Bernard Cribbins, a veteran actor known for his role in the movie adaptation of The Railway Children, has died at 93.
According to a statement from his agent, Gavin Barker Associates, Cribbins had a career that spanned seven decades with a wide range of work, including roles in films like The Railway Children and the Carry On series, his hit 60s song Right Said Fred, a memorable appearance on Fawlty Towers, and his narration of The Wombles.
“He continued to work well into his 90s, with recent appearances in Doctor Who and the CBeebies series Old Jack’s Boat,” the statement said.
“He sadly lost his wife of 66 years, Gill, last year.
“Bernard’s contribution to British entertainment is unquestionable. He was a unique talent, epitomizing the best of his generation, and will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him.”
The British actor, born in Oldham in 1928, gained fame in film and television after starting his career on stage. He was widely recognized as the narrator of The Wombles and a longstanding host on Jackanory.
Cribbins had an extensive and diverse filmography, including roles in Carry On films and the original Casino Royale.
After years in the theater, his film debut came in 1957’s Davy, leading to collaborations with some of British cinema’s biggest names in films such as Two-Way Stretch, She, Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 AD, the 1967 version of Casino Royale, and Frenzy.
He also appeared in several Carry On movies and had roles in popular TV shows like Coronation Street and the revived Doctor Who.
Apart from his acting career, Cribbins had a successful musical career and produced several hit records, including the 1962 comedy songs, Hole In The Ground and Right Said Fred, both of which achieved top 10 positions in the UK singles chart.
Arguably, one of his most famous roles was as station porter Albert Perks in The Railway Children, released in 1970.
The movie adaptation of E Nesbit’s book tells the story of three children who are compelled to relocate from London to Yorkshire after their father is wrongly accused of selling state secrets.
The film also featured a young Jenny Agutter and is best known for the poignant scene at the climax where Agutter’s character cries “daddy, my daddy” upon their reunion at a train platform. Cribbins played the role of station porter Albert Perks.
In 2011, Cribbins was awarded an OBE for his contributions to drama over his extensive career. During the investiture ceremony, he mentioned that providing the voices for characters like Uncle Bulgaria, Tobermory, and Orinoco in The Wombles was straightforward due to the structure of the writing that defined each character’s social position within the household.
He continued to make regular appearances on the TV series Doctor Who as Wilfred Mott, the grandfather of the Doctor’s companion Donna Noble, portrayed by Catherine Tate.
In October 2021, Cribbins’ wife of 66 years, Gillian, passed away. They had been married since 1955.
