Tony Hancock

Acting

Tony Hancock

Born — Died

1924-05-12 — 1968-06-25

Place of birth

Hall Green, Birmingham, England, UK

Known for

Acting

Credits

18 titles

Anthony John Hancock was an English comedian and actor. High-profile during the 1950s and early 1960s, he had a major success with his BBC series Hancock's Half Hour, first broadcast on radio from 1954, then on television from 1956, in which he soon formed a strong professional and personal bond with comic actor Sid James. Although Hancock's decision to cease working with James when it became known in early 1960 disappointed many at the time, his last BBC series in 1961 contains some of his best remembered work ("The Blood Donor"). After breaking with his scriptwriters Ray Galton and Alan Simpson later that year, his career took a downward course.

Known for

Hancock's Half Hour poster
7.4

Hancock's Half Hour is a BBC television comedy series of the 1950s and 60s written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. The series starred Tony Hancock with Sid James. The final series, renamed simply Hancock, starred Hancock alone. Comedian Tony Hancock starred in the show, playing an exaggerated and much poorer version of his own character and lifestyle, Anthony Aloysius St John Hancock, a down-at-heel comedian living at the dilapidated 23 Railway Cuttings in East Cheam. The series was influential in the development of the situation comedy, with its move away from radio variety towards a focus on character development.

Hancock's Half Hour

1956

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes poster
6.8

In order to boost circulation of his newspaper, Lord Rawnsley announces an air race and offers £10,000 to the first person who can fly across the English Channel. But one of the participants, Percy, plots to sabotage his competitor's planes. Will Percy triumph?

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes

1965

Christmas Night with the Stars poster
7.0

A gala programme broadcast each Christmas night by the BBC from 1958 to 1972 and also revived in 1994. It was hosted by a leading star and featured specially made short, seasonal editions of the previous year's most popular sitcoms and light entertainment programmes.

Christmas Night with the Stars

1958

The Wrong Box poster
6.4

In Victorian England, a fortune now depends on which of two brothers outlives the other—or can be made to have seemed to do so.

The Wrong Box

1966

The Rebel poster
7.8

Anthony Hancock gives up his office job to become an abstract artist. He has a lot of enthusiasm, but little talent, and critics scorn his work. Nevertheless, he impresses an emerging very talented artist. Hancock proceeds to con the art world into thinking he is a genius.

The Rebel

1961

The Punch and Judy Man poster
7.9

Walter Pinner is the titular Punch And Judy Man plying his trade in the seaside town of Piltdown. Unhappily married to his social climbing wife, who gets him to perform at the 60th anniversary celebrations of the town in front of all the local dignitaries, his hatred of snobbery comes to a hilarious head.

The Punch and Judy Man

1963

Film credits

1960s · 6 titles

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes poster
6.8

In order to boost circulation of his newspaper, Lord Rawnsley announces an air race and offers £10,000 to the first person who can fly across the English Channel. But one of the participants, Percy, plots to sabotage his competitor's planes. Will Percy triumph?

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes

1965

The Wrong Box poster
6.4

In Victorian England, a fortune now depends on which of two brothers outlives the other—or can be made to have seemed to do so.

The Wrong Box

1966

The Rebel poster
7.8

Anthony Hancock gives up his office job to become an abstract artist. He has a lot of enthusiasm, but little talent, and critics scorn his work. Nevertheless, he impresses an emerging very talented artist. Hancock proceeds to con the art world into thinking he is a genius.

The Rebel

1961

The Punch and Judy Man poster
7.9

Walter Pinner is the titular Punch And Judy Man plying his trade in the seaside town of Piltdown. Unhappily married to his social climbing wife, who gets him to perform at the 60th anniversary celebrations of the town in front of all the local dignitaries, his hatred of snobbery comes to a hilarious head.

The Punch and Judy Man

1963

Hancock at the Royal Festival Hall poster
8.0

A one-off special performance by Tony Hancock of his stand-up comedy act (which rarely changed), at the Royal Festival Hall, London.

Hancock at the Royal Festival Hall

1966

Face to Face: Tony Hancock poster
7.5

Tony Hancock engages in self-reflection, looking back at his childhood, his need to work, his health issues, and whether he could ever truly be happy. The program is believed to have played a role in his eventual downfall by amplifying his proclivity for self-criticism. During the interview, John Freeman posed probing questions about Hancock's life and career. Despite his admiration for the interviewer, Hancock seemed uneasy but responded candidly. Known for his inherent self-critical nature, it is frequently posited that this interview intensified that trait, ultimately contributing to his subsequent challenges. According to Roger, Hancock's brother, "It was the most significant misstep he ever took. I believe it all stemmed from that moment. Self-analysis - that became his undoing.

Face to Face: Tony Hancock

1960

1950s · 3 titles

Series credits

Behind the camera