Percy Edwards

Percy Edwards (June 1 1908, Ipswich, Suffolk - June 7 1996, Hintlesham, Suffolk), was an English ornithologist and entertainer.

Biography

As a child, Edwards was fascinated by the wildlife he found in his local area, and by the age of 12 was accomplished enough at imitating many of them, that this became his Party Piece.

In 1930 he debuted on the BBC radio series Vaudeville, the start of a career that would last the best part of 60 years. During World War Two, Edwards worked at Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies in Ipswich. [citeweb|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/20/a2811520.shtml|title=WW2 People's War - Joan Whitson|publisher=BBC History|accessdate=2008-04-30]

Edwards became a household name after his animal imitations in the radio shows "Ray's a Laugh" with Ted Ray; and playing Psyche the dog in the radio series "A Life of Bliss." It was said that at the height of his career he could accurately imitate over 600 birds, as well as many other animals. Among other things, he provided the voices for the Whales in Orca (1977), the Reindeer in (1985), sheep and bird sounds on Kate Bush's song "The Dreaming", and the alien in the film of the same name. One of his last stage appearances was in the Grand Order of Water Rats centenary show at the London Palladium in 1989.

Although he always referred to himself as an entertainer, Edwards was a fellow of Zoological Society of London, and a respected and published ornithologist.

Filmography

:"NB: Edwards worked purely as a voice artist unless otherwise stated"

1960s

*A Life of Bliss (1960)
*The Deadly Bees (1966)

1970s

*UFO (1970)
*The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970)
*On the Buses (1971)
*The Good Life (1976)
*Just William (1977)
*The Goodies (1977)
*Ripping Yarns (1977)
*Orca (1977) (whale vocalisations) (uncredited)
*The Innes Book of Records playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode 1" (1979)
*Alien (1979) (vocal effects for the alien and facehugger)

1980s

*Hi-de-Hi! (1981)
*The Plague Dogs (1982) (various animal vocal effects including Rowf and Snitter's barks)
*The Dark Crystal (1982) (vocal effects for Fizzgig)
*The Plague Dogs (1982)
*The Island of Adventure (1982)
*Fair Ground! (1983)
*Hilary (1984)
* (1985)
*Labyrinth (1986) (vocal effects for Ambrosius)
*Valhalla (1986)
*Sorry! (1986)

References

External links

*imdb|id=0250272|name=Percy Edwards
* [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/109472?view=credit Percy Edwards at the BFI dBase]