Walter Leonard Sparrow (22 January 1927 – 31 May 2000) was an English film and television actor best known for his appearance as Duncan in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner.
Born in Eltham, London in 1927, Sparrow began his career as a stand-up comic before moving to acting with a period with the Royal Shakespeare Company. His first film role was in 1964, in Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, with Christopher Lee. Subsequent films, interspersed between countless TV appearances, included the 1969 sex fantasy Zeta One, Young Sherlock Holmes, and the acclaimed 1988 film The Accidental Tourist starring William Hurt, Kathleen Turner and Geena Davis.
His career enjoyed a resurgence in the 1990s, with Sparrow playing key roles in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves as the blinded retainer Duncan, 1993's The Secret Garden as gruff gardener Ben Weatherstaff, and the 1995 American coming-of-age film Now and Then as tragic drifter 'Crazy Pete'. In 1998 he starred in Tony Harrison film Prometheus.
He received positive notice for his role in television serial The Mind of the Enemy (1965).Norris, Marjorie. "Impossible for the newcomer to make head or tail of it". The Stage and Television Today. Iss. 4394, (1 Jul 1965): 12.
Sparrow's even more prolific TV appearances included regular roles in the soap opera Emmerdale Farm, as three different minor characters in 1980, 1987 and 1993, and the comedy Paris, and guest spots on Hugh and I, Adam Adamant Lives!, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), Z-Cars, The Onedin Line, All Creatures Great and Small, Alas Smith and Jones, Rumpole of the Bailey, One Foot in the Grave, Ernie in Birds of a Feather, and The Bill among many others.
Sparrow is also well known for playing Maurice, a peasant who was threatened to be shipped to the Americas, in the 1998 Cinderella remake Ever After.
One of his more notable guest appearances was in the 1989 episode Danger UXD of the sitcom Only Fools and Horses, which had 16.1 million viewers, as sex shop owner Dirty Barry.Martland, John. Obituary. The Stage. 6 July 2000 His last appearance was in 2000 in an episode of the BBC's medical drama series Doctors.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1963 A Stitch in Time Gardener Uncredited1965 Dr. Terror's House of Horrors Second Ambulance Man (segment "Disembodied Hand"), Uncredited1965 City Under the Sea Second Fisherman Uncredited1969 Zeta One Stage Manager 1969 The Champions George Whetlor Episode: "The Night People"1970 Cool It Carol! Cameraman 1975 The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother Henchman Uncredited1978 The Famous Five (1978 tv series) Salomon "Sully" Weston Episode: "Five Get into Trouble": Part 1 & 21978Rumpole of the BaileyHarry HarrisEpisode: Runpole and the Learned Friends1983Give Us a BreakAlan CleggEpisode: Heaven Sent1985 Young Sherlock Holmes Ethan Engel 1988 The Accidental Tourist Hot Dog Vendor 1989Only Fools And HorsesDirty BarryEpisode: "Danger UXD" Series 6 Episode 21990 One Foot in the Grave George Episode: "The Valley of Fear"1990 I Hired a Contract Killer Hotel Porter 1991 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Duncan 1991 Let Him Have It Nightwatchman 1993 The Secret Garden Ben Weatherstaff 1993 U.F.O. Fred Paxford 1994 Don't Get Me Started Nurse Uncredited1994 Dirtysomething Bill 1995 Now and Then Crazy Pete 1995 The Famous Five (1995 tv series) Grandad Episode: "Five on Finniston Farm"1996 Jane Eyre Lord Eshton 1997 The Woodlanders Old Creedle 1998 Ever After Maurice 1998 Prometheus Grandad 1999 Treasure Island Ben Gunn 1999 Simon Magus Benjamin
References
External links
Walter Sparrow on MTEDb