TV star Mike Berry had an equally interesting life off-screen that he did on. The Are You Being Served? icon died aged 82 as tributes have poured in following the news of his sad death.
His friend Peter Stockton announced the news on Facebook as he shared: “It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform everyone that the legendary Mike Berry died peacefully this morning, his family members by his bedside.
“As we all know, Mike was an amazing, highly talented performer whose career spanned 64 years – his first Hit being the haunting Tribute to Buddy Holly in 1961. His last show on February 23rd at The Half Moon was a sell out, and was testimony to his superb talent.
“He was also a gifted actor, highlighted by his performances in the iconic comedy Are You Being Served. A tragic loss to our world of music, and I hope that he is now having a laugh with many of his old pals up in Heaven.”
Berry was originally best known for his top ten hits Don’t You Think It’s Time in 1963 and The Sunshine of Your Smile in 1980 before becoming an actor. He never set out to have a career in acting, but it came his way after a string of successful TV adverts.
The star was born in Northampton back in 1942, with his parents moving to England from Rhoedsia. He appeared to have got his talents from his mum, who was an amateur actress and singer.
Berry was academically gifted and won a scholarship to Hackney Downs Grocers’ School. However, he left at the age of 16 without qualifications and became an apprentice compositor.
Music had always been a passion, however, as Berry was a huge fan of skiffle and rock and roll. He even went on to form his own skiffle group called the Rebels. They went on to add electric guitars as eventually became Mike Berry and the Outlaws.
He had three hits in the 1960s, yet his Tribute to Buddy Holly was banned from the BBC for being “morbid”. Berry continued to make hits in the 1970s and 1980s.
He auditioned for the fifth series of The Voice in 2016 but was unsuccessful. The next year, Berry decided to head out on a UK tour and again in 2019.
Away from music, Berry started his acting career in the 1970s. He was cast as father, Mr. Peters, of the two children in the TV version of the Worzel Gummidge books, along with Jon Pertwee and Una Stubbs.
In 1981, he replaced Trevor Bannister in the hit sitcom Are You Being Served? as character Bert Spooner. He stayed right until the show’s finale four years later. Berry’s last film credit was Julie and the Cadillacs in 1999.
Berry’s brother Bette Bourne was also famous thanks to being an actor, drag queen and activist. He died last year aged 84. Bette, who was born Peter, starred alongside Sir Ian McKellen in a touring double bill of Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II and Shakespeare’s Richard II from 1969 to 1970.
However, he became disillusioned by showbusiness and put his career on hold to become an activist with the Gay Liberation Front. Bette became motivated by his anger at the harassment and turned to drag.
He once said: “It wasn’t about impersonating a woman. It was about trying to find a new sort of man, to really question what a man was…. Putting on a skirt, putting on some make-up, it changed the agenda, the way that you thought and spoke.” He said others began calling him “Bette” and he adopted the name.
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