John Baddeley, who has died aged 92, enjoyed a long career as an actor, moving easily between television, theatre, radio and film. His appearances ranged from Cathy Come Home and Coronation Street to the children’s series Dennis and Gnasher, while his stage credits included regular returns to the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

He entered the world as Edward John Baddeley on 16 July 1933 in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, the son of Sidney Charles Baddeley and his wife Gladys (née Emery). The family relocated to Birmingham during his childhood. When his father was killed while serving on the frontline in the Second World War, his upbringing fell to his mother and his aunt, Edith.

As a pupil at Warminster School he became close friends with Christopher Benjamin, who would also go on to become an actor. During his national service with the RAF, Baddeley gave a revue performance that delighted a packed hangar of airmen—among them an associate of the Kray twins. So impressed were his superiors that he was granted permission to leave the service early in order to take up a place at the Birmingham Theatre School.

In 1957 he joined the Rapier Players at Bristol’s Little Theatre, playing Peter van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank opposite Penny Stephens in the title role. The partnership proved lasting: the two married on 2 September 1960.

For the BBC he took on a wide range of roles. In 1964 he appeared in Swizzlewick, which had the distinction of being the first programme to draw a formal complaint from Mary Whitehouse. One of his most cherished projects was his solo show A Night with Rochester Sneath, based on the satirical inventions of politician and writer Humphry Berkeley.

Baddeley often joked about the company he kept—“actors, literati and other alcoholics”—a circle that over the years included Ronnie Barker, Martin Jarvis, Alun Armstrong, Richard Briers, Philip Glenister, Timothy West, Prunella Scales and Miriam Margolyes.

His enthusiasms extended beyond the stage. He was a dedicated member of the Marylebone Cricket Club and the Stage Golfing Society, captaining the latter in 2003. He also established the Baddeley Cake trophy, a tribute to the Twelfth Night tradition begun by his ancestor Robert Baddeley, who presented a cake each year to the company of Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Predeceased by his son Mark in 1990, he leaves his wife Penny, daughters Tessa and Louise, and four grandchildren: Toby, Cory, Sophia and Bronte.

Looking back on his life in his 2009 memoir Double Take, he reflected with typical modesty:

“If life were to be looked upon as a party, then I have felt rather like a wallflower – albeit not blushing. I’m glad I was invited.”

In his memory, donations to the British Heart Foundation or the Actors' Benevolent Fund (now the Actors' Trust) can be made via the links below, should you wish to. 

Service of Remembrance

Following a private family service at Kingston Crematorium, friends are invited to John's service of remembrance on Tuesday 14th October 2025 at 2:45pm at St Andrew's Church, Ham. 

There is limited parking at the church but plenty of available parking around Ham Common Green and residential roads.

This will be followed by a celebration of his life at Richmond Golf Club.

Please wear smart clothes, dark colours.

Family flowers only.

Please email Tessa at Tessa66@btinternet.com if you plan to attend.

Donations are welcomed to the Actors' Benevolent Fund (now the Actors' Trust) or the British Heart Foundation and can be made through the links on this site. Further details on ways of making donations will be provided at the service.