Blake Butler

For the writer, see Blake Butler (author).

John David Blake Butler^[1][2] (22 October 1924 – 15 April 1981) was an English actor best known for his role as the lecherous chief librarian Mr. Wainwright during the first and third series of Last of the Summer Wine in 1973 and 1976 respectively.

Blake Butler
Blake Butler (right) with Rosemary Martin in second episode of Last of the Summer Wine (1973)
Born	John David Blake Butler (1924-10-22)22 October 1924 Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, England
Died	15 April 1981 (aged 56) Bedford Park, London, England
Years active	1960–1981

Background

Butler was the second son of FitzWalter Butler (1889–1979), of Grantham, Lincolnshire, and Doris Emma (d. 1950), daughter of Robert Pollok, of Cavendish Park, Barrow-in-Furness. The Butler family were Irish landed gentry; Blake Butler's line, prominent in County Clare, descended from James Butler, 10th Baron Dunboyne.^[3][4]

Career

In addition to his work on Last of the Summer Wine, Butler made guest appearances on such programmes as Dad's Army, Doctor at Large, Bless This House, The Good Life, Paul Temple, George and Mildred, Grange Hill and, in 1967, Crossroads playing assistant manager Maurice Raine.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1964	Esther Waters	Mr. Ward	3 episodes
1966	Death Is a Woman	Lift Operator	film
1967	The Mini-Affair	Customer	film
1969	Lock Up Your Daughters	Faithful	film
1972	Turnbull's Finest Half-Hour	Bernard Pratt	5 episodes
1973–1976	Last of the Summer Wine	Mr. Wainwright (the librarian)	5 episodes
1978	Grange Hill	Mr. Rankin (the Biology teacher)	Episode: #1.5
1978	A Sharp Intake of Breath	Hotel Guest	Episode: "Seven Year Hitch"
1978	Rumpole of the Bailey	Mr. Thistleton	Episode: "Rumpole and the Heavy Brigade"

Personal life

Butler lived at 33, Bath Road, Bedford Park, London, when he died on 15 April 1981 at age 56.^[5][6]

References

1. Burke's Irish Family Records, ed. Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 1976, p. 194
2. Hammer Complete: The Films, The Personnel, The Company, Howard Maxford, 2019, p. 90
3. Burke's Irish Family Records, ed. Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 1976, pp. 192–194
4. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 1, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, p. 1212
5. Gov.uk Wills and Probate 1858–1996, Surname "Butler", Year of Death "1981", 1981 record page 1316, "BUTLER, John David Blake, of 33, Bath Road, London, W.4, died 15 April 1981"
6. Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage, ed. Patrick Montague-Smith, Debrett's Ltd, 1980, p. 396

External links

• Blake Butler at IMDb