Peter Byrne (actor)

Peter James Byrne (29 January 1928) was an English actor and director.

Peter Byrne
Born	Peter James Byrne (1928-01-29)29 January 1928 West Ham, Essex, England
Died	14 May 2018(2018-05-14) (aged 90) Northwood, London, England
Alma mater	Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
Occupation	Actor/Director
Years active	1944, 1953–2013
Spouse	Renee Helen

Early life

Born in West Ham, Essex;^[1] Byrne was the son of James Byrne, a musician. He was educated at a grammar school and trained as an actor at the Italia Conti Stage School.

Career

Byrne made his name by playing George Dixon's son-in-law Andy Crawford in the long-running BBC Television serial Dixon of Dock Green for twenty years from 1955.^[2] He was Director of Productions for the Bournemouth Theatre Company (1965–66).

Stage appearances included Boeing Boeing, There's a Girl in My Soup, Double Edge, and The Unexpected Guest. Films include Reach for the Sky and Carry On Cabby. TV appearances included Mutiny at Spithead, The New Canadians and more than 300 appearances in Dixon of Dock Green. He also made many appearances in pantomime, typically as the villain.^[2]

In 2005, the Dixon series was revived for BBC Radio Four, but without Byrne, though he commented, "Various people have said the series was a bit cosy and the BBC seemed to be a little ashamed of it," adding that he believed it to be very underrated.^[3]

Family

Byrne was married to Renée Helen. He died at the Denville Hall nursing home on 14 May 2018, aged 90.^[4][5]

Cinema appearances

• The Large Rope (1953) – Jeff Stribling
• Reach for the Sky (1956) – Civilian Pilot Witnessing Bader's Crash (uncredited)
• Watch Your Stern (1960) – Sailor
• Raising the Wind (1961) – 1st Horn
• The Iron Maiden (1962) – Race Starter (uncredited)
• Carry On Cabby (1963) – Bridegroom

Television appearances

• Dixon of Dock Green (1955–1975) – Detective Andy Crawford
• Mutiny at Spithead
• The New Canadians
• Looks Familiar
• Blake's 7 (1981) – Justin
• Bread (1986–1991) – Derek
• The Pattern of Marriage
• Cinderella

Theatre appearances

• There's a Girl in My Soup
• Underground
• Boeing Boeing
• The Blue Lamp
• The Archers
• Caste
• Deadly Nightcap
• Move Over Mrs Markham
• Run for Your Wife
• Dick Whittington
• There's No Place Like A Home
• The Mouse Trap
• Witness for the Prosecution