Michael Robbins
Biography
Michael Anthony Robbins was born in London, England, on November 14, 1930, and died on December 11, 1992. He was an English actor whose career included television and film appearances. Robbins was primarily a comedy actor and was best known for his role as Arthur Rudge in the television sitcom On the Buses, which ran from 1969 to 1973, as well as its film spin-offs. Before becoming an actor, Robbins worked as a bank clerk after participating in amateur dramatic performances in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, where he and his family lived. His television debut was as a cockney soldier in Roll-on Bloomin' Death. His other credits included appearances in You Rang, M'Lord?, Doctor Who, and Rumpole of the Bailey.
Career overview
Michael Anthony Robbins was an English actor born in London on November 14, 1930. Before becoming an actor, Robbins was a bank clerk. He began his acting career after appearing in amateur dramatic performances in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, where he and his family lived at the time. He made his television debut as the cockney soldier in Roll-on Bloomin' Death.
Primarily a comedy actor, Robbins is best remembered for his role as Arthur Rudge, the persistently sarcastic husband of Olive, played by Anna Karen, in the popular television sitcom On the Buses, which ran from 1969 to 1973. Robbins and Karen provided the secondary comic storyline to Reg Varney's comedy capers at the bus depot. Robbins also appeared in the series film spin-offs, which include On the Buses, Mutiny on the Buses, and Holiday on the Buses. His other credits include appearances in You Rang, M'Lord?, Doctor Who, and Rumpole of the Bailey.
Robbins passed away on December 11, 1992, at the age of 62.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
104 titles- The Ties That Bind Us (2008) as Richard Mace (archive footage)
- Adam Bede (1992) as Thias Bede
- One Foot in the Grave: The Man In The Long Black Coat (1991) as Mr Killick
- You Rang, M'Lord? (1990) as Twelvetrees Senior
- One Foot in the Grave (1990)
- Just Ask for Diamond (1988) as The Fat Man
- The New Statesman (1987) as Mad Eddie
- Dempsey and Makepeace (1985) as Simmons
- In Sickness and in Health (1985) as Rail Worker
- Lost In London (1985) as Bill
- The Bill (1984)
- Fresh Fields (1984) as Mr. Pringle
- Fairly Secret Army (1984) as Sgt. Major Throttle
- Victor/Victoria (1982) as Manager of Victoria's Hotel
- The Bounder (1982) as Bert
- The Merry Wives of Windsor (1982) as Nym
- Brendon Chase (1982) as Sergeant Bunting
- Legacy of Murder (1982) as Marley
- Doctor Who: The Visitation (1982) as Richard Mace
- The Chinese Detective (1981)
- The Great Muppet Caper (1981) as Henderson
- Murder Rap (1980) as Det. Sgt. Praed
- Minder (1979) as McQueen
- The Cannon & Ball Show (1979) as Police Seargent
- Dick Turpin (1979) as Sgt. Bullock
- The Saint and the Brave Goose (1979) as Beeky
- Return of the Saint (1978) as Beeky
- Mixed Blessings (1978) as Fred Fachetti
- Murder Most English: A Flaxborough Chronicle (1977) as Pumphrey
- George and Mildred (1976)
- The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) as Jarvis
- Operation Patch (1976) as George Cosserat
- The Sweeney (1975) as Kevin Lee
- Rumpole of the Bailey (1975) as Cyril Timson
- The Good Life (1975) as Mr. Bulstrode
- Thick as Thieves (1974)
- Man About the House (1974) as Doorman
- Centre Play (1973) as Swaffer
- Black and Blue (1973) as Bert
- No Sex Please - We're British (1973) as Car Driver
- Holiday on the Buses (1973) as Arthur Rudge
- Soap Opera in Stockwell (1973) as Bert
- Mutiny on the Buses (1972) as Arthur Rudge
- That's Your Funeral (1972) as 2nd Funeral Director
- Blinker's Spy-Spotter (1972) as Policeman
- Justice (1971) as Eddie
- Zeppelin (1971) as Cockney Sergeant
- Villain (1971) as Barzun
- On the Buses (1971) as Arthur Rudge
- The Looking Glass War (1970) as Truck Driver
- All the Way Up (1970) as Taxi Driver
- The Hunting of Lionel Crane (1970) as Sergeant Billings
- The Main Chance (1969) as Gerry Baxter
- ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969) as Michael Vint
- On the Buses (1969) as Arthur Rudge
- Department S (1969) as Burton
- Crossplot (1969) as Garage Attendant
- Judge Dee (1969)
- Till Death Us Do Part (1969) as Fred
- Up the Junction (1968) as Figgins
- The Drummer and the Bloke (1968) as Jack
- Horizontal Hold (1968) as TV Repairman
- Callan (1967)
- Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width (1967)
- The Whisperers (1967) as Mr Noonan
- You Can't Win (1966)
- Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965) as Harris
- Gideon's Way (1965) as Smith
- The Man in Room 17 (1965) as C.P.O. Bradshaw
- Londoners (1965) as Shaw
- The Wednesday Thriller (1965) as Clerk of the Court
- Dead Man's Chest (1965) as Sergeant Harris
- Theatre 625 (1964) as Tom
- The Wednesday Play (1964) as Sergeant Strickland
- The Wednesday Play (1964) as Albert Barking
- The Wednesday Play (1964) as Jack
- The Wednesday Play (1964) as Henry Whittaker
- The Wednesday Play (1964) as Sergeant Billings
- Story Parade (1964) as Edward Cowley
- Redcap (1964) as Private Pendlebury
- Sherlock Holmes (1964)
- The Bargee (1964) as Bargee
- Children of the Damned (1964) as (uncredited)
- Rattle of a Simple Man (1964) as George (organiser)
- The Count of Monte Cristo (1964) as Gaspard Caderousse
- Act of Murder (1964) as Van Driver
- The Bone Yard (1964) as Sergeant Strickland
- Doctor Who (1963) as Richard Mace
- Crane (1963) as Jennings
- What a Crazy World (1963) as Percy
- The Saint (1962) as Harry
- The Saint (1962) as Smith
- Z-Cars (1962)
- Studio 4 (1962) as Humphrey Place
- Lunch Hour (1962) as Harris
- A Prize of Arms (1962) as Orford
- You in Your Small Corner (1962) as Georgie
- The Avengers (1961) as Henry Farrow
- The Avengers (1961) as Cavell
- Danger! Men Working (1961) as Second Labourer
- No Hiding Place (1959)
- Edgar Wallace Mysteries (1959) as Sergeant Harris
- Armchair Theatre (1956) as Dave
- Dixon of Dock Green (1955) as Charlie Mills
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Michael Robbins best known for?
Michael Robbins is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Power (2014), The Old Gun (1975), One Foot in the Grave (1990), The New Statesman (1987).
When and where was Michael Robbins born?
Michael Robbins was born on November 14, 1930 in London, England, UK. They passed away on December 11, 1992.
How many credits does Michael Robbins have?
Michael Robbins has accumulated over 104 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1955 to 2008.
What is Michael Robbins's background in cinema and television?
Michael Anthony Robbins was born in London, England, on November 14, 1930, and died on December 11, 1992. He was an English actor whose career included television and film appearances. Robbins was primarily a comedy actor and was best known for his role as Arthur Rudge in the television sitcom On the Buses, which ran f...
Michael Robbins by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Main Chance (1969) as Gerry Baxter — aged about 38
- In Sickness and in Health (1985) as Rail Worker — aged about 54
- The Sweeney (1975) as Kevin Lee — aged about 44
- The Merry Wives of Windsor (1982) as Nym — aged about 51
- Doctor Who (1963) as Richard Mace — aged about 32
- The Good Life (1975) as Mr. Bulstrode — aged about 44
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