Ian Trigger (30 September 1938 â€" 6 January 2010) was a British actor
of stage, film and television who had a successful career in the
United States. A diminutive actor, Trigger's long career saw him
working in the West End, on Broadway and across America. He first
appeared in the United States with the Young Vic company following
which he lived there for many years.Ian J. Trigger was born in
Plymouth in Devon in 1938 where he attended Devonport High School for
Boys. He had early ambitions of following an acting career. After his
death Trigger's twin brother Allan said: “When we were young, Ian
would say, I want to be an actor â€" nothing else will do. Shakespeare
was the love of his life and if he could have spent his entire career
playing Shakespeare then that would have been total fulfilment for
him.†He received a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
(RADA) in 1955 making him at that time the youngest student to have
trained there. He eventually graduated from RADA in 1959 due to his
training being interrupted by two years national service in the army,
which he served in Scotland. On leaving RADA Trigger did repertory
including Henry IV, Part 2 with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre
(1960), the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow, The Gateway in Edinburgh and
the Bristol Old Vic. He then went to the newly-formed Traverse Theatre
before moving to the West End.His television roles included: the
Jeweler in Fantastic Four (1994); Raguideau in Napoleon and Love
(1974); Gnat in the TV film Alice Through the Looking Glass (1973);
Joseph's Brother in the TV version of Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat (1972); Gideon in It's Awfully Bad for Your
Eyes, Darling (1971); Luko in Ace of Wands (1971); Eddie in Bright's
Boffins (1971); Imaginary Man in Six Dates with Barker (1971); Wee
Georgie in That's Your Funeral (1971); Dennis in Tales of Unease
(1970); in Ken Dodd & the Diddy Men (1969); Goblin in Knock Three
Times (1968) with Hattie Jacques; Bobin in Ooh La La! (1968); various
roles in The Stanley Baxter Show (1967); Hobgoblin in Kenilworth
(1967); Greenwater in The Forsyte Saga (1967); Bank Teller in Beggar
My Neighbour (1967); Nonesuch in The Corridor People (1966); Morris
Todd in The Wednesday Play (1966); in Frankie Howerd (1966); Operator
in Theatre 625 (1965); Opium in A Slight Case of... (1965); in Hugh
and I (1965); in Going, Going, Gone! (1965); in The Critics (1965);
Rev. Wadmore in The Big Noise (1964); in World of His Own (1964); R.
Sammy in Story Parade (1964); Sandy McKinley in Dr. Finlay's Casebook
(1964); Ship Tailor in Dixon of Dock Green (1964), and Attendant in
The Dark Island (1962).Film appearances include; Joe Hartford in All I
Want Is You... and You... and You... (1974); Frog Footman in Alice's
Adventures in Wonderland (1972); Lucky Charm Seller in Up the Chastity
Belt (1972); Odius in Up Pompeii (1971); Clown in Countess Dracula
(1971); Wee Georgie in Winning the Ashes (1971); Dr Ponti in Pussycat,
Pussycat, I Love You (1970); Nathaniel Winkle in Pickwick (1969);
Popov's assistant in Diamonds for Breakfast (1968), and in Up Jumped a
Swagman (1965).
of stage, film and television who had a successful career in the
United States. A diminutive actor, Trigger's long career saw him
working in the West End, on Broadway and across America. He first
appeared in the United States with the Young Vic company following
which he lived there for many years.Ian J. Trigger was born in
Plymouth in Devon in 1938 where he attended Devonport High School for
Boys. He had early ambitions of following an acting career. After his
death Trigger's twin brother Allan said: “When we were young, Ian
would say, I want to be an actor â€" nothing else will do. Shakespeare
was the love of his life and if he could have spent his entire career
playing Shakespeare then that would have been total fulfilment for
him.†He received a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
(RADA) in 1955 making him at that time the youngest student to have
trained there. He eventually graduated from RADA in 1959 due to his
training being interrupted by two years national service in the army,
which he served in Scotland. On leaving RADA Trigger did repertory
including Henry IV, Part 2 with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre
(1960), the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow, The Gateway in Edinburgh and
the Bristol Old Vic. He then went to the newly-formed Traverse Theatre
before moving to the West End.His television roles included: the
Jeweler in Fantastic Four (1994); Raguideau in Napoleon and Love
(1974); Gnat in the TV film Alice Through the Looking Glass (1973);
Joseph's Brother in the TV version of Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat (1972); Gideon in It's Awfully Bad for Your
Eyes, Darling (1971); Luko in Ace of Wands (1971); Eddie in Bright's
Boffins (1971); Imaginary Man in Six Dates with Barker (1971); Wee
Georgie in That's Your Funeral (1971); Dennis in Tales of Unease
(1970); in Ken Dodd & the Diddy Men (1969); Goblin in Knock Three
Times (1968) with Hattie Jacques; Bobin in Ooh La La! (1968); various
roles in The Stanley Baxter Show (1967); Hobgoblin in Kenilworth
(1967); Greenwater in The Forsyte Saga (1967); Bank Teller in Beggar
My Neighbour (1967); Nonesuch in The Corridor People (1966); Morris
Todd in The Wednesday Play (1966); in Frankie Howerd (1966); Operator
in Theatre 625 (1965); Opium in A Slight Case of... (1965); in Hugh
and I (1965); in Going, Going, Gone! (1965); in The Critics (1965);
Rev. Wadmore in The Big Noise (1964); in World of His Own (1964); R.
Sammy in Story Parade (1964); Sandy McKinley in Dr. Finlay's Casebook
(1964); Ship Tailor in Dixon of Dock Green (1964), and Attendant in
The Dark Island (1962).Film appearances include; Joe Hartford in All I
Want Is You... and You... and You... (1974); Frog Footman in Alice's
Adventures in Wonderland (1972); Lucky Charm Seller in Up the Chastity
Belt (1972); Odius in Up Pompeii (1971); Clown in Countess Dracula
(1971); Wee Georgie in Winning the Ashes (1971); Dr Ponti in Pussycat,
Pussycat, I Love You (1970); Nathaniel Winkle in Pickwick (1969);
Popov's assistant in Diamonds for Breakfast (1968), and in Up Jumped a
Swagman (1965).
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.