Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Tony Hancock


Tony Hancock, an English actor/comedian pictured above with a cup of coffee for the T Stands for Tuesday blog gathering, killed himself on June 25, 1968, at the age of 44, leaving a note that said in part, "Things just seemed to go too wrong too many times". Tragic. You hafta wish he'd found a way through that crisis. Here's a 10-minute video segment exploring his decline and death:


He had a BBC tv series, and here's a classic episode from 1961, The Blood Donor:



It has aged remarkably well. Timeless.


20 comments:

  1. He was such a wonderful comedian, it's such a shame he was so troubled by things going wrong! The video was so interesting to watch, I didn't know of his love for the film Bambi and how it reminded him of his father. Thank you for another fascinating post and wishing you a very Happy T Tuesday! J 😊

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  2. Sad that a talent like this wasn't able to settle his thoughts and keep going. Thanks for sharing and happy T day!

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  3. Always teaching us things Divers... thank you very much! What a great post for T .... Hugs! deb

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  4. he was such a talented man so very sad

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  5. I remember him well, his programme was always funny. He had a weekly show called 'Hancock's half hour'. Shame he killed himself. Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie

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  6. What a sad ending for a great comic. Although I knew very little about him, I saw a (possibly PBS or Biography) show on him once. Thanks for sharing this great "artist," and thanks for sharing the videos with us for T this Tuesday, too.

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  7. A sad tale that seems to happen way too often :(

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  8. I vaguely remember him. The video wouldn't play as I live outside the UK and they won't allow it. I did see the video about his life though (the 10 min one).
    Such a shame he went and killed himself. A tortured soul. Reminds me of Robin Williams...
    Happy T-Day,
    Lisca

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  9. So very sad that someone feels the only way out of problems is to take their life.

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  10. the BBC clip appears to have been blocked by the time I visited...but looks like a very talented actor with an internal torment. Don't remember him at all, but we didn't get much British tv back then. I guess a cup of coffee or tea is one thing that links everyone together...enjoyed your T post!

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    1. I found a replacement video for that same episode and embedded it so folks can see it. Thanks for the heads-up :)

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  11. He was a great comic, sad for a life to end that way.
    Hope you've had a Happy T day.
    Yvonne x

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  12. Oh, that's sad. Sometimes it seems like the funniest people are hiding such great pain. --T Day greetings from Denise

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  13. I hadn't heard of Tony Hancock and I loved learning a little bit about him. Its too bad things drove him to suicide. It is always such a waste. Happy T day. Hugs-Erika

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  14. i´m glad you introduced me to this man, never heard of him. t-day greetings...

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  15. Never heard of him yet!Seems he was a great comedian - this bad alcohol always!
    Happy T-Day!

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  16. Tony Hancock was a comedian with great timing! We used to listen to him on the radio after Sunday lunch (there used to a rotation of various series ) my Dad wouldn't move from the table until he had listened to Hancock's half-hour! When he moved to TV the first series he made was brilliant, but after that he moved from the BBC and the situations he was in were very contrived and I personally don't think it suited his style and the programmes weren't so popular! So sad when he ended his life! Thanks for this lovely reminder! Belated Happy T Day! Chris

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  17. I'd never heard of Tony Hancock. The Blood Donor video is classic. Funny man. It's always surprising when comedians commit suicide. They give so much joy to others but weren't able to find their own. Sad.

    Happy T-Day, D! Hugs, Eileen

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  18. He always made me laugh but like many comedians his own life wasn't as funny. Thank you for the memories. Happy T Day

    Love Chrissie xx

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