Thread: The comic genius that was Tommy Cooper. RIP. Old but gold.

TC is sweating like a pig.
He puts up a finger to his fore-head and wipes some sweat away.

"Look, I'm leaking".

Originally Posted by maahuanao

Didn't he die on stage, and everyone was laughing because they thought it was part of the act......

I think his last words were on stage and addressing the band
"I want you to play tonight like you have never played before..............together"

Originally Posted by maahuanao

Didn't he die on stage, and everyone was laughing because they thought it was part of the act....... or is it an urban myth?

1980 at the Sunday Night at London Palladium hosted by Tarbuck. (christ 28 years ago) Tommy was stood where the curtains meet, a Oriental gown was lowered onto him and he collapsed, the audiance laughed thinking it was an act, Tommy was dragged behind the curtains where he died,

Tommy loved a drink or two, if someone he knew came in the bar he would drink the same ,generally many frequented the bars so Tommy got well pissed, He said once that a barmaid short changed him for 1p. he said its not the principal that matters , its the money!
He could never understand why poeple thought that he was funny. Tarbuck related to when they went to a bar .Tommy ordered the drinks and the barman burst out laughing saying "go on Tommy order the drinks again! " "Tommy said whats he laughing at I think I will smack him one,"
Tarby said "hey Tom you make him laugh, he loves you" to which Tom replied "I dont bloody love him"
When he appeared in the Plank (1967) written by his mate Sykes he, according to Eric really thought he was a film star, really and that a great future beckoned him ,
He once went to a Brothel , he was in such a rush, instead of COMING he WENT

All great stuff posted above.

I just like to remember my Mum, Dad, brothers and sister sitting round and cracking up to a master.

Years later, for reasons unknown to me I studied Drama, this man personified perfection on stage.

RIP

He had once gin and tonic on his cornflakes at breakfast because, he claimed, milk had too much cholesterol.

He was a member of The Water Rats and was asked to give an after dinner speech.
When he stood up everyone just started laughing.
He just stood there sighing and looking around until silence prevailed.
He turned to his wife and said
" Why are they laughing I haven't said anything yet ?"
The audience just cracked up again.

Puts the rest to shame.

They're good mind you. Bill Bailey is brilliant. But I do think TC was the master for sheer presence on stage.

Saw Bill Bailey last month in London, hilarious stuff.

Originally Posted by Fuzzy Bob

Saw Bill Bailey last month in London, hilarious stuff.

Yes, love his stuff on tv. Live must be great. Did he do much music?

When we look at comedians beyond the ability to make us laugh we can often see life experianced individuals who for some reason need to express themselves to the world ,( who would dare to stand onstage and face the opinion of the audience often negative) many motives drive this activity, In Tommys case his motivation is not clear but what is clear he could not understand why people laughed before he said a word, his gangly 6ft something frame , eyes that looked bewildered/pissed? an ungainly stance, there is something in his presence that triggers something in ourselves that we find irisistably funny, I remember on This is Your Life years ago Bob Todd was the guest, Tommy walked on wearing a raincoat/cap and carrier bag. the audience was in hysterics, Spike Milligan who was a seated guest was crying laughing (Tom had yet to say a word) A Andrews asked Tom why he had appeared on Bobs this is your life, he said Bob Todd !!! never heard of him, thought you meant Sweeney Todd,
So what do you reckon then

I find it impossible to look at that picture and not laugh.
But when I watch some of TC's early performances he is just not funny.
He wasn't a natural comic, it was something he developed himself and broke every rule in the comedians book to achieve it.

Originally Posted by Thetyim

He wasn't a natural comic, it was something he developed himself and broke every rule in the comedians book to achieve it.

Aye I think we are right about Tom, he had that something that others would love to have / never have, not say a word and bring the house down!! but I still say he was perplexed as to the reason why

"A man walked into a bar...ouch! <pause to look around, bewildered>"

Heard it a dozen times before, knew exactly what was coming, but the room would always be preemptively doubled over laughing.

I was watching that show on the TV , he had a heart attack and was grabbing the curtain ,everyone thought it was an act until he fell and they pulled him under the certain ,and made an announcement . Don'T remember if it was he was sick or had died. A great loss to show business.