LA (AP) -
Christopher Hewett, the British stage actor who made his mark on American pop culture as TV's beloved butler Mr. Belvedere, died Friday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 80. The thespian reportedly had been ailing for some time. He died just one day after checking out of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, his nephew, Paul Hewett, told the Los Angeles Times.
Hewett's stage career began when he was seven and spanned more than 60 years, but he will perhaps be best remembered for playing the title role of the bemused British Butler, Lynn Belvedere, on the ABC sitcom that ran from 1985 to 1990.
As the unflappable housekeeper who once worked for English royalty, Mr. Belvedere moved to the United States to care for the dysfunctional Owens family. Proud and opinionated, Mr. B (as he was called around the house) loved inserting himself into everyone's problems but his own, often to the consternation of his employer, sportswriter, George Owens ( Bob Uecker).
Much of the show's humor resulted from Mr. Belvedere's often hilarious exchanges with precocious youngster Wesley Owens, played by Brice Beckham. Keeping Wesley in line was no easy task for Mr. B, who considered the boy his worst nightmare. But he managed to put up with it all through sarcasm and humor.
Born April 5, 1921 in Worthing, England, Hewett first started acting at age seven when he was cast in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream in Dublin. "I played the Indian prince, a very easy part. No lines, but lots of lovely costumes," Hewett once reminisced in an interview with the Associates Press.
After a stint at age 16 in Britain's Royal Air Force, Hewett left the service and signed up for the Oxford Repertory Company, where he performed in more than 100 plays, some of which entertained people through the horrors of the German air raids on London during World War II.
"I was back in theater just in time for the Blitz," Hewett said of the war. "Shows were often interrupted by the bombing, but I don't remember that we ever stopped, even during a heavy blitz. We would pause for a minute during the air raid alarm so that anyone who wanted to leave could do so."
After the war, Hewett went on to make a name for himself in movies, appearing in 1951's The Lavender Hill Mob and Pool of London.
After making his Broadway debut in 1956 in the original production of My Fair Lady, the actor landed a role in Mel Brooks' first film, 1968's The Producers, before heading over to television in the 1976 series, Ivan the Terrible. Guest stints on Fantasy Island soon followed, but it was his role as the endearing Mr. Belvedere for which he will be most remembered.
As Mr. B might say, at least he left us with beautiful memories.
Hewett is survived by a sister-in-law and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday at St. Victor's Church in West Hollywood.
