Christopher Mitchell (actor)
English actor (1948–2001)
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Christopher Mitchell Driver (21 May 1948 – 22 February 2001) was an English actor known for his role in the BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum as Gunner Nigel 'Parky' Parkin.[1][2]
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21 May 1948
Christopher Mitchell | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | Christopher Mitchell Driver 21 May 1948 Surrey, England |
| Died | 22 February 2001 (aged 52) King's Lynn, Norfolk, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1967–1991 |
| Parent | Norman Mitchell |
Career
He was born in Surrey, and after attending a private drama school performed in repertory theatre, and as a model in television adverts for Macleans toothpaste. His early television roles included small parts in Dixon of Dock Green and Z Cars,[3] and his film credits include Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (1967), This, That and the Other (1969), The Sex Thief (1973) and What's Up Superdoc! (1978).[4]
From 1974 to 1981, Mitchell played Gunner Nigel "Parky" Parkin in the sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum, which drew him to national attention.[3] He appeared in two episodes of Only Fools and Horses ("May the Force Be With You" in 1983 and "To Hull and Back" in 1985), playing policeman Terry Hoskins.[5][6] In addition he had parts in many other comedies such as: Keeping Up Appearances; Never the Twain and That's My Boy.[7]
Death
He died from liver cancer at the age of 52, a month before his father, actor Norman Mitchell, and in the same year as Kenneth MacDonald, another actor with a role as a gunner in It Ain't Half Hot Mum, who died of a heart attack aged 50.[7][8]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush | Tony[9] |
| 1969 | This, That and the Other | Carl[9] |
| 1973 | The Sex Thief | Wensleydale[9] |
| 1978 | What's Up Superdoc! | Dr. Todd[9] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Emergency Ward 10 | Ron Lee | One episode[9] |
| Seven Deadly Virtues | Gordon Mather | ||
| 1968 | Sam and Janet | Ron | |
| Cold Comfort Farm | Bounder | ||
| Dixon of Dock Green | Pete | ||
| 1969 | Strange Report | Jay Brand | |
| Detective | Billy Smith | ||
| 1969—1970 | Take Three Girls | Edwin | Five episodes[9] |
| 1970 | Ours Is a Nice House | Simon | One episode[9] |
| 1971 | Z-Cars | Bob | Three episodes[9] |
| The Fenn Street Gang | Edgar | One episode[9] | |
| 1972 | The Shadow of the Tower | First Guard | |
| Alcock and Gander | Harry | ||
| Emmerdale | Norman Harrison | Three episodes[9] | |
| 1973 | Arthur of the Britons | Barth | One episode[9] |
| 1974—1981 | It Ain't Half Hot Mum | Gunner "Parky" Parkin | Fifty-six episodes[9] |
| 1974 | The Protectors | Juan | One episode[9] |
| Doctor at Sea | Doctor | ||
| 1976, 1995 | This Is Your Life | Himself | Two episodes[9] |
| 1976 | The Cedar Tree | Alan Chapman | |
| 1977 | No Appointment Necessary | Garth | One episode[9] |
| 1978 | Come Back Mrs. Noah | The Butler | |
| 1979 | You're Only Young Twice | Junior | |
| 1980 | Crossroads | Det. Const. Hardiman | Four episodes[9] |
| Watch This Space | One episode[9] | ||
| Born and Bred | PC Willis | ||
| The Professionals | Simms | ||
| 1983, 1985 | Only Fools and Horses | Terence Hoskins | Two episodes[9] |
| 1983 | That's My Boy | Mike | One episode[9] |
| 1988 | Never the Twain | Norman the barman | Two episodes[9] |
| 1989 | Mr Majeika | Ron Bigmore | Five episodes[9] |
| 1990 | The Bill | Prison officer | One episode[9] |
| 1991 | Keeping Up Appearances | The porter | |
| Minder | Customer in Winchester | ||
| 1995 | Omnibus | Himself (archive footage) |
