Despite
giving off the aura of not being the smartest card in the
deck, Grandad was more crafty than he let on - wangling himself
a bungelow by feigning illness being one of his many talents.
Given
the task of minding the Trotter flat from the comfort of his
much loved armchair Grandad had an easy life. However his
formative years were less sedate as he made a nice little
earner during the Spanish Civil War at gun running. Grandad
was also responsible for the spectacular (and noisy) failure
of Del's
chandelier cleaning business.
Lennard
was born in 1915 and trained at RADA. Although mostly a stage
actor he appeared in the legendary 60s TV drama Cathy Come
Home and Coronation Street. He went on to work
with Laurence Olivier and Anthony Hopkins at the National
Theatre. John
Sullivan remarked that Lennard won the part of Grandad
due to his beguiling 'deep, croaky voice'.
I don't know why they want these drug addiction centres. I
mean ain't we got enough drug-addicts without them recruiting
more! More quotes »
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Lennard passed away in 1984 during the filming of the fourth
series. He loved being recognised as Grandad and was touched
at the fondness with which members of the public would greet
him.
