Michael Robbins
Born in London, Robbins was a bank clerk who became an actor after appearing in amateur dramatic performances in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, where he and his family lived at the time. Robbins made his television debut as the cockney soldier in Roll-on Bloomin' Death. Primarily a comedy actor, he is best remembered for the role of Arthur Rudge, the persistently sarcastic husband of Olive (Anna Karen), in the popular sitcom On the Buses (1969–73). Robbins and Karen provided the secondary comic storyline to Reg Varney's comedy capers at the bus depot. Robbins also appeared in the series film spin-offs, On the Buses, Mutiny on the Buses, and Holiday on the Buses. His other comedy credits include non-recurring roles in Man About the House, Oh Brother!, The Good Life, One Foot in the Grave, The New Statesman, George and Mildred, Hi-de-Hi! and You Rang, M'Lord? He appeared as a rather humorously portrayed police sergeant in the TV adaptation of Brendon Chase. As well as these comic roles, he assumed various straight roles in some of the major British television shows of the 1960s and 1970s: including Minder, The Sweeney, Z-Cars, Return of the Saint, Murder Most English, The Avengers, Dixon of Dock Green, The Bill and the 1982 Doctor Who story The Visitation. Robbins's film credits included The Whisperers, Up The Junction, The Looking Glass War, Zeppelin and Blake Edwards' films The Pink Panther Strikes Again and Victor/Victoria'. He also had an extensive career as a radio actor, including a role in the soap opera Waggoner's Walk and the satirical 1970s show Life is What Yer Make It. Robbins was an indefatigable worker for charity. He was active in the Grand Order of Water Rats (being elected 'Rat of the Year' in 1978) and the Catholic Stage Guild, and received a Papal Award for his services in 1987. In one of his last television appearances, in A Little Bit of Heaven Robbins recalled his childhood visits to Norfolk and spoke of his faith and love of the Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham. Michael Robbins had a brother Jack who was a head teacher at Saint Gregory's Catholic middle school in Bedford in the 1970s and early 1980s. Michael made some guest appearances at this school throughout the years and sometimes entertained the pupils with various sketches with his brother Jack Robbins In the mid-1970s he also directed a film: How Are You?
Filmography
The Ties That Bind Us
as Richard Mace (archive footage)
The Ties That Bind Us
as Richard Mace (archive footage)
Adam Bede
as Thias Bede
Adam Bede
as Thias Bede
One Foot in the Grave: The Man In The Long Black Coat
as Mr Killick
One Foot in the Grave: The Man In The Long Black Coat
as Mr Killick
Just Ask for Diamond
as The Fat Man
Just Ask for Diamond
as The Fat Man
Lost In London
as Bill
Lost In London
as Bill
The Merry Wives of Windsor
as Nym
The Merry Wives of Windsor
as Nym
Victor/Victoria
as Manager of Victoria's Hotel
Victor/Victoria
as Manager of Victoria's Hotel
Doctor Who: The Visitation
as Richard Mace
Doctor Who: The Visitation
as Richard Mace
The Great Muppet Caper
as Henderson
The Great Muppet Caper
as Henderson
Murder Rap
as Det. Sgt. Praed
Murder Rap
as Det. Sgt. Praed
The Saint and the Brave Goose
as Beeky
The Saint and the Brave Goose
as Beeky
The Pink Panther Strikes Again
as Jarvis
The Pink Panther Strikes Again
as Jarvis
Man About the House
as Doorman
Man About the House
as Doorman
Soap Opera in Stockwell
as Bert
Soap Opera in Stockwell
as Bert
No Sex Please - We're British
as Car Driver
No Sex Please - We're British
as Car Driver
Holiday on the Buses
as Arthur Rudge
Holiday on the Buses
as Arthur Rudge
That's Your Funeral
as 2nd Funeral Director
That's Your Funeral
as 2nd Funeral Director
Mutiny on the Buses
as Arthur Rudge
Mutiny on the Buses
as Arthur Rudge
Blinker's Spy-Spotter
as Policeman
Blinker's Spy-Spotter
as Policeman
On the Buses
as Arthur Rudge
On the Buses
as Arthur Rudge
Villain
as Barzun
Villain
as Barzun
Zeppelin
as Cockney Sergeant
Zeppelin
as Cockney Sergeant
All the Way Up
as Taxi Driver
All the Way Up
as Taxi Driver
The Hunting of Lionel Crane
as Sergeant Billings
The Hunting of Lionel Crane
as Sergeant Billings
The Looking Glass War
as Truck Driver
The Looking Glass War
as Truck Driver
Crossplot
as Garage Attendant
Crossplot
as Garage Attendant
Till Death Us Do Part
as Fred
Till Death Us Do Part
as Fred
Horizontal Hold
as TV Repairman
Horizontal Hold
as TV Repairman
The Drummer and the Bloke
as Jack
The Drummer and the Bloke
as Jack
Up the Junction
as Figgins
Up the Junction
as Figgins
The Whisperers
as Mr Noonan
The Whisperers
as Mr Noonan
Dead Man's Chest
as Sergeant Harris
Dead Man's Chest
as Sergeant Harris
Rattle of a Simple Man
as George (organiser)
Rattle of a Simple Man
as George (organiser)
The Bone Yard
as Sergeant Strickland
The Bone Yard
as Sergeant Strickland
Act of Murder
as Van Driver
Act of Murder
as Van Driver
The Bargee
as Bargee
The Bargee
as Bargee
Children of the Damned
as (uncredited)
Children of the Damned
as (uncredited)
What a Crazy World
as Percy
What a Crazy World
as Percy
A Prize of Arms
as Orford
A Prize of Arms
as Orford
You in Your Small Corner
as Georgie
You in Your Small Corner
as Georgie
Lunch Hour
as Harris
Lunch Hour
as Harris
Danger! Men Working
as Second Labourer
Danger! Men Working
as Second Labourer