Peter Cook

:This article is about the British comedian Peter Cook. For other people called Peter Cook, see Peter Cook (disambiguation).

Legacy

Cook is an acknowledged influence on a long stream of comedians who have followed him from the amateur dramatic clubs of British universities to the Edinburgh festival and from thence to the radio and television studios of the BBC. Notable fans include the members of Monty Python's Flying Circus, and, more recently, the aforementioned Chris Morris.

Related Topics:
Edinburgh - BBC - Monty Python's Flying Circus

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Many people feel that, like Spike Milligan, Cook broke so much new ground in the 1950 to 1965 period that later comics had relatively little ground left to break. Some have seen Cook's life as tragic, insofar as the brilliance he exhibited in his youth did not lead to the recognition many thought he deserved. In his lifetime Cook himself was aware that some thought that he had not achieved his early potential. He was disdainful of this view and had no drive to achieve sustained career success as traditionally measured. Cook measured his happiness by the quality of his friendships and his enjoyment of life. A constant refrain from his friends is that he was as funny off-camera as he was on-camera.

Related Topics:
Spike Milligan - 1950 - 1965

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In January 2005, he was ranked number one in a list entitled The Comedian's Comedian, a poll voted for by fellow comedians and comic writers and shown on Channel 4 in the UK. He finished ahead of other important, legendary comics such Groucho Marx, John Cleese, Eric Morecambe, Laurel and Hardy, Bill Hicks and Woody Allen. Coincidentally, the same week the Comedians' Comedian programme was shown, Channel 4 broadcast Not Only But Always, a television movie dramatising the relationship between Cook and Moore, with Welsh actor Rhys Ifans portraying Cook.

Related Topics:
2005 - The Comedian's Comedian - Channel 4 - Groucho Marx - John Cleese - Eric Morecambe - Laurel and Hardy - Bill Hicks - Woody Allen - Not Only But Always - Television movie - Welsh - Rhys Ifans

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