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Ronald Balfour Corbett CBE (4 December 1930 – 31 March 2016)[1][2] was a Scottish comedian, writer, actor, and broadcaster. He was a member of the Corbett family. He was best known for his long association with Ronnie Barker in the BBC television comedy sketch show The Two Ronnies.
Ronnie Corbett | |
|---|---|
 Corbett in 2010 | |
| Born | Ronald Balfour Corbett 4 December 1930 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 31 March 2016 (aged 85) Shirley, London, England |
| Cause of death | Motor neurone disease |
| Resting place | Croydon Crematorium |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Occupation | Comedian • writer • actor • broadcaster |
| Years active | 1952–2014 |
| Height | 154 cm (5 ft 1 in) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Andrew • Emma • Sophie |
| Relatives | Dylan Corbett-Bader (grandson) |
| Family | Corbett |
Ronald Balfour Corbett was born at Edinburgh Royal Maternity Hospital and Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion in Edinburgh, Scotland on 4 December 1930. He was the son of William Balfour Corbett (1898–1974), a master baker, and his London-born wife Annie Elizabeth Corbett (née Main; 1900–1991). He had a brother, Allan, and a sister, Margaret.[3]
Corbett married the actress and dancer Anne Hart at Brixton registry office on 30 May 1966.[4] The couple had two daughters, Emma and Sophie. Their first child, Andrew, had a heart defect and died when he was six weeks old, at St Thomas' Hospital, in London. He had four grandchildren, including Dylan Corbett-Bader. Corbett and Hart first met during the late 1950s. He was an up-and-coming comedian and she was working as a dancer at Winston's, Hanover Square, a club owned by Danny La Rue. The couple were married for 49 years until his death on 31 March 2016.[3]
Corbett and Hart lived in a seven bedroom property named Fairways in Addington, London from 1970 to 2003.[5] The couple also owned a Scottish home named Muirfield Wood located in Gullane, East Lothian.[6]
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Corbett died at Shirley Oaks Hospital in Shirley, London, England on 31 March 2016, surrounded by his family. He was 85.[1][2] He had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2015.[7]
Corbett's funeral was conducted by Canon Arthur Quinn at St. John the Evangelist near his home in Shirley on 18 April 2016.[8] Mourners included Sir Michael Parkinson, David Walliams, Jimmy Tarbuck, Barry Cryer, and Rob Brydon.[9] His body was cremated following a private service at Croydon Crematorium.[10] His memorial service was held in Westminster Abbey on 7 June 2017. Mourners included Dame Joanna Lumley, Maureen Lipman, Dame Barbara Windsor, and Dame June Whitfield.[11] His widow, Anne Hart, died at Muirfield Wood on 5 November 2023, at the age of 90.[12]
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