Ronnie Corbett
December 4, 1930 — March 31, 2016 — Edinburgh, Scotland
Ronnie Corbett was a Scottish comedian and actor whose diminutive stature and razor-sharp comic timing made him one of Britain's most beloved entertainers. He is best remembered for his decades-long partnership with Ronnie Barker on the BBC sketch show The Two Ronnies, and for his signature rambling monologues delivered from a large armchair. Corbett's warmth and self-deprecating humor endeared him to generations of British television audiences.
Early Life
Ronald Balfour Corbett was born in 1930 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of a baker. Standing just 5 feet 1 inch tall, his small stature would later become a defining, affectionately embraced feature of his comic persona. He grew up in a modest household and developed an early love of performing, eventually moving to London to pursue a career in show business. In the capital, he worked in small revues and clubs, gradually building a reputation as a witty, engaging performer. His early years were marked by persistence through a competitive entertainment industry, taking on various roles in variety shows and television bit parts before his talent for comic timing and storytelling began to attract wider attention. These formative years honed the skills that would define his later success: impeccable delivery, a gift for the shaggy-dog story, and an ability to connect warmly with an audience.
Career and The Two Ronnies
Corbett's career flourished through the 1960s and 1970s as he starred in sitcoms including No – That's Me Over Here! (1967–70) and Now Look Here (1971–73), showcasing his knack for playing hapless, endearing characters. His greatest fame arrived with The Two Ronnies (1971–87), the BBC sketch show he co-starred in alongside Ronnie Barker. The pair's chemistry, despite Corbett's diminutive frame, produced some of British television's most cherished comedy, including musical numbers, wordplay sketches, and news parodies. Corbett became especially known for his meandering, digression-filled monologues delivered while seated in a large armchair, a format that became one of the show's most iconic recurring segments. He later starred in the sitcom Sorry! (1981–88), playing a mother-dominated bachelor, further cementing his status as a master of gentle, character-driven comedy. Corbett's career spanned decades of television, stage, and film work, and he remained a fixture of British light entertainment well into his later years.
Did You Know?
Despite standing only 5 feet 1 inch tall, Ronnie Corbett's height became central to his comedic identity, often the subject of good-natured jokes exchanged with his taller partner Ronnie Barker. His rambling chair monologues on The Two Ronnies were carefully scripted to appear off-the-cuff, with intricate digressions that always looped back to the original punchline.
Legacy
Ronnie Corbett died in 2016 at the age of 85, leaving behind a legacy as one of Britain's most cherished comedic talents. His partnership with Ronnie Barker in The Two Ronnies remains a landmark of British television comedy, still fondly remembered and rebroadcast decades later. Corbett was appointed OBE and later CBE for his services to entertainment, recognition of his profound impact on British comedy across more than five decades. His chair monologues influenced countless comedians and remain a touchstone of storytelling comedy, admired for their intricate structure and perfectly timed punchlines. Beyond his own performances, Corbett was widely respected within the industry as a generous mentor and collaborator, and tributes poured in from fellow comedians and public figures upon his death, celebrating both his talent and his warm, humble personality. He is remembered not only for his comic genius but also for proving that stature had no bearing on stage presence, charisma, or the ability to captivate an audience.