Richard Bebb
historyRichard Bebb (12 January 1927 – 12 April 2006) was an English actor of stage, screen and radio.
Born Richard Bebb Williams in London, he changed his name to his mother's surname, Bebb, when he took up acting as there was already a British actor called Richard Williams. He was educated at Highgate School in North London, and attended Trinity College, Cambridge from 1944 to 1947.
In 1952, he married the actress Gwen Watford. Although her body of work was considered greater to his, Bebb was nonetheless a very prolific performer in theatre, radio and television. He also appeared in several films, such as Pope Joan (1972) and King Ralph (1991).
Additional selected filmography
- The Final Test (1953) .... Frank Weller
Music interest and record collection
Bebb was an avid collector of 78 rpm gramophone records, and was a committee member of the British Institute of Recorded Sound, a forerunner to the British Library Sound Archive. The collection included recordings of singers and opera performances in England, as well as the Henry Irving cylinder recordings which he rediscovered.
He did not favour discs based on established values and reputation, but judged singers on their musical merit. Though he was considered to be very outspoken and judgmental on musical matters, he was generous in sharing his knowledge, and often highlighted the talents of singers that were otherwise overlooked.
His favourite opera was Adriana Lecouvreur by Francesco Cilea. Among singers and performances he had high regard for Dino Borgioli's Do not go, my love, Frida Leider’s version of Eboli’s aria in Don Carlos, and Magda Olivero’s Sola, perduta, abbandonata.
The voice of Richard Bebb is used for the audiobook of Peter Wright's "Spycatcher".
- [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-2141888,00.html Obituary - Richard Bebb], The Times, 20 April 2006
- Paul Getty, music collector
- Harold Wayne, music collector
- Guy Dumazert, music critic
- Michael Scott, music critic