British comedian Ronnie Corbett, best known for being one half of The Two Ronnies, passed away today at the age of 85.
Although Corbett only stood five foot tall, he was a comedic giant especially when paired with Ronnie Barker. They met while working on The Frost Report alongside the likes of future Monty Python stars John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Michael Palin. Barker and Corbett were drawn to each other’s working-class backgrounds and the fact they didn’t have movie star looks. The Two Ronnies was one of Britain’s most popular comedies during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Barker passed away in 2005.
I do remember watching The Two Ronnies during the ’70’s and ’80’s. I remember them being seated at a newsdesk and not being quite able to appreciate the wordplay. But before my maternal grandfather died, I remember him reciting a couple of Corbett’s monologues (always delivered in an armchair) by memory. All things considered, it was rather astonishing given the tangents Corbett went off into, but that is what made the monologue. Take a look and hopefully you will have a laugh or two.
