Barry Cryer
The quintessential comedy writer's writer, a jovial maestro who supplied jokes to the greatest British comedians for over half a century.
1935–2022 (age 87)·British writer, comedian and actor·Birthday: March 23·The Silent Generation
Biography
Barry Cryer was the unseen engine room of British comedy, a man with a twinkle in his eye and a bottomless drawer of gags. His career, spanning from the music halls to the internet age, was built on an unparalleled gift for crafting the perfect line for anyone's mouth. He never sought the blinding spotlight of stardom himself, preferring the collaborative chaos of the writers' room and the green room banter. Cryer's genius was his chameleonic ability to channel the distinct voices of comedy legends, from the surreal mischief of Spike Milligan to the smooth delivery of Bob Hope and the domestic grumbles of Ronnie Corbett. A fixture on the radio panel show 'I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue' for decades, his own persona—a blend of cheerful mischief and seasoned professionalism—eventually made him a beloved performer in his own right. He was the connective tissue of UK comedy, a reliable source of laughter who outlasted trends and defined an era of wit.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Barry was born in 1935, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Barry Was Born
The biggest hits of 1935
#1 Movie
Mutiny on the Bounty
Best Picture
Mutiny on the Bounty
Barry's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1935Born
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1940Started school
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1948Became a teenager
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1951Could drive
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1953Could vote
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1956Turned 21
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1965Turned 30
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 40
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 50
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 60
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 70
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 80
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2022Died at 87
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Key Achievements
- Wrote material for an unparalleled range of 20th-century comedy giants, including Morecambe and Wise, Tommy Cooper, and The Two Ronnies.
- Was a regular panelist on the iconic BBC Radio 4 comedy show 'I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue' for over 40 years.
- Authored multiple memoirs that chronicled the golden age of British comedy from his unique insider perspective.
Did You Know?
He began his career as a performer, appearing in a revue with the legendary singer Dorothy Squires.
He claimed to have failed his English Literature exams at university.
He maintained a lifelong friendship and writing partnership with fellow comedian Willie Rushton.
“I've had a wonderful life - somebody else has been writing it.”
