Stuart Fell
Encyclopedia
Stuart Fell is a professional actor
and stuntman
. He has appeared on British television many times, with his earliest role being in the LWT comedy series Hark at Barker
, in which he plays the driver of a car that crashes when he's distracted by Ronnie Barker
carrying a mannequin. In 1971, he appeared as an uncredited extra in the Doctor Who
serial Terror of the Autons
, and his last role came in 1998, as a stuntman in Duck Patrol
.
He worked in over twenty Doctor Who
stories in all, from 1971 to 1983, most often as a stuntman or extra, though he served once as a fight arranger in 1981. He was Dennis Moore on horseback in Monty Pythons Flying Circus. Literally sitting in for John Cleese.
His small size made him ideal for a number of roles- he was able to get inside a number of small, cramped costumes and even doubled for Katy Manning
and Louise Jameson
(wearing their costumes on both occasions!). His large range of varied skills also earned him considerable praise. In several DVD commentaries, a number of people have remarked that "he could do anything" from juggling, fire-breathing, acrobatics, stilt-walking and ride a motorcycle. As a relatively young new-comer to stunt work, he was eager to prove himself. One example was in The Claws of Axos
, where he is shot and then flipped backwards on a wire rig.
He became well known within the series for a number of instances. One being when he performed an (unpaid) back flip when he died in The Sea Devils
. He also had to stand in for Kevin Lindsay in The Sontaran Experiment
when Lindsay's heart condition made it too difficult for him to complete his lengthy fight scene. Another notable instance was in The Invasion of Time
, in which he improvised a jump (in full costume) and almost fell down as he landed on a folding chair. He then fell over a chair thrown at him to only narrowly stop himself from rolling into location's swimming pool. The whole sequence ended up being used in the final version. Stuart Fell explained, in a 2004 documentary, that he was encouraged to improvise and the it was felt that these trips made the scenes more interesting.
He played minor parts in three episodes of Blake's 7
.
He appeared in television adaptations of Hamlet
, The Mayor of Casterbridge
and The Old Curiosity Shop
. He has appeared in The Empire Strikes Back, the first two Superman
films, three James Bond
films, Aliens
and Who Framed Roger Rabbit
. Most of his film work was as a stunt man.
Fell is currently a professional juggler, is a member of The Magic Circle
, and appeared on the Antiques Roadshow
as an unnamed member of the public demonstrating his collection of yo-yos, diablos and other conjuring toys.
He recently appeared in the Time Quest 2009 Doctor Who
convention, where he took part in signings, panels and photo shoots with attendees. He also dressed as a jester and attracted very large queues. His panel was the most visited of the day just behind Tom Baker
.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and stuntman
Stuntman
A stuntman or stunt performer is someone who performs dangerous stunts.Stuntman may also refer to:*The Stunt Man, a 1980 film starring Peter O'Toole*Stuntman , a 2002 video game**Stuntman: Ignition, its sequel...
. He has appeared on British television many times, with his earliest role being in the LWT comedy series Hark at Barker
Hark at Barker
Hark at Barker was a 1969 British comedy series combining elements of sitcom and sketch show, which starred Ronnie Barker. It was made for the ITV network by LWT.Each show began with a spoof news item read by Barker as a continuity announcer...
, in which he plays the driver of a car that crashes when he's distracted by Ronnie Barker
Ronnie Barker
Ronald William George "Ronnie" Barker, OBE was a British actor, comedian, writer, critic, broadcaster and businessman...
carrying a mannequin. In 1971, he appeared as an uncredited extra in the Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
serial Terror of the Autons
Terror of the Autons
Terror of the Autons is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, broadcast in four weekly parts from 2 to 23 January 1971...
, and his last role came in 1998, as a stuntman in Duck Patrol
Duck Patrol
Duck Patrol is a British television comedy series that originally aired in 1998. Produced by LWT for the ITV network, it centered around a river police station by the River Thames....
.
He worked in over twenty Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
stories in all, from 1971 to 1983, most often as a stuntman or extra, though he served once as a fight arranger in 1981. He was Dennis Moore on horseback in Monty Pythons Flying Circus. Literally sitting in for John Cleese.
His small size made him ideal for a number of roles- he was able to get inside a number of small, cramped costumes and even doubled for Katy Manning
Katy Manning
Katy Manning is an English actress best known for her part as the companion Jo Grant in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. She has also made many theatre appearances, and is now a citizen of Australia. She is myopic...
and Louise Jameson
Louise Jameson
Louise Jameson is an English actress, best known for playing Leela, the leather-clad barbarian warrior companion of the fourth Doctor in Doctor Who. Jameson has also appeared on Emmerdale , The Omega Factor Louise Jameson (born 20 April 1951 in Wanstead, London) is an English actress, best known...
(wearing their costumes on both occasions!). His large range of varied skills also earned him considerable praise. In several DVD commentaries, a number of people have remarked that "he could do anything" from juggling, fire-breathing, acrobatics, stilt-walking and ride a motorcycle. As a relatively young new-comer to stunt work, he was eager to prove himself. One example was in The Claws of Axos
The Claws of Axos
-Writing:In late 1969, script editor Terrance Dicks contacted new writing duo Bob Baker and Dave Martin after reading a draft script they had sent around the BBC for another production, A Man's Life. After offering the duo a seven-part story in November 1969 for Doctor Whos eighth season, Baker and...
, where he is shot and then flipped backwards on a wire rig.
He became well known within the series for a number of instances. One being when he performed an (unpaid) back flip when he died in The Sea Devils
The Sea Devils
The Sea Devils is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from February 26 to April 1, 1972.-Synopsis:...
. He also had to stand in for Kevin Lindsay in The Sontaran Experiment
The Sontaran Experiment
The Sontaran Experiment is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was originally broadcast in two weekly parts on 22 February and 1 March 1975.-Synopsis:...
when Lindsay's heart condition made it too difficult for him to complete his lengthy fight scene. Another notable instance was in The Invasion of Time
The Invasion of Time
The Invasion of Time is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from 4 February to 11 March 1978...
, in which he improvised a jump (in full costume) and almost fell down as he landed on a folding chair. He then fell over a chair thrown at him to only narrowly stop himself from rolling into location's swimming pool. The whole sequence ended up being used in the final version. Stuart Fell explained, in a 2004 documentary, that he was encouraged to improvise and the it was felt that these trips made the scenes more interesting.
He played minor parts in three episodes of Blake's 7
Blake's 7
Blake's 7 is a British science fiction television series produced by the BBC for its BBC1 channel. The series was created by Terry Nation, a prolific television writer and creator of the Daleks for the television series Doctor Who. Four series of Blake's 7 were produced and broadcast between 1978...
.
He appeared in television adaptations of Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
, The Mayor of Casterbridge
The Mayor of Casterbridge
The Mayor of Casterbridge , subtitled "The Life and Death of a Man of Character", is a tragic novel by British author Thomas Hardy. It is set in the fictional town of Casterbridge . The book is one of Hardy's Wessex novels, all set in a fictional rustic England...
and The Old Curiosity Shop
The Old Curiosity Shop
The Old Curiosity Shop is a novel by Charles Dickens. The plot follows the life of Nell Trent and her grandfather, both residents of The Old Curiosity Shop in London....
. He has appeared in The Empire Strikes Back, the first two Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
films, three James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
films, Aliens
Aliens (film)
Aliens is a 1986 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, William Hope, and Bill Paxton...
and Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a 1988 American fantasy-comedy-noir film directed by Robert Zemeckis and released by Touchstone Pictures. The film combines live action and animation, and is based on Gary K. Wolf's novel Who Censored Roger Rabbit?, which depicts a world in which cartoon characters...
. Most of his film work was as a stunt man.
Fell is currently a professional juggler, is a member of The Magic Circle
The Magic Circle
The Magic Circle is a British organisation, founded in London in 1905, dedicated to promoting and advancing the art of magic.- History :The Magic Circle was founded in 1905 after a meeting of 23 amateur and professional magicians at London's Pinoli's Restaurant...
, and appeared on the Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow is a British television show in which antiques appraisers travel to various regions of the United Kingdom to appraise antiques brought in by local people. It has been running since 1979...
as an unnamed member of the public demonstrating his collection of yo-yos, diablos and other conjuring toys.
He recently appeared in the Time Quest 2009 Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
convention, where he took part in signings, panels and photo shoots with attendees. He also dressed as a jester and attracted very large queues. His panel was the most visited of the day just behind Tom Baker
Tom Baker
Thomas Stewart "Tom" Baker is a British actor. He is best known for playing the fourth incarnation of the Doctor in the science fiction television series Doctor Who, a role he played from 1974 to 1981.-Early life:...
.
Appearances in Doctor Who
- 1971: Terror of the Autons: Stuntman
- 1971: The Mind of Evil: Stuntman, various characters
- 1971: The Claws of Axos: stuntman, British Soldier
- 1972: The Sea Devils: Stuntman, 'Junior' Sea Devil
- 1972: The Curse of Peladon: the body of Alpha Centuri
- 1973: The Carnival of Monsters: Functionary
- 1974: The Monster of Peladon: the body of Alpha Centuri
- 1974: Planet of the Spiders: Stuntman, Tramp
- 1975: The Ark in Space: Operated various creature costumes
- 1975: The Sontaran Experiment: Doubled for Kevin Lindsay in the Styre costume
- 1975: The Android Invasion: Unnamed Kraal
- 1976: The Brain of Morbius: The body of Morbius
- 1976: The Masque of Mandragora: Stuntman, various characters
- 1977: The Talons of Weng-Chiang: Giant Rat, stuntwork
- 1977: The Sun Makers: Guard
- 1978: The Invasion of Time: Lead Sontaran Trooper
- 1978: The Ribos Operation: Played the 'Shrivenzale'
- 1981: State of Decay: Stuntman and Fight Arranger
- 1982: The Visitation: Stuntman
- 1983: The Five Doctors: Stuntman