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Paddy Joyce

Paddy Joyce

Born Patrizio Schaurek in Trieste, Italy to a Czech father, Frantisek Schaurek, and an Irish mother Eileen (sister of James) Joyce, Paddy Joyce was an Irish actor of British stage, film and television.

Returning to Dublin at the age of five following his father's death, Joyce studied at Belvedere College, the alma mater of his famous uncle. After school, Paddy turned his attention to singing. Initially, he formed a close harmony quartet with three other gentlemen named Four Dots and a Dash, subsequently renamed The Four Ramblers. In 1949, he was part of a trio with two ladies named The Humoresques, which toured Canada with the popular English comedian and actor George Formby.

Turning to actor, Joyce took his mother's maiden name because Schaurek limited him to Eastern European roles. He made his cinematic debut in The Cruel Sea and performed in Lionel Bart and Joan Littlewood's Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’be in the early 60s, before later working regularly with Ken Loach, appearing in The Big Flame, written by Jim Allen, and Poor Cow. He also starred in Allen's play The Lump.

Joyce was a regular in two of the UK's biggest soaps. Between 1968 and 1974, he had a recurring role as the rag and bone man Tommy Deakin in Coronation Street, and between 1990 and 1993 he played John Royle, the father of Queen Vic owner Eddie Royle (Michael Melia) in EastEnders.

Joyce lived in Muswell Hill, London, with his Canadian wife, Dorothy, and two children. He died of a stroke in London in the year 2000, aged 77.

Alice in Wonderland

1999

as Bill The Gardener

Father Ted

1995

as Shouting Priest

Ghosts

1995

as Spivey

Peak Practice

1993

as Mr. Austen

The Grass Arena

1992

You Rang, M'Lord?

1990

as Organ Grinder

Erik the Viking

1989

as Prisoner

Campion

1989

as Stage Doorman

The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne

1987

as Drunk in Pub

Lovejoy

1986

as Miles

EastEnders

1985

as John Royle

EastEnders

1985

as John

Knockback: 1

1985

as Dobbs

Charlie

1984

as 2nd Man at Hangar

The Chain

1984

as Carpet Layer

Red Monarch

1983

as Akhmet

The Falklands Factor

1983

as Press Gang

Britannia Hospital

1982

as Feeney: The Workers

S.O.S. Titanic

1980

as Irish Priest (uncredited)

Minder

1979

as Pat

Terry and June

1979

as Arthur

Return of the Saint

1978

as Shill

Pennies from Heaven

1978

as Tramp

Queen Kong

1976

as Man in Aeroplane (uncredited)

Two's Company

1975

as Mike

The Wackers

1975

as Paddy

Frankenstein: The True Story

1973

as 1st Helper (uncredited)

Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width

1973

as Riley

Lady Caroline Lamb

1972

as Irish housekeeper

Crown Court

1972

as Bill Narraway

Made

1972

as Engineer

The Grass Widows

1971

as Car Driver

Ireland, Mother Ireland

1971

as Hercules

The Patriot Game

1969

as Kimmage

Oh! What a Lovely War

1969

as Irish Soldier

The Big Flame

1969

as Docker

Please Sir!

1968

as Mahon

Last Bus

1968

as Bus Conductor

The Expert

1968

as Davis

Poor Cow

1967

as Photo Studio Guvnor

The Voices in the Park

1967

as Heckler

The Lump

1967

as Rooney

Sparrows Can't Sing

1963

as Barman

Cover Girl Killer

1959

as Stagehand

The Cat Gang

1959

as Banks

Captured

1959

Dublin Nightmare

1958

as Customer

Rooney

1958

as Michael

The Steel Bayonet

1958

as Cpl. Ames R.A.

The Girl in the Picture

1957

as Jack Bates

Tim Driscoll's Donkey

1955

as Bill

The Cruel Sea

1953

as Sonar Operator (uncredited)