Biography
Ballard Berkeley (born Ballard Blascheck) was an English actor. He was born on 6 August 1904 in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and died on 16 January 1988 in Westminster, London. He is best known for playing the retired Major Gowen in the BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers (1975 and 1979).
Berkeley began his career on stage, making his professional debut in 1928 and appearing regularly in London's West End. His film roles included parts in In Which We Serve (1942) and Stage Fright (1950). He also appeared in television series such as Coronation Street and Are You Being Served?, and provided the voice of the Head of the Army in the animated film The BFG (1989). He was married to Dorothy Long from 1929.
