Legendary Scottish actor and comedian Stanley Baxter has passed away at the age of 99. Beginning his career as a child performer on BBC Scotland, Baxter rose to fame with his television comedy shows. Born in Glasgow on May 24, 1926, he debuted on stage at just six years old.
His friend and biographer Brian Beacom confirmed Baxter’s death, stating that he passed away on Thursday at a care facility in North London. Baxter had been residing at Denville Hall for two years and was nearing his 100th birthday.
Baxter’s breakthrough in television came with the comedy sketch program “On the Bright Side,” where he co-hosted with Betty Marsden and later received a BAFTA for his performance in Light Entertainment.
He also headlined his own show, “The Stanley Baxter Show,” from 1963 to 1971, along with hosting comedy specials on ITV’s London Weekend Television and the BBC, attracting over 20 million viewers at the peak of his popularity.
Known as one of Scotland’s most revered pantomime performers, Baxter received accolades for his comedic talents and acting skills, including a lifetime achievement award at the British Comedy Awards and the Bafta Scotlands Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television award in 2020.
A documentary titled “Being Stanley Baxter” is scheduled to air on New Year’s Eve, featuring rare footage and interviews with close acquaintances like actor Bill Paterson, actress Amanda Barrie, Mark Gatiss, and Alan Cumming.
In addition to his television work, Baxter appeared in several films such as “Geordie” (1955), “Very Important Person” (1961), “The Fast Lady” (1962), and “And Father Came Too!” (1963).
In a 2014 interview with Radio Times, Baxter mentioned an autobiography to be released posthumously. However, in 2020, a biography co-written with Beacom revealed Baxter’s personal life, disclosing his homosexuality to his late wife, Moira, who passed away in 1997.