Jimmy Thompson (actor)

James Edward Thompson (30 October 1925 – 21 April 2005) was an English actor, writer and director.

He was born 30 October 1925 in Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire and educated at St. Peter's School in York. As a young man he began his career in repertory theatre in Yorkshire and he toured with a theatrical company headed by Jean Forbes-Robertson.^[1]

After his national service, he moved to London, and his early appearances on the West End stage were in intimate revue.^[1]

In 1956, he became known for his impersonation of the American pianist and entertainer, Liberace, in the revue, For Amusement Only, at the Apollo Theatre.^[2] Thompson was called in the 1959 libel action brought by the pianist against the Daily Mirror, and was himself subsequently sued by Liberace. Thompson settled out of court, making a donation to an actors’ charity.^[1]

In 1959, he and his wife, Nina,^[3] co-authored a musical comedy, The Quiz Kid, which was presented at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith.^[4] In 1964, he starred in Monsieur Blaise at the Royal Court and Phoenix theatres, a play adapted by his wife from the Claude Magnier farce. In 1974, Thompson starred in The Englishman Amused at the Young Vic, a production which again he co-wrote with his wife.^[5] In 1992, he was once more in revue, appearing at the Whitehall Theatre in Spread a Little Happiness, the Vivian Ellis musical.^[1] In the 1960s, Thompson appeared regularly in the BBC television programme, Pinky and Perky, created by Jan and Vlasta Dalibor.^[6] In 1967, he starred in the title role in the first BBC2 play in colour, Lieutenant Tenant. Other television appearances included The Benny Hill Show (1970) and George and Mildred (1978).^[1]

彼の映画出演作には、 『キャリー・オン・リガードレス』（1961年）、『キャリー・オン・クルージング』（1962年）、『バンド・オブ・シーブス』（1962年）（彼はこの作品で主要な役の一人を演じた）、『素晴らしき飛行野郎たち』（1965年）などがある。^{[ 3 ] [ 7 ]}

彼の演出作品には、サイモン・ウォード主演の『パーチャンス・トゥ・ドリーム』、パトリック・カーギル主演の『ドント・ミスアンダースタンド・ミー』、モリー・サグデン主演の『マイ・ギディ・アント』、ウィンザー・デイヴィス主演の『マイ・ワイフ・ワッツァーネーム』、ペギー・マウント主演の『ブライス・スピリット』 、エドワード・デューク主演の『ジーヴス・テイクス・チャージ』のオリジナル公演などがある。^{[ 3 ]}

1999年に妻が亡くなった後、彼はヨークに引退し、 2005年4月21日にそこで亡くなった。^{[ 3 ]}

• Jimmy Thompson at IMDb