Brian Rix
A master of theatrical farce who turned British stage comedy into a record-breaking, family-run enterprise for decades.
1924–2016 (age 92)·English actor-manager·Birthday: January 27·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Brian Rix was a force of nature in British theatre, a producer and actor who understood the public's appetite for uncomplicated, uproarious laughter. Born in 1924, he carved out a unique career not as a classical thespian but as an impresario of the perfectly timed door-slam and the dropped trouser. His management of the Whitehall Theatre from the 1950s onwards became synonymous with a specific brand of long-running, innuendo-laden farce, plays like 'Dry Rot' and 'Simple Spymen' that ran for years and became national institutions. His work was a family affair, often starring his wife, actress Elspet Gray, and his sister, Sheila Mercier. Rix's savvy extended to television, where his specials made him one of the BBC's top-paid stars. In later life, he became a formidable advocate for people with learning disabilities, a cause driven by the experience of raising a daughter with Down's syndrome, and was elevated to the House of Lords.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Brian was born in 1924, placing them squarely in The Greatest 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 Brian Was Born
The biggest hits of 1924
#1 Movie
The Sea Hawk
Brian's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1924Born
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1929Started school
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1937Became a teenager
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Could drive
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
1942Could vote
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1945Turned 21
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1954Turned 30
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 40
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 50
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 60
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 70
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 80
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2016Died at 92
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
Key Achievements
- Produced and starred in a record-breaking sequence of long-running farces at London's Whitehall Theatre, including 'Dry Rot' which ran for over 1,500 performances.
- Became one of the joint highest-paid stars on the BBC through his popular one-night television specials.
- Served as Chairman of Mencap, the UK's leading learning disability charity, transforming its public profile and fundraising.
- Was created a life peer in 1992, taking the title Baron Rix of Whitehall in the City of Westminster.
Did You Know?
He held the unusual distinction of being both a West End theatre manager and a member of the House of Lords.
His sister, Sheila Mercier, was a founding cast member of the long-running British soap opera 'Emmerdale'.
He was known for performing in his farces in his signature yellowing long johns.
He once estimated he had taken over 20,000 curtain calls in his career.
“If you can make people laugh, you can make them think.”
