1929 – 21st July 1983

Fact File


He was one of the indisputable members of the firm of British supporting actors who for no reason got the slightest hint of stardom. His mournful looks ensured he was used as interfering but slightly pompous characters. He was born in 1929, most familiar to the general audience from his parts in the Carry On films and similar film genre. In later years, he was often to be seen in Carry On Laughing, a 1975 TV series spin off from the carry on films.
Much of his comedy work was in Shows that have never been shown since their first transmission.
Such as ‘Tell It to the Marines’ where he played a character called ‘Tubby’ a series made by Rediffusion, airing between1959-60; pilfering the format of ‘The Army Game’, which had been one of ITV's first successful sitcoms, sadly it failed miserably.
He was then in the 1963 series of ATV’s ‘The Larkins’ (1958-64), feasibly the first British working-class sitcom. After that he portrayed Leading Fireman Piggott in both series of ‘Fire Crackers’ for ATV between 1964-65, he was one of a team of wacky chaotic firemen, managed by Alfred Marks.
Chappell then went on to play a valet-come-chauffeur called Albiein in ‘Mr. Aitch’ for Rediffusion in 1967.
In the 1973 he supportied Frankie Howard in ‘Whoops Baghdad’, the BBC's follow on vehicle from the popular sitcom 'Up Pompeii', he played Imshi the head eunuch in charge of the harem.
The only time Chappell topped the bill was in a sitcom pilot, ‘Three In a Bed ‘made by Thames in 1972, it was really intended to push the fledgling careers of Little and Large.
Chappell appeared in ‘The Jimmy Tarbuck Show’ for ATV between 1974-75, stoodging for the comic, and was next seen in the 1976 series of ‘Sez Les’, staring popular comedian Les Dawson, made this time by Yorkshire Television.
Chappell's final series was in 1983 called 'For 4 Tonight’, a talk show parody on Channel 4 in which he was one of a team of actors playing the guests.
On the 21st July 1983 he was found dead at his mother's house at the relative young age of 53.

Related Video

Here as Imshi the the eunuch in the first episode of the Series 'Whoops Bagdad' entitled 'The Wazir Takes a wife' first broadcast on 25th Junuary 1973

Norman appears in a sketch on the popular game show 3-2-1 from Yorkshire Television, broadcast in January 1980

Credits

1983 For 4 Tonight (TV series)

1983 The Kenny Everett Television Show (TV series)

1982 Kelly Monteith (TV series)

1982 The Gaffer (TV series)

1981 Frankie Howerd Strikes Again (TV series)

1981 Doctor's Daughters (TV series)
Mr. Windows

1981 Coming Home (TV series)
Spaniard

1981 Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective (TV movie)

1980 Rushton's Illustrated (TV series)1978-1982 3-2-1 (Quiz Show)

1979 Danger UXB (TV series)
Corporal Mould

1973-1978 Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (TV series)

1978 Selwyn (TV series)
Norman

1977 Dawson and Friends (TV series)

1977 Three Piece Suite (TV series)

1977 The Galton & Simpson Playhouse (TV series)

1976 Sez Les (TV series)

1976 One-Upmanship (TV series)

1976 Yus My Dear (TV series)

1976 Intimate Games

1976 The Chiffy Kids (TV series)

1975 Carry on Laughing! (TV series)

1975 Tittertime (TV movie)

1968 The Jimmy Tarbuck Show (TV series)

1974 The Four Musketeers

Submarine Inventor

1974 Man About the House (TV series)

1974 You'll Never Walk Alone (TV short)

1974 Percy's Progress

1974 The Tommy Cooper Hour (TV series)

1974 Zodiac (TV series)

1973 Men of Affairs (TV series)

1973 Love Thy Neighbour

1973 And Mother Makes Three (TV series)

1973 Opportunity Knocks (TV series)

1972-1973 The Dick Emery Show (TV series)

1973 Whoops Baghdad! (TV series)

Imshi

1972 Scoop (TV series)

1972 Au Pair Girls

Salesman

1972 Pardon My Genie (TV series)

1972 Alcock and Gander (TV series)

Mr. Entwhistle

1972 Bless This House (TV series)

1972 The ITV Play (TV series)

1972 Three in a Bed (TV short)

1972 The Last of the Baskets (TV series)

1972 Nearest and Dearest

1972 The Adventurer (TV series)

1971 Father Dear Father (TV series)

1971 Queenie's Castle (TV series)

1971 All Gas and Gaiters (TV series)

1971 Carry on Henry

1971 The Magnificent Six and ½: Up the Creek

1971 Up the Creek (short)

1970 Tomorrow

1970 Parkin's Patch (TV

1961-1969 The Avengers (TV series)

1969 Journey to the Unknown (TV series)

1969 Mr. Digby Darling (TV series)

1968 Journey to Midnight

1967 How I Won the War

1967 Mr. Aitch (TV series)

Albie

1967 The Mini-Affair

1966 Blackmail (TV series)

1966 The Arthur Haynes Show

1965-1966 The Likely Lads

1966 Orlando (TV series)
Click

1966 Pardon the Expression (TV series)

1966 Doctor in Clover

1965 Theatre 625 (TV series)

1965 The Worker (TV series)

1964-1965 Fire Crackers (TV series)

1964 The Human Jungle (TV series)

1964 No Hiding Place (TV series)

1964 The Beauty Jungle

1964 Crooks in Cloisters

1963-1964 The Dickie Henderson Show (TV series)

1964 Comedy Workshop: Love and Maud Carver

Shoe Salesman

1963 The Larkins (TV series)

1963 Girl in the Headlines
Police Photographer

1963 80,000 Suspects

1960-1963 ITV Play of the Week (TV series)

1963 Carry on Cabby

1963 Ghost Squad (TV series)

1963 The Punch and Judy Man

1962 Jigsaw

1962 The Pot Carriers

1961 Petticoat Pirates

1961 The Day the Earth Caught Fire

1961 Harpers West One (TV series)

1960 Police Surgeon (TV series)

1959-1960 Tell It to the Marines (TV series)

1958-1959 Quatermass and the Pit (TV series)