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Post by barrythebook on Mar 31, 2020 18:58:59 GMT
I've just read that Tony Allen has passed away today after being unwell for some time.
Very,very sad.
He was a very important part of The Sweeney.
RIP Bill.
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Post by jno on Mar 31, 2020 20:05:16 GMT
Very sad. A bit part actor, involved in The Sweeney and Minder, instantly recognisable. Will be forever remembered as the driver.
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Post by daz on Mar 31, 2020 21:44:33 GMT
I was watching The Sweeney tonight on ITV4 and they were in the car driving around looking for Norman Eshley after he had his breakdown and I said to my Wife how much I would have liked to have been in that car being driven around London with Bill the driver at the wheel, Jack in the passenger seat and me and George in the back, of course she looked at me in a strange manner thinking "why did I marry this lunatic."
He certainly gave something to the Sweeney even though he was only a very minor character, but bigger actors than him have went to their graves having not been anywhere near a series as big or as groundbreaking as The Sweeney.
RIP Tony
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Post by yorkshirebilly on Mar 31, 2020 21:54:53 GMT
A Facebook forum, Seventies Time Machine, is reporting the death of Tony Allen who played Regan's (mostly) non-speaking driver. No further details at present.
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Post by fordcapri on Apr 1, 2020 18:53:52 GMT
"Put yer foot down, Bill. Maybe we can get there before it's all over."
No one drove that car like Bill.
R.I.P. Tony Allen.
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Post by chopper on Apr 1, 2020 19:05:19 GMT
Sad news, another character gone. RIP ☹️
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Post by ltd on Apr 1, 2020 21:26:46 GMT
Bill was a man of few words, but Tony Allen always made sure he looked the part.
Think he went on to be John Thaw's regular wardrobe man - Inspector Morse certainly.
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Post by bodiesstuntdouble on Apr 2, 2020 13:31:05 GMT
Always a reassuring figure to spot in each episode and sad to lose him
RIP Sir
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Post by yorkshirebilly on Apr 2, 2020 21:27:50 GMT
Bill was a man of few words, but Tony Allen always made sure he looked the part. Think he went on to be John Thaw's regular wardrobe man - Inspector Morse certainly. Bill wasn't much cop (scuse the pun) when it came to knockabout football. Which episode was it where he twisted his ankle and couldn't drive? Was it one of the episodes where Regan had to drive himself - maybe the one with Dudley Sutton and his absurd hairdo  |
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Post by daz on Apr 3, 2020 3:23:48 GMT
Bill was a man of few words, but Tony Allen always made sure he looked the part. Think he went on to be John Thaw's regular wardrobe man - Inspector Morse certainly. Bill wasn't much cop (scuse the pun) when it came to knockabout football. Which episode was it where he twisted his ankle and couldn't drive? Was it one of the episodes where Regan had to drive himself - maybe the one with Dudley Sutton and his absurd hairdo I think it was the one with Billy Medhurst in it, where the guys get put in the frozen food lorry. |
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Post by ltd on Apr 3, 2020 7:02:24 GMT
Bill wasn't much cop (scuse the pun) when it came to knockabout football. Which episode was it where he twisted his ankle and couldn't drive? Was it one of the episodes where Regan had to drive himself - maybe the one with Dudley Sutton and his absurd hairdo I think it was the one with Billy Medhurst in it, where the guys get put in the frozen food lorry. "Faces" was it? The wasteground where Tober and Co do a bunk over the fence pre-credits. Bill then temporarily replaced by the driver from up north who it turns out Tober knows by sight. |
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Post by McCann on Apr 5, 2020 15:23:53 GMT
Shame that another fixture from the cast has died. Tony Allen pops up in all sorts of shows during the 70s and 80s. Suppose we are approaching the 50th anniversary of the first filming in a few more years.
Was also in Minder multiple times, watched 'It's a sorry lorry Morry' the other week and think I spotted him. He also helped the escape in the mini in 'bury my half ay Waltham Green' and sported that dodgy jacket in 'Looking for Mickey'
The game of football in the waste ground was certainly series 2 I think. If it wasn't mid way through 'Faces' it might have been 'Big brother'
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Post by NickP on Apr 6, 2020 10:55:46 GMT
Very sad. A bit part actor, involved in The Sweeney and Minder, instantly recognisable. Will be forever remembered as the driver. RIP Tony my old mate. Tony Allen became a very good friend of mine, he was very much part of the Minder social club who met every night after work in Phroggs wine bar, Blyth Rd Hammersmith. That was the one that went bust and closed down after Minder left the area. I told the storey of Tony's favourite trick on an earlier post about the trousers over the arm gag. He was a tailor by trade and after persuasion from lots of people including I imagine John Thaw, Tony joined the wardrobe department and pursued a very successful career. I spoke to his daughter last week as I had posted a couple of Minder pics on a Facebook film page which invites Film people to put up memorable pictures. One I posted featured Tony, she said: "she was knocked out by the amount of people who had written nice things about her Dad", I wasn't surprised by that.
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Post by jno on Apr 6, 2020 14:56:31 GMT
Great story as always Nick , and a great photo. |
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Post by NickP on Apr 6, 2020 15:36:05 GMT
Great story as always Nick , and a great photo. Thanks jno, I must admit I was 40 years younger when that was taken plus had lots more hair. |
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Post by Portland Road on Apr 8, 2020 3:21:13 GMT
I know him from 'The Sweeney' but I also used to spot him in many other things, including I believe 'A Hard Days Night'.
R.I.P. Tony Allen.
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Post by felixdeburgh on Apr 15, 2020 22:16:22 GMT
Here's an early appearance of 'Bill' in the Man In A Suitcase episode 'The Sitting Pigeon':
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Post by Portland Road on Apr 16, 2020 5:31:32 GMT
Yes I remember that, during a music recital.
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Post by felixdeburgh on Apr 16, 2020 7:05:11 GMT
O/T but I was amazed that the performance from that recital was included on the soundtrack CD.
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Post by thewoodster on Jun 12, 2020 11:19:55 GMT
RIP Tony.
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milo
One Of Your Own
Posts: 201
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Post by milo on Jun 16, 2020 16:56:01 GMT
Sad to hear that Tony Allen has passed away. I had absolutely no idea and only found out via this forum. Tony was an integral part of The Sweeney cast, even if he only played a small and largely non-speaking part. Rock on Bill! (Regan to Bill in 'Sweet Smell of Succession').
RIP Tony.
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