Adios to Duty Free star Keith Barron, 83
FOR nearly six decades he was a familiar face on TV, playing policemen, bullies and politicians.
But it was as a philanderer in the hit ITV sitcom Duty Free that Keith Barron will be best remembered.
Barron, who has died aged 83, played David Pearce, who has a clandestine affair with another holidaymaker in Spain.
The Yorkshire-born actor passed away on Tuesday following a short illness having enjoyed a ‘long and varied career... of which he was immensely proud’, his agent said.
Duty Free – set in Marbella but filmed in Leeds – ran from 1984 to 1986, drawing audiences of up to 18million. For a while it was more popular than Coronation Street.
Gwen Taylor, who played Barron’s wife Amy in the series, led tributes last night.
‘Keith was such a kind and lovely man and don’t think I’ve met anyone that would disagree,’ she said. ‘My thoughts and prayers go to his loving wife Mary and his son Jamie – who meant so much to him.’
Barron was born in the mining town of Mexborough, near Doncaster, in 1934. His family ran a wholesale food business. After national service in the RAF, he joined a local amateur dramatics group also attended by Brian Blessed.
Having initially trained at the Sheffield Playhouse, where he met his wife, he went on to work in repertory theatre and the West End. But it was on television that he
‘Such a kind and lovely man’
would make his name. One of his earliest appearances was in The Avengers in 1961, and he then won acclaim for his performances in the 1965 Dennis Potter TV plays Stand Up Nigel Barton, and Vote, Vote, Vote For Nigel Barton – a role he had first played on stage.
He appeared in several films, including Melody in 1971 and The Land That Time Forgot in 1975, but TV provided him with most of his work. He played adulterers again, in the 1979 BBC drama series Telford’s Change and in Take Me Home in 1989.
There were further ITV sitcom roles in Room At The Bottom between 1986 and 1988 and Haggard from 1990 to 1992.
He also appeared in DCI Banks, Doctors, Casualty, Holby City and Benidorm – another ITV sitcom, this time filmed in Spain, in which he was the deputy mayor.
In 2007, he played George Trench in Coronation Street.
Last night Stephen Tompkinson paid tribute to his ‘brilliant’ and ‘kind’ DCI Banks co-star, who was his father in the drama that ran from 2010 to 2016.
‘I was genuinely sorry to hear about the passing of Keith,’ said Tompkinson. It’s hard to believe that his brilliant portrayal of Dennis Potter’s Nigel Barton was the year I was born, 1965.
‘I also remember how superb he was in Take Me Home. It was an honour to eventually work alongside him as father and son. Keith was a joy and inspiration to work with. Always professional, kind, funny and genuinely encouraging.’
Sunetra Sarker, who worked with him on Casualty, wrote on social media: ‘So sad. One of a kind. Guaranteed laughter. Shall never forget those days.’
Barron was rarely short of roles and in 2003 said: ‘If I’m out of work, I’m terrible. I’m no good to anyone. And the best thing about it is being offered another job.’
His final performance was for this year’s Christmas special of the BBC1 sitcom Not Going Out.
Barron is survived by Mary, his wife of 58 years, and their son, Jamie, also an actor.