Barker, Ronnie

▪ 2006

Ronald William George Barker  British television comedian, writer, and actor (b. Sept. 25, 1929, Bedford, Bedfordshire, Eng.—d. Oct. 3, 2005, Adderbury, Oxfordshire, Eng.), gained international recognition as the costar, with Ronnie Corbett, of the TV comedy-sketch program The Two Ronnies, 98 episodes of which were broadcast over a 17-year period (1971–87). The duo had worked together onstage since 1965, and Barker—a burly man—was often simply identified as “the tall one” because he towered over his much-shorter partner. Barker was one of the chief writers for The Two Ronnies and other TV programs, and he later appeared in several movies and the sitcoms Porridge, Going Straight, and Open All Hours. He abruptly retired from show business in 1988. Barker published several books, including an autobiography and collections of edited antique “saucy” postcards. He was made OBE in 1978.

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