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| Tommy Cooper and signature fez |
A prop comedian and magician whose act was
so unpredictable that when he got a heart attack he died on stage, during a
live television broadcast, people weren't sure if they should help him, or if
it was part of the act. He wore a signature fez and was a large, imposing
figure.
His act generally involved magic tricks
which were either obviously fake, or didn't work, for comic effect. His
response to failed tricks made it a hilarious show to watch. Every now and then
he would throw in a trick that actually worked, just when the audience least
expected it.
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| Tommy Cooper's Statue in Caerphilly |
He managed to keep audiences entertained
for four decades, and even posthumously he is still admired as a comedic genius
and respected magician. He is often said to be one of the best comedians in
history and in 2008 Sir Anthony Hopkins revealed a statue of Tommy Cooper,
including fez, in Tommy's hometown Caerphilly, Wales, United Kingdom.
Tommy Cooper has left behind a legacy going
far beyond best-of-lists and a statue. Numerous comedians and artists have
cited him as an inspiration, including Jason Manford and John Lydon. Also several
members of the English ska-band Madness have been seen wearing fezzes in Tommy
Cooper's image.
Although Tommy Cooper has struggled with
alcohol and smoking, leading to a decline in health and his act, he has managed
to pull through. He has however never stopped drinking and it's thought his
untimely death may in part have been brought along by alcohol abuse and
smoking. As his collapse was aired live, there are countless recordings of it,
which can easily be found online. Some websites including Youtube have been
heavily criticized for featuring the video due to its dramatic content.
Even though Tommy has had his ups and
downs, he is generally remembered as a comedic genius and has inspired many
artists and comedians. He has earned his place in comedy history.
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