Jack Smethurst obit

Jack Smethurst, star of hit 70s sitcom Love Thy Neighbour, dies aged 89

 

He was not on the list.

Tributes have been paid to a legendary Manchester actor Jack Smethurst.

Smethurst, who starred in the 70s sitcom Love Thy Neighbour sadly passed away at the age of 89 surrounded by his family.

From Collyhurst, he is best known for portraying bigoted working class fool Eddie Booth in the hit 1970s comedy series Love Thy Neighbour.

He also featured in shows such as Heartbeat, Coronation Street, For The Love of Ada, Carry on Sergeant and films such as The Rag Trade, dinnerladies, Here's Harry, Watch Your Stern and Doctor At Large.

He pursued acting after completing national service for the RAF and attended the London Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Jack Smethurst made his film debut in 1958's Carry On Sergeant. This was followed by parts in the films Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960), A Kind of Loving (1962), Run with the Wind (1966), Night After Night After Night (1970), the big-screen version of Please Sir! (1971) and the ITV sitcom For the Love of Ada (1970–71) amongst others, before he landed the role for which he is best known – that of bigoted socialist and union leader, 'brother' Eddie Booth in Love Thy Neighbour. The programme ran for eight series between 1972 and 1976. During this run he also appeared in the 1974 film version of the sitcom Man About the House. He reprised his role as Eddie Booth for the 1979 sequel Love Thy Neighbour in Australia.

After Love Thy Neighbour ended, his film appearances were few and far between, but included Chariots of Fire (1981), the John Goodman vehicle King Ralph (1991) (which re-united him with his Love Thy Neighbour co-star Rudolph Walker) and 1996's La Passione.

He made several appearances as Davenport in Britain's longest-running television sitcom Last of the Summer Wine in 1997

He was married to Barbara Nicholls who he had four children with.

Filmography

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1958      Carry On Sergeant           First Recruit       

1960      Watch Your Stern             Sailor    

1960      Saturday Night and Sunday Morning        Waiter Uncredited

1961      On the Fiddle     Dai Tovey           

1962      A Kind of Loving                Conroy

1964      The Main Chance             Ross      

1966      Doctor in Clover                Long-Haired Patient        Uncredited

1966      Run with the Wind           Bernie  

1969      Night After Night After Night       Chief Inspector

1971      Please Sir!           Bus Driver          

1971      The Yes Girls       Sam Hed – detective      

1972      For the Love of Ada         Leslie Pollitt       

1973      Love Thy Neighbour        Eddie Booth       

1974      Man About the House    Jack Smethurst

1981      Chariots of Fire Sleeping Car Attendant

1991      King Ralph           Miranda's Father             

1992      Don't Tell Father               Ron Whipple      3 episodes

1996      La Passione         Mickey O'Farrell              

1998      Dinnerladies       Bob Bellfield (Dolly's Husband)