Simon Cadell

English actor

Simon John Cadell (19 July 1950 – 6 March 1996) was a classically trained English actor, best known for his portrayal of Jeffrey Fairbrother in the first five series of the BBC situation comedy Hi de Hi!.

Born in London, he was the son of theatrical agent John Cadell, grandson of the Scottish character actress Jean Cadell, great nephew of Francis Cadell RSA, the brother of the actress Selina Cadell and commercials director Patrick Cadell, the cousin of the actor Guy Siner and son in law of the television producer David Croft. He was educated at The Hall School in Hampstead and Bedales School at Petersfield where his close friends included Gyles Brandreth, who remained a friend until Cadell's death.

Cadell was a member of the National Youth Theatre and appeared with them in the 1967 production of Zigger Zagger. He trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. His first successes were found in the theatre in the mid to late 1970s. An early television role was in Simon Gray's 'Play for Today's in 1975 Plaintiffs and Defendants and the sequel Two Sundays both opposite Alan Bates. He then provided the voice of Blackberry in the animated adaptation of Watership Down (1978), based on the novel by Richard Adams. Subsequently, he had roles in television programmes such as Enemy at the Door (1978–80), and also appeared briefly in the disaster film Meteor (1979) as a TV news reporter. He is best remembered for his role as the well meaning holiday camp manager Jeffrey Fairbrother in the BBC situation comedy Hi de Hi! (1980–84) and for playing the disingenuous civil servant Dundridge in the screen adaptation of a novel by Tom Sharpe, Blott on the Landscape (1985). On radio he played the elven king Celeborn in the BBC adaptation of The Lord of the Rings (1981). He appeared in the BBC sitcom Life Without George (1987–1989) which ran for three series. Cadell appeared in the 1991 British comedy series Singles. Other television credits include, Minder, Bergerac, The Kenny Everett Television Show and Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected (playing the co pilot in the episode "Hijack"). He was also in heavy demand as a voice over for television commercials. He narrated the children's television series Bump for the BBC, about a baby elephant (who always bumps into things) and his friend Birdie.

In 1986 Cadell married actress Rebecca Croft, the daughter of Dad's Army and Hi de Hi! co creator David Croft.

In January 1993 Cadell, a heavy smoker of up to 80 cigarettes a day, suffered a near fatal heart attack after giving a recital with Joanna Lumley at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, in London. He returned to the stage four months after undergoing triple heart bypass surgery, but was diagnosed with lymphoma in September 1993,

Cadell died in London on 6 March 1996, at the age of 45.

Year Title Role Notes1975 Play for Today: Plaintiffs and Defendants Sallust 1975 Play for Today: Two Sundays Sallust 1976 The Dame of Sark Dr Braun 1978–1980 Enemy at the Door Hauptsturmführer Reinicke 1978 Edward & Mrs. Simpson Major John Aird 1980 Play for Today: The Executioner Mr. Fowler 1980 Minder Simon "All Mod Cons" (1980)1980–1984 Hi de Hi! Prof. Jeffrey Fairbrother 1981 Bergerac Hedley Cross "Campaign for Silence" (1981)1981–1984 Tales of the Unexpected Co pilot Sam Luke "Hijack" (1981)"Have a Nice Death" (1984)1985 Blott on the Landscape Mr. Dundridge 1987–1989 Life Without George Larry Wade 1989 Anything More Would Be Greedy Narrator 1989 Frederick Forsyth Presents: Pride and Extreme Prejudice Wilson 1989 Minder William Pierce "The Wrong Goodbye" (1989)1990 1994 Bump Narrator 1991 Singles Denis Duvall