ALLO ALLO’S ACTOR DIES
LONDON. - Actor Robin Parkinson, known for his roles in TV sitcoms like ‘Allo ‘Allo! and as the narrator of children’s show Button Moon, has died at the age of 92.
Parkinson played Monsieur Ernest Leclerc, a regular in Allo Allo! in 1991 and 92.
Co-star Vicki Michelle paid tribute, describing him as “a truly lovely man”.
The actor was also a familiar face for his appearances in comedies including Dad’s Army, The Young Ones, Rising Damp, Hi-de-Hi! and The Two Ronnies.
He also featured in episodes of The Liver Birds, Terry and June, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? It Ain’t Half Hot Mum and The Brittas Empire.
A statement from his family said: “Robin Parkinson, actor, known for Allo Allo and as the voice of Button Moon, has died peacefully at the age of 92 with his wife and daughters by his side.”
He was the voice of the 1980s children’s favourite, in which characters made from kitchen utensils travelled to a Moon made from a button in a rocket made from a baked bean tin. He also appeared on stage in the West End and around the UK, and in 1980s TV adverts for Tunes and Babycham.
He is the latest of the Allo Allo golden boys to die. Five years ago, his co-star, Gorden Kaye, died aged 75.
Kaye played cafe owner Rene Artois on the hit show, which centred on the fictional exploits of resistance fighters in World War Two in German-occupied France.
He appeared in all 84 episodes of the sitcom, as well as a stage version.
Michelle, who co-starred opposite Kaye as waitress Yvette, also praised him as a “brilliantly talented actor, consummate professional, loved the world over”.
Su Pollard, who appeared with Kaye in four series of BBC radio comedy For Better or for Worse, told the BBC the actor was “very clever, witty and amusing”.
“He was quite private, but he was very amiable and was more than happy to chat to his fans. He was very pleased he was able to turn his passion into his working life,” she said.
Kaye revealed in his autobiography the unusual spelling of his first name was due to a spelling error by the acting union Equity, which he decided to adopt.
The actor got his first big TV break in ITV soap Coronation Street, playing Elsie Tanner’s nephew Bernard Butler.
He went on to appear in a number of roles in sitcoms including Till Death Us Do Part, It Ain’t Half Hot Mum and Are You Being Served? before landing the role of Rene.