TOMMY COOPERTommy Cooper, who died on 15 April, 1984, was arguably the world’s worst magician – fortunately this helped make him one of its greatest entertainers.Bumblin g through his one-man shows with a mixture of catastrophic magic tricks, one-liners and unscripted quips, he kept audiences in stitches from his screen debut in 1948 right up until his death which was on the stage during a live television broadcast.Known for his fez hat, endearing catchphrases, an endless supply of comedy props and a hulking frame, Cooper was capable of making people laugh with his presence alone, but he was undoubtedly one of the leading exponents of comedy at its simplest and most hilarious.Thomas Frederick Cooper was born in Caerphilly, Wales and raised in the West Country. Serving with the army in Egypt during the Second World War, he joined the NAAFI entertainment corps, amusing fellow soldiers with his magic act.It was around this time he acquired his trademark fez, borrowing an Egyptian waiter’s hat after forgetting to bring a hat of his own that was part of the act.After seven years with the military he returned to England and began performing in theatres up and down the country. He suffered from terrible stage fright but discovered that his mistakes on stage got laughs and so began making them on purpose.He was among the talent first seen on the BBC’s New to You in 1948 and over the next four decades would become one of television’s best loved stars. During the 1960s and ’70s his television shows were essential family viewing.He collapsed on stage during a broadcast of the variety show Live From Her Majesty's – the curtain was hastily closed but the audience thought it was part of the act, meaning Tommy Cooper died to the sound of rapturous applause and laughter.
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