Comedy pioneer a man of many talents
Popular television actor, writer and comedian David McPhail has been remembered as the ‘‘funniest man you could ever meet in your life’’.
‘‘It’s with the deepest sadness that I share with you the news that our wonderful husband, father and grandfather David McPhail died in his sleep last night,’’ McPhail’s son Matt McPhail posted on social media yesterday morning. He was 76.
‘‘He leaves a great big hole in our lives but not in our hearts. A truly beautiful man.’’
A NZ On Screen profile described David McPhail as a pioneering figure in the history of New Zealand television comedy.
Working alongside Jon Gadsby, his longtime comedy partner, he famously impersonated Sir Rob Muldoon in landmark sketch shows A Week of It and McPhail and Gadsby.
Later he starred in the Barry Crump-style yarns of Letter to Blanchy, and as an alarmingly straight-talking teacher in Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby.
Writer and humorist Tom Scott said he had been bracing himself for McPhail’s death, given his recent health problems.
He said McPhail was the most important of the Christchurch trio that included Gadsby and AK Grant, who contributed so much to New Zealand television and theatre.
‘‘He was also a terrific stage actor and was fantastic in Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby. He saved the show and the kids loved him.
‘‘He was such a sweet man, a very kind man. He could be the funniest man you could ever meet in your life.’’
Singer and actor Annie Whittle, who worked with McPhail on A Week of It and other productions, said she had been hoping to see him again recently, but those plans fell through. He had been unwell for some time, she said.
While much of New Zealand knew McPhail as a comedian, Whittle said he was also a fantastic writer, an intellectual, a joker and also excelled in classical acting.
She had most recently seen him perform as King Lear at the Court Theatre in Christchurch, where his acting made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. ‘‘It was spellbinding.’’
Working with him on television in the 1970s was inspiring, but also intimidating.
‘‘He always made me a little shy to be honest, because of his intellect and cleverness. I felt a bit – not daunted – but bumble-footed. I don’t have that gift of being quick in terms of comedy, like he did.’’
McPhail’s last major television project was The Amazing Extraordinary Friends .He worked on the show with his son, Matt, who was producing.
Director Stephen Campbell said it had been ‘‘a great privilege’’ to work with him, and incredible to see David and Matt McPhail working together.
He played a superhero, Harry Seaforth, in the children’s programme – a character Campbell said had been written with McPhail in mind, but he never thought he’d take the job.
‘‘He was so generous, and brave to take on that role,’’ Campbell said. ‘‘But he was totally into it. He took the concept and ran with it.’’
Other actors remembered how he was ready to help at any moment. Campbell said he would often see McPhail coaching young actors throughout the three seasons they worked together.
Campbell had benefited from his generosity at this start of his own career, as well. He trained at the Christchurch studios where McPhail and Gadsby filmed and although he wasn’t on that production, he used to sneak in to watch them film.
Wellington writer and columnist Dave Armstrong, who co-created the Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby series with Tom Scott and Danny Mulheron, said he grew up with the McPhail and Gadsby series and loved the way McPhail captured the sadness of Muldoon.
‘‘He managed to get the tragedy of a character. In his political satire he played the ball not the man.’’
Armstrong said he was delighted when McPhail agreed to play Mr Gormsby.
‘‘He took it very seriously. He was always asking questions of Danny Mulheron and was good at his craft and had a great respect for his work.’’