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RIP Roger Lloyd-Pack


I first became aware of British actor Roger Lloyd-Pack several years ago when the local PBS station began running the popular Vicar of Dibley sitcom. Airing from 1994-2007 (with, in my opinion, ever decreasing returns), the program revolved around a progressive, female vicar in the small, conservative town of Dibley. The townsfolk were a colorful lot, among them farmer Owen Newitt, played by Lloyd-Pack, his catchphrase being, "Shame," delivered with the plummy tone that could only emanate from his voice.

Regrettably, Roger Lloyd-Pack died two days ago from pancreatic cancer, aged 69. It's a bit odd to say about someone you've never met and who lived thousands of miles away, but I will miss him. You see, the actor had a habit of turning up in quite a few things over the years, and almost always in something good. I also appreciated his deadpan delivery, his voice, and his choice of projects. Knowing that he will no longer be around, popping-up in this or that production, is kind of a downer.

Aside from Vicar of Dibley, I quite enjoyed Lloyd-Pack in the sitcom The Old Guys, and when he appeared in episodes of Inspector Morse, Hustle, New Tricks, Doctor Who, Poirot, Only Fools and Horses, Dalziel & Pascoe, Murder Most Horrid, and in the feature films Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. That right there is quite a resume, and it doesn't even touch his long and distinguished stage career.

Roger Lloyd-Pack comes from an acting family, as his daughter is actress Emily Lloyd-Pack, and his father was actor Charles Lloyd-Pack, who turned in a memorable performance as a terrified, closeted barber in Basil Dearden's excellent movie Victim, which co-starred Dirk Bogarde. Alas, Charles and Roger's acting is at an end, but I'm glad they did what they did with their lives. I've enjoyed Roger Lloyd-Pack immensely over the years, and will miss his future contributions that are not to be.


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