Brian Hall, a talented actor, gained widespread recognition for his iconic role as Terry the cook in the BBC comedy series Fawlty Towers, which premiered in 1975. His early start in acting began in his teenage years, participating in amateur shows where his robust physique made him an ideal casting choice for villains and heavies.
After leaving school, Hall worked as a taxi driver before being discovered by theatrical agent Richard Ireson, who convinced him that his true talent lay in theatre. He went on to appear in various stage productions at The Royal Court Theatre in London, including Peter Gill's Crete and Sergeant Pepper, and at the Royal Shakespeare Company, starring in Afore Night Comes, directed by Ron Daniels.
In addition to his stage work, Hall co-wrote two plays with John Chapman: Made It Mad, based on the famous James Cagney line from the film White Heat, which premiered at the Royal Court, and Bit of Business, co-written and directed with John Burgess at the National Theatre.
Hall's television career was equally successful, with notable appearances in series such as Softly Softly (1966),where he played the corrupt police officer Sergeant Ted Drake.
In 1980, he appeared in the cult gangster classic film The Long Good Friday, playing a bodyguard to Bob Hoskins, and also starred as a villain in McVicar (1980).
Hall developed a close friendship with actor John Cleese during their time working together on Fawlty Towers. Many years after the series ended, Cleese sent Hall a personally signed and autographed picture as a joke. Hall responded by demanding a signed Rolls-Royce car instead. To his surprise, three days later, a children's toy Rolls-Royce car arrived in the post.
Tragically, in 1994, Hall was diagnosed with cancer.
