Ray Burdis

Last updated

Ray Burdis
Born (1958-08-23) 23 August 1958 (age 65)
London, England
Years active1972 - Present
Organization(s)Actor, Director, Producer
Relatives Mark Burdis (Brother)

Ray Burdis (born 23 August 1958 in London) is an English actor, screenwriter, director and film producer.

Contents

Biography

Burdis started acting at eleven years old when he attended drama school and trained at the Anna Scher Theatre in Islington, Greater London. In 1972, he made his screen debut in The Trouble with 2B by the Children's Film Foundation, a film series featuring the expoits of a class of schoolchildren and their science teacher Mr. Potter (Richard Wilson). [1] Later in 1974, he appeared in a minor role in a episode of the classic BBC sitcom Steptoe and Son , but his first major acting role was at the age of sixteen, in the Thames Television series You Must Be Joking! , which he also co-created and wrote. [2] [3] He also starred with Phil Daniels in 4 Idle Hands. [4]

In 1978 Burdis auditioned for a presenting job on the BBC children's program Blue Peter as a replacement for John Noakes. Richard Marson's book celebrating the show's fiftieth-anniversary records this fact, [5] and the film of the audition was shown at a BAFTA celebration in October 2008.[ citation needed ]

Burdis played the part of cowardly inmate Eckersley in the controversial movie Scum in 1979. He had played the same role two years earlier in a BBC television version of the story, although this was not transmitted until 1991 due to its graphic nature, hence the cinematic re-make. [6] He appeared as Kevin, in the BBC2 Playhouse story Mary's Wife in 1980.[ citation needed ]

Burdis appeared in the Minder episodes "Not a Bad Lad, Dad" and "Hypnotising Rita" and played Joe in the musical drama The Music Machine (1979). He later had a small role alongside Daniel Day-Lewis in the film Gandhi (1982).

Burdis then played a supporting role as Richard, a gay neighbour in Channel 4's short-lived sitcom Dream Stuffing in 1984. Later that year, Burdis appeared in an episode of The Gentle Touch , entitled "Do It Yourself", as a man with a learning disability. In 1985, he played ambitious photographer Nick Tyler in the BBC comedy Three Up, Two Down . His character was the son and son-in-law, respectively, of the two lead characters, played by Michael Elphick and Angela Thorne, the series went on for four series which were produced between 1985-1989. [7]

He went forward to produce the feature films The Passion of Darkly Noon , starring Brendan Fraser and Ashley Judd, and The Reflecting Skin starring Viggo Mortensen and Lindsay Duncan.

Burdis has subsequently concentrated more on writing, producing and directing. He was the producer of The Krays (1990), [8] and also co-wrote-produced and directed the movies Final Cut (1998) and Love, Honour and Obey [9] (2000). He also created, co-wrote, produced, directed and starred in the television police fly on the wall docu-comedy Operation Good Guys for three series. The series was awarded the Silver Rose for Best Sitcom and the Prix de la Presse, voted for by the International Press, at the Montreux Golden Rose Festival. [10]

He appeared in the BBC Two comedy-drama series Manchild for two seasons, along with Nigel Havers, Anthony Head and Don Warrington. [11]

In 2013, Burdis wrote and directed the film, The Wee Man starring Martin Compston and John Hannah, which won two Scottish BAFTAs. [12] [13] In 2014 he wrote and directed the film Angel released in the spring of 2015 by Carnaby Films.

In 2021, he directed and wrote, To Be Someone (film) , described by its distributors "a feel-good tale of modern-day mods, music, and scooter culture from the creator of The Krays, The Wee Man and Love, Honor and Obey and starring the original cast of the iconic, cult mods n’ rockers film, Quadrophenia ." [14] It was filmed during 2019-20 and subsequently released on 9 July 2021. The film attacted negative reviews, Steve Rose noted "nothing really convinces or makes sense in this corny, amateurish nostalgia trip" [15] , Mark Kermode described it as "a bunch of second stringers from Quadrophenia doing sub Guy Ritchie schtick" [16] , and before it went into production, Roger Daltrey slammed it as "a blatant money making exercise." [17] Whilst conversely Keith Haldon argued "it’s British at its very core and it’s a reminder that no matter the budget nobody does it better than us. Burdis has assembled a great cast that, if you’re looking for that Quadrophenia nostalgia." [18] Burdis later stated in an interview that he never intended for the film to be in the style of Quadrophenia (1979) and it shouldn't have been taken too seriously. [19] [20]

Burdis is currently developing a wide genre of TV and Theatrical films. He also has completed the film Miss the Kiss, starring Charlie Clapham, John Hannah, and Martin Kemp, which is currently in post production. [21] [22] His next project in the director's chair is Last Tandem in Paris, production started in Brussels in March 2024.

Filmography

SELECTED ACTING ROLES
YearTitleRoleNotes
1972The Trouble with 2BToddFilm (6 part serial)
1974 Steptoe & Son TeenagerEpisode: "Porn Yesterday"
Play for Today Danny Price"Eleanor"
The Tomorrow People Johnson"The Blue and the Green" (3 episodes)
1975-6You Must Be Joking!Various6 episodes
19764 Idle HandsPete Sutton6 episodes
Pressure DaveFilm
1977HeadmasterWilf Farley1 episode
Nicholas Nickleby Master Cummins1 episode (mini series)
Play for TodayEckersley"Scum!"
The Sunday DramaZack"A Good Story"
1978The Tomorrow PeopleBlitz"Hitler's Last Stand" (2 episodes)
Twenty Times More LikelyAlanShort film
1979 Graham's Gang Russ1 episode
The Music Machine JoeFilm
Scum! EckersleyFilm
1980 BBC2 Playhouse Kevin"Mary's Wife"
Minder Disco Youth"Not a Bad Lad, Dad"
Play for TodayDunning"The Vanishing Army"
The Professionals VinceEpisode: "Weekend in the Country"
1981Going OutRick Tinnersley5 episodes
Triangle Wolcott4 episodes
WolcottPC Brock2 episodes
1982 Gandhi YouthFilm
1983 The Baker Street Boys PC Boot2 episodes
1983-4Now and ThenRandall13 episodes
1984 Dream Stuffing Richard10 episodes
MinderJimmy Randall"Hypnotising Rita"
The Gentle Touch Joey FelixEpisode: Do It Yourself
The Kit Curran Radio Show RayEpisode: Bread and Circuses
1985 C.A.T.S. Eyes MikeEpisode: The Double Dutch Deal
1985-9 Three Up, Two Down Nick Tyler25 episodes
1994 Death Machine Dead DinerFilm
1997-2000 Operation Good Guys DS Ash19 episodes
1998 Final Cut BurdisFilm
2000 Love, Honour and Obey RayFilm
Urban Gothic The ColonelEpisode: The Boy's Club
2002-3 Manchild Gary4 episodes
2003 The Afternoon Play Arnie Griffin"The Real Arnie Griffin"
2004 Casualty Alan 'Dusty' BinnsEpisode: "Fallen Hero"
2005 My Hero Detective SymesEpisode: "Nothing to Hide"
2021 To Be Someone DicksonFilm
2024Miss the KissDetective BurkeCurrently in Post Production
DIRECTOR/ PRODUCER/ WRITER ROLES
YearFilmRoleNotes
1975-6You Must Be Joking!Writer, Co-Creator6 episodes
1979You Can't Be SeriousWriter
1987Visiting Mr. BeakExectuve ProducerShort film
1988 The Fear Writer5 episodes
The Universe of Dermot FinnCo-ProducerShort film
1990 The Krays Producer
The Reflecting Skin Producer
1993-4The Spooks of Bottle BayProducer18 episodes
1994Death MachineCo-Producer
1995 The Passion of Darkly Noon Exectuve Producer
1997-2000Operation Good GuysDirector, Producer19 episodes
1998Final CutDirector, Producer, Writer
2000Love, Honour and ObeyDirector, Producer, Writer
2013 The Wee Man Director, Writer
2015AngelDirector, Writer
2021To Be SomebodyDirector, Producer, Writer
2022Kick Out the Jams: The Story of XFMDirectorDocumentary
2024Last Kings of LondonDirector, WriterCurrently in Post Production
Miss the KissDirector, WriterCurrently in Post Production
2025Last Tandem in ParisDirectorCurrently in Production

Personal life

He is the older brother of the British actor, Mark Burdis.

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References

  1. ↑ "The Trouble with 2B". Letterbox DVD.
  2. ↑ "You Must Be Joking!". Nostalgia Central.
  3. ↑ "You Must Be Joking!: The Complete Series". HMV. 29 May 2013.
  4. ↑ "4 Idle Hands". Nostalgia Central.
  5. ↑ Marson, Richard (2008). Blue Peter 50th Anniversary: The story of television's longest-running children's programme (1st ed.). London, UK: Hamlyn. ISBN   9780600617938.
  6. ↑ Hobday, John. "Scum! (1977)". BFI Screenonline.
  7. ↑ "Three Up, Two Down". British Comedy Guide.
  8. ↑ Cooper, Sarah (9 December 2008). "Profile: Ray Burdis' Britflick Productions". Screen Daily. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  9. ↑ "Love, Honour and Obey". Time Out London. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  10. ↑ Swart, Sharon (30 April 1988). "Roses bloom for TV". Variety.
  11. ↑ "Manchild". British Comedy Guide.
  12. ↑ "Awards and Festivals: The Wee Man". MUBI.
  13. ↑ Ferguson, Brian (21 March 2013). "Daniel Kerr gets BAFTA honour for Wee Man role". The Scotsman.
  14. ↑ "To Be Someone". Kaleidoscope Film Distribution.
  15. ↑ Rose, Steve (6 July 2021). "To Be Someone review – a Guy Ritchie ripoff two decades past its sell-by date". The Guardian.
  16. ↑ Kermode, Mark (9 July 2021). "To Be Someone reviewed by Mark Kermode". BBC Radio 5 Live.
  17. ↑ Hope, Hannah (14 June 2016). "Quadrophenia sequel director snubs The Who's 'over-exposed' music". mirror. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  18. ↑ Haldon, Keith (8 August 2021). "To Be Someone, review". The Nerdly.
  19. ↑ Mark, GingerBeard (11 September 2022). "Interviewing Ray Burdis". YouTube.
  20. ↑ "Director of new 'Quadrophenia' film slammed by The Who defends his movie". NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  21. ↑ "Miss the Kiss". British Comedy Guide.
  22. ↑ Tabbara, Mona (19 February 2024). "UK sales and distribution venture Blue Eyes Film opens up". Screen Daily.
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