Leonard Rossiter: Character Driven By Guy Adams
12/09/2020Enjoyable but empty biography
An easy read, especially for something which was really just a filled out resume of the actor's works.
Leonard Rossiter, critical of the poor acting in his girlfriend's amateur dramatics group, set out to prove that he could do it better.
And he did, ultimately starring in two of the most popular series' of the 1970s - Rising Damp and The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. And not to forget the famous Cinzano adverts with Joan Collins - although the campaign apparently also helped to boost Martini sales as customers forgot what drink the advert was actually promoting.
Adams seems very careful describing Rossiter's exacting standards, producing quotes from people who worked with him grateful for teaching them to be better actors.
The narrative goes out of its way to portray Rossiter as a workaday actor, wanting himself and others to the best job, ultimately shunning the limelight and not wanting to be a celebrity.
But there is a sense that, should the writer have wanted, he could have found some more acidic descriptions of Rossiter's working style, criticism of other performers and willingness to argue with directors.
It is noted that Sue MacGregor, in her autobiography Woman of Today, says she had a long-lasting affair with Rossiter.
But Adams, on disclosing this, rebukes MacGregor for being indiscrete and even wonders if she might have made it up to promote her book, as there are no witnesses. It does not open up any thoughts for the author of whether the very private Rossiter had any other dalliances during his married life and showbiz career.
The book is not effusive enough to be a hagiography, glorying in the Leonard Rossiter, which could have made it more fun. Nor does it feel very well-rounded.
An enjoyable enough read with plenty of information on Rossiter's career and reminders of his great character acting, though little in the way of insight.