LIONEL JEFFRIESThe much-loved star of stage, television and cinema, Lionel Jeffries died at the age of 83 on 19 February, 2010.To many he was "everyone's favourite grandad" after his appearances in films like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - where he played the eccentric Grandpa Potts - and the childrens' television series Woof!.But he was also a talented director responsible for one of the most-popular family films of all-time, The Railway Children, for which he also wrote the screenplay.He was born Lionel Charles Jeffries in London on 10 June, 1926, and served in Burma during World War 2He trained at RADA - by which time he had already developed his distinctive look having gone bald prematurely - and later honed his craft as an actor in repertory theatre.His very first film role, uncredited, was as "bald RADA student" in Alfred Hitchcock's 1950 thriller Stage Fright.His first major film role came in 1955 when he appeared in The Colditz Story alongside Sir John Mills and Eric Portman.Always a hard-working actor he was in demand throughout the 1950s and 1960s for a range of parts including memorable comedy roles.Highlights included Blue Murder at St Trinian's (1958), and The Wrong Arm of The Law (1963) where he almost stole the limelight from star Peter Sellers with an hilarious portrayal of Inspector Fred 'Nosey' Parker.For many his most-famous film role would be playing Grandpa Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - though ironically he was six months younger than Dick Van Dyke who played his son.In 1970, Jeffries directed and wrote the screenplay for, the film version of E Nesbit's The Railway Children.There have also been many television appearances down the years in shows including Holby City, Lovejoy, Casualty and Inspector Morse.Actress Jenny Agutter, star of The Railway Children, remembered him as being "an extraordinary character" and "wonderfully funny"."He was a total dear to work with," she told the BBC. "He very much created a family on set."
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