Talk:Patrick Newell

Patrick Newell in a bear suit for Gentle Ben?
A few web pages claim that Patrick Newell would put on a bear suit and perform as Ben the bear in the TV show Gentle Ben. However, I cannot find a decent (i.e. article or book) source for this claim. I am finding it a bit dubious also as the cast members and trainers for Gentle Ben are in lots of articles talking at length about all the different bears used on the show. Besides the main lead bear, Bruno, who won PATSY awards for his work, there is reliable evidence that at least 3 or 4 other bears were used and probably way more than that once you count up all the bear stand-ins, etc.

I don't doubt that perhaps the Gentle Ben producers had a bear suit that in a moment of desperation, some crew member or stunt man could don when the real bears were having an off day or there was something really outre for them to do. I am also thinking that perhaps Newell, if he were in the neighborhood, visited the production once or twice and maybe put on the bear suit for a lark or even a scene or two. But I can't picture them hiring a fairly well-known actor just to put on a bear suit periodically and then never talk about it even years after the show is over and no one is going to cancel the show or write an impassioned editorial just because that "bear" was a guy in a bear suit. Especially as Gentle Ben was being shot on a tight schedule and a tight budget.

Of course, if there is some reliable book or photo or video source backing up this claim of Patrick Newell playing Ben in a bear suit, please let me know and I'll be just as fascinated about it as that deserves. TheBlinkster (talk) 05:28, 24 May 2015 (UTC)

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Source for other occupation?
The infobox says "actor and private hire car driver" but doesn't cite a source; is there one? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.144.67.24 (talk) 12:46, 19 February 2020 (UTC)