About George Roper
George Francis Roper (born Furnival; 15 May 1934 - 1 July 2003) was an English comedian, best known for his appearances in the long-running UK television series The Comedians. Born in Liverpool to a working-class family of Irish descent, he left school at fifteen to join the Merchant Navy and later served his national service in the Royal Air Force. He began to sing semi-professionally in clubs in the early 1960s before finding his talent lay in comedy, and by 1965, with his portly figure, deadpan style and laid-back microphone technique, he drew sizeable audiences as a stand-up comic on the club and casino scene of Manchester. He was one of the first acts called by producer Johnnie Hamp for The Comedians, which ran intermittently between 1971 and 1993. He made many other television appearances, including on The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club and the ITV gameshow 3-2-1, and died of cancer in 2003 at the age of 69.
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Frequently asked questions
What is George Roper best known for?
George Roper was an English comedian best known for his appearances in the long-running UK television series The Comedians.
What was George Roper's birth name?
George Francis Roper was born Furnival on 15 May 1934 in Liverpool and lived until 1 July 2003.
What did George Roper do before comedy?
He left school at fifteen to join the Merchant Navy, did his national service in the Royal Air Force and sang semi-professionally in clubs in the early 1960s before finding his talent lay in comedy.
What was George Roper's stand-up style?
With a deadpan style and a laid-back microphone technique, he was drawing sizeable audiences on the Manchester club and casino scene by 1965.
How did George Roper get onto The Comedians?
Producer Johnnie Hamp called him among the first acts for The Comedians, a show that ran intermittently between 1971 and 1993.
What other TV shows did George Roper appear on?
His many other television appearances included The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club and the ITV gameshow 3-2-1.
