Barbour, Peter

 Peter Barbour

Peter Barbour was born on November 5, 1922 in Skegness, Lincolnshire, England to Roy Barbour (a performer) and ?. His grandfather was Al Norman (singer and comedian) and his granddaughter, Genevieve Jacobs, continues the performing legacy.
He was a British actor and circus performer best known for his work as a stilt-walker in variety acts and his roles in various films and TV shows. Barbour came from a family deeply rooted in the entertainment industry. His father, Roy Barbour, was a comedian and stage producer, and Peter, along with his brothers (he was the middle brother) Roy Jr. and Geoffrey, followed in his footsteps by becoming stilt-walkers. Roy Barbour paid an act named The Astairs to teach Peter and his brothers staircase and stick dancing then Peter used those dancing skills to dance on stilts.

The Barbour Brothers

WWII stopped his performances and he enlisted in the Royal Artillery for five years. He performed and toured in Germany in the Ensa production "Stars in Battledress." This is where he met Jean Dooley (became his wife). It was 1952 before they would return to regular performances.

 Barbour's career spanned over six decades, during which he performed at many prominent British music halls and theaters. His performances also took him internationally, including a significant period in the United States with the Walt Disney organization, where he and his daughter, Sue, performed as stilt-walking Beefeaters at Epcot Centre in Florida.

The times between gigs, he was a booker for several Midlands venues.

 In addition to his circus performances, Peter Barbour appeared in several films and television shows, including "The Man Who Never Was" (1956), "The Guns of Navarone" (1961), and "The Ipcress File" (1965). He was also featured in the West End premiere of the musical "Barnum" in 1981, where his stilt-walking act became a highlight.

He was married to Jean Dooley from 1948-1975) and they had one daughter, Sue, who was also a performer but became a doctor.

 Peter Barbour had a stroke in 2001 and he passed away on September 12, 2005, at the age of 82

Films

1977

Star Wars: A New Hope - Stilt Monster (scenes cut)

1975

Mr. Quilp (The Old Curiosity Shop) - performer (see Actor Connections - Film)

1965

The Ipcress File - 

1961

The Guns of Navarone - 

The Hellfire Club - Stilt Walker

1956

The Man Who Never Was


TV

1986

Barnum! (movie) - self

1985

Ultra Quiz - self

1978

The Star Wars Holiday Special - stilt monster

1963

The Black and White Minstrel Show

Self (5.8)

Self (7.10)

1961

The Good Ol' Days - Jean and Peter Barbour (performers) (9.6)

1960

Let's Make a Night of It (movie) - himself

1956
Ed Sullivan Show - Barbour Brothers and Jean

1955

Royal Command Performance - Barbour Brothers and Jean


Theater

1985-1986

Barnum! - Beefeater (revival at Victoria Palace, London, UK)

1983

Royal Variety Show - Performed his "Little Tich" routine (Royal Theatre Drury Lane, London, England, UK)

1981-1983

Barnam - Peter Barbour and Sue Barbour (his daughter), Beefeater (London Palladium, London, England, UK; Berlin)

1980s

Babes in the Woods - Peter Barbour, Sue Barbour with Cannon and Ball (London Palladium, London, England, UK)

1952

Paris to Piccadilly - (Prince of Wales Theatre, London, England, UK)


Other

1968

Peter Barbour's Beanstalks

Barbour & Billie (Billie was the wife of Roy)

19??
Grona Lund (amusement park) - Barbour Brothers and Jean (Tivoli, Stockholm, Sweden)

1940s
Stars in Battledress (*ENSA production) - performer

*ENSA was formed so entertainers could keep morale high by performing for the troops)

Miscellany

2024

A pair of chicken leg stilts that belonged to Barbour were found by his daughter and put up for auction on May 3, 2024. 

Worked at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL until his stroke in 2001.

1985

Grand Order of Water Rats (a charitable institution) inductee

Spent seven years performing on stilts at Walt Disney's Epcot Center, in Orlando, FL as a Beefeater and other characters (on stilts)

Spent five years performing with Barnum.

Made his debut at the Leeds Empire Theatre