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Trevor Edward Peacock[2] (19 May 1931 – 8 March 2021) was an English actor and songwriter. He made his name as a theatre actor, including for his roles in Shakespeare. He later became known for playing Jim Trott in the BBC comedy series The Vicar of Dibley.[3]
Peacock was born on 19 May 1931 in Edmonton, London, the son of Alexandria and Victor Peacock.[4] Prior to his acting career, he was a teacher for a few years in North London, including spells at Cuckoo Hall School in Edmonton and Carterhatch Junior School in Enfield.
Peacock wrote the lyrics for several hit singles by The Vernons Girls. The songs he wrote for the group include "Be Nice To Him Mama", "You Know What I Mean", "Funny All Over" and "He'll Never Come Back".[14] He contributed the lyrics for the musical show Passion Flower Hotel (music by John Barry), and for a musical based on the newspaper cartoon strip, Andy Capp (music by Alan Price). Before his acting career took off, Peacock compered Drumbeat for the BBC, also writing scripts for Oh Boy! and Six-Five Special.
He starred in the 1991 fantasy BBC radio play Heart of Hark'un.[15] In 2002 he filmed an episode of Dinotopia in Budapest, playing the mysterious sage Lok in "Night of the Wartosa". In 2010, he appeared in The Old Guys and a radio adaptation of I, Claudius.[citation needed]
Theatre career
Peacock acted in the theatre throughout his career and was particularly associated with the Royal Exchange, Manchester.[16][17] In addition to performing in many productions since the theatre opened in 1976, he also wrote a number of shows for the company. These include:
Jack and the Giant (world premiere directed by Mervyn Willis with Jason Watkins, 1986)
In the 1970s he became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, playing comic roles such as Silence and Feste, as well as more serious parts.[3] During the 1990s he appeared in several National Theatre productions.[3]
Peacock was married twice. His first marriage was to Iris Jones in 1957, which ended in divorce. His second wife was actress Tilly Tremayne, whom he married in 1979.[1] Peacock had two sons, actors Daniel Peacock and Harry Peacock, and two daughters, Sally and Maudie.[18] His daughter-in-law is actress Katherine Parkinson, who is married to Harry.[19] Peacock lived in the village of East Coker, Somerset[20] and was a supporter of Yeovil Town.[21]
Peacock was diagnosed with dementia in 2009, and it was reported in 2018 that he was in the advanced stages of the disease, had retired from acting and was living in a nursing home in Yeovil, Somerset. His last role was in the 2015 Vicar of DibleyComic Relief Special.[18] He died on 8 March 2021, aged 89.[18]
