Ben Aris

Ben Aris was an English actor who was best known for his parts in Hi-de-Hi! and To the Manor Born.

He appeared in the 1974 story Invasion of the Dinosaurs.

Aris was born in London, and following World War II, he trained at the Arts Educational School. At the age of only 16, he joined a national tour of the show Zip Goes a Million. He then did national service in the Army  and following that appeared in many musicals and films including The Plague of the Zombies, The Charge of the Light Brigade andHamlet. Aris was in the 1960 production of "Pieces of Eight" at the Apollo Theatre in London as well as the 1969 production of "Hamlet" at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York.

His first television role was in the sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em in 1973. His other early television roles included Sam and the River (1975), Crown Court, Wodehouse Playhouse and Target. During that time he also appeared in Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World, Juggernaut, Tommy, The Music Lovers and The Savage Messiah.

For three episodes, from 1980 to 1981, he played Mr Spalding in To the Manor Born, and then in 1982, he made his first appearance in Hi-de-Hi! as Julian Dalrymple-Sykes, a dancer. He became a regular in 1985 and played the part until the show's end in 1988.^[1]He also starred in Bergerac, Agatha Christie's Poirot, You Rang, M'Lord? and Boon. As well as acting with Penelope Keith in To the Manor Born, he also appeared with her inExecutive Stress and No Job for a Lady.

One of most memorable stage performances was in the West End playing Geoffrey in Stepping Out by Richard Harris. His final stage appearance was in The Lady in the Van by Alan Bennett, opposite Dame Maggie Smith. His final TV appearance was in the 2002 drama Ready.