable worker for charity. He was active in the

Grand Order of Water Rats The Grand Order of Water Rats is a British entertainment industry fraternity and charitable organisation based in London. Founded in 1889 by the music hall comedians Joe Elvin and Jack Lotto, the order is known for its high-profile membership an ...

(being elected "Rat of the Year" in 1978) and the Catholic Stage Guild. In 1987 he received the ''

Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice ''Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice'' ("For Church and Pope" in Latin) is a decoration of the Holy See. It is currently conferred for distinguished service to the Catholic Church by lay people and clergy. History The medal was established by Leo XII ...

'' medal, a papal award, for his services. In one of his last television appearances, in ''A Little Bit of Heaven'', he recalled his childhood visits to

Norfolk Norfolk ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in England, located in East Anglia and officially part of the East of England region. It borders Lincolnshire and The Wash to the north-west, the North Sea to the north and eas ...

and spoke of his faith and love of the Shrine of Our Lady at

Walsingham Walsingham () is a civil parish in North Norfolk, England, famous for its religious shrines in honour of Mary, mother of Jesus. It also contains the ruins of two medieval Christian monasticism, monastic houses.Ordnance Survey (2002). ''OS Expl ...

Partial filmography

Film

* '' Lunch Hour'' (1961) – Harris * '' A Prize of Arms'' (1962) – Orford * '' What a Crazy World'' (1963) – Percy * '' Act of Murder'' (1964) – van driver * '' The Bargee'' (1964) – Bargee (uncredited) * '' Rattle of a Simple Man'' (1964) – George – Organiser * '' The Whisperers'' (1967) – Mr. Noonan * '' Up the Junction'' (1968) – Figgins * '' Till Death Us Do Part'' (1968) – Pub Landlord (Fred) * '' Crossplot'' (1969) – Garage attendant * '' The Looking Glass War'' (1970) – Truck Driver * '' All the Way Up'' (1970) – Taxi Driver * ''

'' (1971) – Cockney Sergeant * ''

Villain A villain (also known as a " black hat", "bad guy" or "baddy"; The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p.126 "baddy (also baddie) noun (pl. -ies) ''informal'' a villain or criminal in a book, film, etc.". the feminine form is villai ...

'' (1971) – Barzun * '' On the Buses'' (1971) – Arthur Rudge, Stan's brother-in-law * '' Mutiny on the Buses'' (1972) – Arthur Rudge, Stan's brother-in-law * '' That's Your Funeral'' (1972) – 2nd Funeral Director * '' No Sex Please, We're British'' (1973) – Car Driver * '' Holiday on the Buses'' (1973) – Arthur Rudge, Stan's brother-in-law * ''

'' (1974) – Second Doorman * '' The Pink Panther Strikes Again'' (1976) – Ainsley Jarvis * ''The Saint and the Brave Goose'' (1979) – Beeky * '' The Great Muppet Caper'' (1981) – Security Guard * '' Victor/Victoria'' (1982) – Manager of Victoria's Hotel * '' Lost In London'' (1985) – Bill * '' Just Ask for Diamond'' (1988) – The Fat Man

Television

* '' A Chance of Thunder'' (1961) – Mills * '' Deadline Midnight'' (1961) – first man * ''Edgar Wallace Mysteries'', " Dead Man's Chest" (1965) – Sergeant Harris * ''

Gideon's Way ''Gideon's Way'' is a British television crime series that was made by ITC Entertainment and broadcast by ITV in 1964–1966, following the 1958 film, '' Gideon's Day''. The film and series are based on novels by John Creasey (writing as 'J. ...

,'' "Fall High, Fall Hard" (1965) – George * '' On the Buses'' (1969–1972) – Arthur Rudge * ''How's Your Father'' (1974) - Eddie Cropper * '' The Sweeney'', "Big Brother" (1974) – Kevin Lee * ''The Good Life'', "Whose Fleas Are These?" (1976) – Mr Bulstrode * ''The Fuzz'' (1977) – Det. Sgt. Sidney Marble * '' George and Mildred'', "The Last Straw" (1979) – Alf * '' Minder'', "All Mod Cons" (1980) – Jack McQueen * ''

'', "The Visitation" (1982) – Richard Mace * '' Fairly Secret Army'' (1984) – Sgt. Major Throttle * ''

Dempsey and Makepeace ''Dempsey and Makepeace'' is a British television crime drama made by LWT for ITV, created and produced by Ranald Graham. Lead roles were played by Michael Brandon (Lieutenant Dempsey) and Glynis Barber (Sergeant Makepeace), who got married ...

,'' "Jericho Scam" (1986) – Simmons * ''

Rumpole of the Bailey ''Rumpole of the Bailey'' is a British television series created and written by the British writer and barrister John Mortimer. It starred Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole, a middle-aged London barrister who defended a broad variety of clients, ...

'', "Rumpole’s Last Case" (1987) – Cyril Timson * '' Strong Poison'' (1987) – Bill Rumm * '' Hi-de-Hi!'' (1988) – Roger * ''

'' (1989) – councillor * '' The New Statesman'', * ''You Rang M'Lord?'' (1990) * ''Let them Sniff Cake'' (1991) – Mad Eddie * '' The Winjin' Pom'' (1991) – The Winjin' Pom * ''

'' – " The Man in the Long Black Coat" (1991) – Mr Killick * ''

'', "The Strong Survive" (1991) – Tobin * '' In Sickness and in Health'' (1992) – rail worker

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Robbins, Michael 1930 births 1992 deaths 20th-century English male actors Deaths from cancer in England English male film actors English male television actors Male actors from Hitchin