Paul Eddington

British character actor Paul Eddington appeared on stage, television, and occasionally in films. He made his film debut in Jet Storm (1959). Eddington first appeared on television in the late '50s and was best known for starring in the sitcoms The Good Life (1975-1978), Yes, Minister (1980-1982), and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister (1984-1987). A native of London, he worked briefly as a window dresser before becoming a professional actor. He started his new career appearing in provincial productions in Birmingham, Sheffield, and Ipswich. In 1961, Eddington took his first London bow in Paddy Chayefsky's The Tenth Man. He first appeared on Broadway in A Severed Head (1964). Two decades later, Eddington would again prove his mettle as a veteran dramatic stage actor by assuming roles originated by Sir John Gielgud, beginning with the Headmaster of Albion House in Alan Bennett's 40 Years On. For his work in the 1992 revival of No Man's Land, Eddington received a nomination for an Olivier Award. In the late '60s, Eddington suffered the onset of a rare and particularly nasty form of skin cancer called mycosis fungoides, which caused unsightly blotches and sores to appear on his face. As the conditioned worsened, certain British tabloids alleged that Eddington suffered from AIDS. One week before his death, Eddington appeared on television in a pre-recorded interview on BBC's Face to Face to discuss his illness. A few weeks before that, the actor had appeared in John Caird's film version of Shakespeare's Henry IV for the BBC. In 1995, Eddington published his autobiography So Far, So Good.

~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide