British comic actor and film star Victor Spinetti passed on 18 June 2012 at the age of 82. The cause was prostate cancer. He may be best known for his appearances in The Beatles' films
A Hard Day's Night (1964) and
Help! (1965), as well as their 1967 television special
Magical Mystery Tour.
Victor Spinetti was born Vittorio Spinetti on 2 September 1929 in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales. His father was descended of an Italian immigrant who found work in the coal mines in Wales. His mother was a native Welshwoman. His parents operated a chip shop in Cwm, Blaenau Gwent, Wales. Mr. Spinetti attended Monmouth School in Monmouth, Monmouthshire, Wales. He studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Victor Spinetti made his debut on the West End of London in Expresso Bongo in 1958, playing four different roles. He made his television debut in 1958 in
Behind the Mask. He made his debut on Broadway in New York City in 1960 in
The Hostage. Mr. Spinetti appeared in the films
The Gentle Terror (1961),
Sparrows Can't Sing (1963),
The Wild Affair (1963), and
Becket (1964). He appeared on television in episodes of the TV shows
Richard the Lionhearted and
The Saint.
In 1963 Victor Spinetti was appearing on the West End in the satire
Oh What a Lovely War. It was one night that two members of The Beatles (already popular in the United Kingdom, but not yet having conquered the United States), John Lennon and George Harrison, visited him backstage. George Harrison told Victor Spinetti that he had to be in The Beatles' film (what would become
A Hard Day's Night), all of The Beatles' films. Curious, Victor Spinetti asked, "Why?" George Harrison simply replied, "Because if you’re not in them, me mum won’t come and see them. She fancies you." As a result Victor Spinetti appeared in
A Hard Day's Night as the neurotic television director in charge of the programme on which The Beatles were appearing in the film. Victor Spinetti would also appear in The Beatles' second film
Help! There he played the mad scientist Foot, desperate to steal the sacrificial ring stuck on Ringo's finger ("With a ring like that I could - dare I say it? - rule the world!"). With his appearance in The Beatles' 1967 television special
Magical Mystery Tour, he became the only person besides The Beatles to appear in
A Hard Day's Night,
Help!, and
Magical Mystery Tour. Victor Spinetti would remain friends with The Beatles well after
Magical Mystery Tour had aired.
In the Sixties Victor Spintetti also appeared in the films
The Taming of the Shrew (1967), T
he Biggest Bundle of Them All (1968),
Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? (1969) .
Start the Revolution Without Me (1970),
This, That and the Other! (1970), and
Defeat of the Mafia (1970). He appeared on television in an episode of
Thirty-Minute Theatre. He was a regular on the TV show
Two in Clover. He appeared on the West End in
Oh What a Lovely War (1963) and appeared in the show when it debuted on Broadway in 1964. He also appeared on Broadway in
La Grosse Valise (1965).
In the Seventies Victor Spinetti was a regular on the TV shows
Take My Wife and
Kelly Moneith. He guest starred on the shows
Harriet's Back in Town,
Cooper,
Bernie, and
Time of My Life. He appeared in the films
Under Milk Wood (1972),
Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World (1973),
The Great McGonagall (1974),
The Little Prince (1974),
The Return of the Pink Panther (1975),
Voyage of the Damned (1976),
Some Like It Cool (1977), and
Fiona (1977).
In the Eighites Mr. Spinetti was a regular on the TV programme Sweet Sixteen and provided the voice of Texas Pete on the animated series SuperTed. He guest starred on the TV shows
BBC Play of the Month,
Bad Boyes, and
Omnibus. He appeared in the mini-series
Mistral's Daughter and
Sins. He appeared in the films
Under the Cherry Moon (1986) and
The Krays (1990).
In the Nineties he was a regular on the TV show
An Actor's Life for Me. From the Nineties into the Naughts he guest starred on the shows
Paul Merton: The Series, T
ake Off with T-Bag,
Bottom,
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones,
First Degree,
New Tricks, and
High Hopes. He appeared in the films
Julie and the Cadillacs (1999),
Wednesday (2006), and
Cosa raccomanda lei? (2006).
Victor Spinetti was one of the best comic actors to emerge out of the United Kingdom in the late 20th Century. He had a fantastic wit and he was a master of the English language. At the same time he was very adept at physical comedy. These talents suited him very well, as he easily handled material ranging from The Beatles' films to Shakespeare's comedies to such broad family movies as D
igby, the Biggest Dog in the World (1973). Although Victor Spinetti was perfect for comedy, he could also play dramatic roles as well. He gave excellent performances in both the film
Voyage of the Damned and the television movie
The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank.
In interviews Victor Spinetti was a great raconteur. By all reports he was also a very warm hearted man. He appeared at many Beatles conventions around the world where he told stories about the making of
A Hard Day's Night and
Help!, as well as his friendship with The Beatles. Mr. Spinetti was always patient with my fellow Beatles fans and always had kind words for them. Indeed, when he was on Broadway in
Oh What A Lovely War he told those Beatles fans who attended to see him that if they behaved he could sit in the front row after the play and he would tell them about The Beatles for 10 minutes. Victor Spinetti did so for the rest of his time with the play. Not many actors would be so kind to take time out to talk to fans of a popular musical group about his experience with them! In the end Victor Spinetti was not just a great comic talent, he was a fine Welsh gentleman.