Actor and comedian Stanley Baxter dies aged 99

[Emrys]

Baxter enjoyed a decades-spanning career on radio, TV and film, and was famous for impersonating famous people including Queen Elizabeth II

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Born in Glasgow in 1926, Baxter was best known for helming TV sketch series including The Stanley Baxter Show and The Stanley Baxter Picture Show.

Baxter began his career as a child actor in the BBC series Children’s Hour, and was a part of the Combined Services Entertainment unit, providing live entertainment for troops during the second world war.

Success in radio in the postwar period led to theatre and pantomime work, and in 1959 Baxter relocated to London where his career would span stage work, radio sitcoms and TV roles, notably featuring his impressions of famous figures including the pope and Queen Elizabeth II.

Film roles included Crooks Anonymous, with Leslie Phillips, and The Thief and the Cobbler, notable for having remained unfinished for 29 years.

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/dec/12/actor-and-comedian-stanley-baxter-dies-aged-99

His TV shows really were remarkable. Interspersed with sketches where his performances were truly chameleon-like, were extravagant musical numbers where he could demonstrate his incredible ability to drag up convincingly and perform like the stars he was paying tribute to.

This clip is a modest taste of one of his musical routines. The production values in all his extravaganzas were so elaborate that the BBC just couldn't afford to stage them any more, and Baxter wasn't willing to lower his standards.

Here he is, giving us his Cleopatra:

And here he is in a doomed western:

He went on to feature in guest appearances on various TV shows over the years, along with some more modest series of his own.

A favourite routine of his in Scotland was his series Parliamo Glasgow, where earnest hosts, speaking the Queen's English impeccably, would do their best to coach non-Glaswegians in the intricacies of the city's lingo:

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More clips of his, including some whole Christmas specials, are available on YouTube.

[QueerDuck]

1. He publicly came out as homosexual in his 2020 authorized biography...

He publicly came out as homosexual in his 2020 authorized biography, The Real Stanley Baxter, at the age of 94.

Key details from his life and biography reveal:

He was gay Baxter confirmed his homosexuality in his later years and openly discussed the struggles he faced with his sexuality throughout his life.

He was married He was married to actress Moira Robertson for 46 years, until her death in 1997. He had told her he was gay before they married, but she threatened suicide if he ended the relationship, so he stayed.

An arrangement with his wife During their marriage, Moira was aware of his sexuality and allowed him to bring men home for sexual encounters.

Discomfort with his sexuality Baxter never felt comfortable with his sexuality due to the social stigma and illegality of homosexuality in the UK for much of his life. He stated, "I never wanted to be gay. I still don't".

Drag was part of his professional life His extensive work in drag and character performance was a central part of his highly successful public career in British television light entertainment, but was separate from his private life and personal identity. He kept his personal life very private during his career.

These biographical articles confirm Stanley Baxter's homosexuality and explore his marital arrangements and personal struggles with self-acceptance: