Brian Rix: The Maestro of Farce and Champion of Disability Rights

A Master of Mirth and Mayhem on the London Stage

Brian Rix, Baron Rix, was a renowned English actor-manager who produced a record-breaking sequence of long-running farces on the London stage, including Dry Rot, Simple Spymen, and One for the Pot. His one-night TV shows made him the joint-highest paid star on the BBC, solidifying his status as a master of mirth and mayhem.

Early Years and Cricketing Ambitions

Born on 27 January 1924, in Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire, Rix was the youngest of four children. His father, Herbert Rix, and his two brothers ran the shipping company Robert Rix in Hull, founded by his grandfather. Rix's early ambitions lay in cricket, and he wished to play for Yorkshire in his childhood. He did play for Hull Cricket Club when he was 16 and, after the war, for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the Stage, and the Lords Taverners.

A Family Affair: Theatre and the Rix Clan

Rix's elder sister, Sheila Mercier, became an actress during his school days, and Rix himself developed the same ambition to go on the stage. All four Rix children had been bitten by the theatre bug, thanks to their mother, Fanny, who ran an amateur dramatic society and was the lead soprano in the local operatic society. Rix's mother was instrumental in nurturing his love for the theatre, and he often performed in plays alongside his siblings.

Rix's Rise to Fame: Farces and TV Shows

Rix became a professional actor at 18, on deferment from service with the Royal Air Force, with Donald Wolfitt's Shakespearean company. His big break came with the Whitehall farces in the 1950s and 1960s, where he worked regularly with his sister Sheila. These productions catapulted him to fame, and his one-night TV shows made him a household name.

A Champion of Disability Rights

When Rix's first child was born with Down syndrome, he became a passionate campaigner for disability causes. He entered the House of Lords as a crossbencher in 1992 and was president of Mencap from 1998 until his death in 2016. Rix's tireless advocacy for disability rights led to significant reforms and improvements in the lives of people with disabilities.

Legacy and Honors

Throughout his career, Rix received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the world of theatre and disability rights. He was appointed a life peer in 1992, and his work with Mencap earned him the Freedom of the City of London in 2001.

Personal Life and Family

Rix married Elspet Gray, an actress, in 1947, and they had two children together. His sister, Sheila Mercier, played Annie Sugden for more than 20 years in the Yorkshire TV soap opera Emmerdale Farm.

Trivia and Fun Facts

• Rix played cricket for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the Stage, and the Lords Taverners.
• He was a member of the prestigious Lord's Taverners, a charity that uses cricket to raise money for disadvantaged children.
• Rix's wife, Elspet Gray, appeared in several of his productions, including the TV series Dry Rot.

In Conclusion

Brian Rix was a multifaceted personality – a master of farce, a champion of disability rights, and a devoted family man. His contributions to the world of theatre and disability advocacy continue to inspire generations, cementing his legacy as a true legend of the stage and beyond.