# Arnold Yarrow > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Arnold_Yarrow > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Arnold_Yarrow.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Yarrow > Source revision: 1348574655 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|British actor, screenwriter and novelist (1920–2024)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Arnold Yarrow | image = | imagesize = | caption = | birth_name = Arnold Stein | birth_date = {{birth date|1920|4|17|df=y}} | birth_place = [London](/source/London), England | death_date = {{death date and age|2024|12|9|1920|4|17|df=y}} | death_place = [Herne Bay](/source/Herne_Bay), [Kent](/source/Kent), England | othername = | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|screenwriter|novelist}} | years_active = 1948–1994 • 2012Documentary ''Beneath the City of the Exxilons'' on ''[Death to the Daleks](/source/Death_to_the_Daleks)'' DVD | known_for = {{plainlist| * ''[EastEnders](/source/EastEnders)'' * ''[Doctor Who](/source/Doctor_Who)'' }} | height = 1.60m | spouse = }} '''Arnold Yarrow''' (born '''Arnold Stein'''; 17 April 1920 – 9 December 2024) was a British actor, screenwriter and novelist best known for his brief role as bricklayer [Benny Bloom](/source/List_of_EastEnders_characters_introduced_in_1988) in television soap opera ''[EastEnders](/source/EastEnders)''. Like the character, he was [Jew](/source/Jew)ish.{{cite news |title=Television: Not Offensive |url= |date=30 September 1960 |accessdate= |work=[The Jewish Chronicle](/source/The_Jewish_Chronicle) |page=30}}{{Cite news |last=Hadoke |first=Toby |date=2024-12-27 |title=Arnold Yarrow obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/dec/27/arnold-yarrow-obituary |access-date=2025-01-15 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Yarrow's other scriptwriting work included episodes of ''[Crown Court](/source/Crown_Court_(TV_series))'', ''[Warship](/source/Warship_(1973_TV_series))'' and ''[Softly, Softly: Task Force](/source/Softly%2C_Softly%3A_Task_Force)''.{{Cite web |title=Arnold Yarrow |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba854d678 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922085815/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba854d678 |archive-date=22 September 2020 |website=BFI}} == Early life == Arnold Stein was born on 17 April 1920 in [Mile End](/source/Mile_End), [London](/source/London), to [furrier](/source/furrier) father Jack Stein and mother Leah (née Montlake). His father died in 1928 and his mother subsequently married Philip Yarrow, a doctor. After the marriage, Arnold, along with his three brothers and sister, changed their surname to Yarrow. The family lived in East London, and after leaving school aged 14, Yarrow embarked on a career in advertising.{{Cite web |title=Actor and screenwriter Arnold Yarrow |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/obituaries--archive/obituaries/arnold-yarrow |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=The Stage |language=En}} On the outbreak of the [Second World War](/source/World_War_II), he served as an [infantryman](/source/infantryman) and travelled to India and China, becoming an officer in the [Royal Corps of Signals](/source/Royal_Corps_of_Signals). After the war, Yarrow was posted to Germany, and became the administrator of a small theatre. He directed plays and ran the company as a weekly [repertory](/source/Repertory_theatre). ==Career== Yarrow returned to the UK and enrolled at the Northern Theatre School in [Bradford](/source/Bradford), West Yorkshire, under the direction of Esme Church.{{Cite news |last=Obituaries |first=Telegraph |date=2024-12-30 |title=Arnold Yarrow, actor who led the subterranean fugitive humanoids on the planet Exxilon in Doctor Who |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2024/12/30/arnold-yarrow-actor-doctor-who-eastenders-obituary/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}} He became a professional actor in 1948. He worked with York repertory company and toured Shakespeare with the Dolphin theatre company. Yarrow then joined [Bernard Miles](/source/Bernard_Miles)' [Mermaid theatre](/source/Mermaid_Theatre) in London, in 1953. His roles included Adam in ''[As You Like It](/source/As_You_Like_It)'' and the Porter in ''[Macbeth](/source/Macbeth)''. In 1955, he spent a year working as an administrator and senior stage manager at the [Library theatre](/source/Library_Theatre), [Manchester](/source/Manchester). After a brief spell in Manchester, Yarrow moved back to London, winning Tavistock Rep's playwriting competition for his play ''[Ripple in Texas](/source/Ripple_in_Texas)''. The production was professionally produced by [Oldham Coliseum](/source/Oldham_Coliseum_Theatre) repertory theatre and later dramatised for the [Home Service](/source/BBC_Home_Service). In 1958, he made his West End debut with the Repertory Players at the [Lyric](/source/Lyric_Theatre%2C_London), Shaftesbury Avenue, London. In 1959, he won the [ATV](/source/Associated_Television) drama award, winning £500 and the broadcast of his play ''The Tip-Off'', which was broadcast in 1960. In 1968, Yarrow became script editor for the series ''[Softly, Softly](/source/Softly%2C_Softly_(TV_series))''. He then wrote episodes of ''[Softly, Softly: Task Force](/source/Softly%2C_Softly%3A_Task_Force)'' from 1969 to 1976, ''[Barlow at Large](/source/Barlow_at_Large)'' in 1971, and then ''[Crown Court](/source/Crown_Court_(TV_series))'' in 1974 and ''[Warship](/source/Warship_(1973_TV_series))'' in 1976 among others. In front of the camera, Yarrow was also known to ''[Doctor Who](/source/Doctor_Who)'' fans for his portrayal of diminutive Exxilon leader Bellal in the 1974 serial ''[Death to the Daleks](/source/Death_to_the_Daleks)''. He remains the longest lived person associated with the [Whoniverse](/source/Whoniverse).{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/deathtodaleks/detail.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315064535/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/deathtodaleks/detail.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 March 2007|title=BBC – Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide – Death to the Daleks – Details|website=bbc.co.uk}} In 1988, he appeared in ''EastEnders'' as Benny Bloom, a retired bricklayer and love interest to Ethel Skinner. Yarrow subsequently wrote ten episodes of the soap opera between 1992 and 1994. His other television appearances included roles in ''[Crane](/source/Crane_(TV_series))'', ''[Ghost Squad](/source/Ghost_Squad_(TV_series))'', ''[Coronation Street](/source/Coronation_Street)'', ''[Dr. Finlay's Casebook](/source/Dr._Finlay's_Casebook)'', ''[The Onedin Line](/source/The_Onedin_Line)'' and ''[London's Burning](/source/London's_Burning_(TV_series))'', as well as a part in the 1993 film ''[Son of the Pink Panther](/source/Son_of_the_Pink_Panther)''. Yarrow also wrote radio plays including ''After Moscow'' in 1980 and ''[His Master’s Voice](/source/His_Master's_Voice_(radio_series))'' in 1983. In 1984, he was part of a European tour of ''[School for Scandal](/source/The_School_for_Scandal)'' starring [Donald Sinden](/source/Donald_Sinden) and [Dulcie Gray](/source/Dulcie_Gray). For the remainder of the 1980s, Yarrow joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, taking parts such as Justice Shallow in ''[The Merry Wives of Windsor](/source/The_Merry_Wives_of_Windsor)'' to Verges in ''[Much Ado About Nothing](/source/Much_Ado_About_Nothing)''. In 1986, he performed a four-hour recital of all of Shakespeare’s sonnets to secure funding for his own play, ''Stitch'', about an exploitative East End sweatshop. As well as acting and scriptwriting, Yarrow wrote numerous books such as TV tie–ins like ''Softly Softly Casebook'' and ''Softly Softly Murder Casebook'' as well as his own novels ''Death is a Z'' and ''The Grease–Paint Monkey''.{{Citation needed|date=April 2026}} ==Personal life and death== Yarrow had moved from London to [Faversham](/source/Faversham), [Kent](/source/Kent) by the 1980s. He was involved in the [Marlowe theatre](/source/Marlowe_Theatre), [Canterbury](/source/Canterbury), and ran drama classes for the [Workers’ Educational Association](/source/Workers'_Educational_Association). Yarrow subsequently moved to [Herne Bay](/source/Herne_Bay), Kent. He was [Jew](/source/Jew)ish. He [turned 100](/source/Centenarian) in April 2020, and died in Herne Bay on 9 December 2024, aged 104.{{cite news |last1=Hadoke |first1=Toby |title=Arnold Yarrow obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/dec/27/arnold-yarrow-obituary |access-date=29 December 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=27 December 2024}} == Filmography == === As story editor === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Notes |- |1976 |''[Second Verdict](/source/Second_Verdict)'' |6 episodes |} === As script editor === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Notes |- |1968–1969 |''[Softly Softly](/source/Softly%2C_Softly_(TV_series))'' |37 episodes |- |1969–1971 |''[Softly Softly: Task Force](/source/Softly%2C_Softly%3A_Task_Force)'' |42 episodes |- |1971 |''[Barlow at Large](/source/Barlow_at_Large)'' |3 episodes |} === As writer === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Notes |- |1960 |''[Suspense](/source/Suspense_(British_TV_series))'' |Season 1 Episode 1: "The Tip Off" |- |1962 |''[Forræderiet](/source/Forr%C3%A6deriet)'' |TV film |- |1970–1976 |''[Softly Softly: Task Force](/source/Softly%2C_Softly%3A_Task_Force)'' |20 episodes |- |1973–1974 |''[Barlow at Large](/source/Barlow_at_Large)'' |3 episodes |- |1974 |''[Crown Court](/source/Crown_Court_(TV_series))'' |3 episodes |- | rowspan="2" |1976 |''[Warship](/source/Warship_(1973_TV_series))'' |Season 3 Episode 10: "The Buccaneer" |- |''[Second Verdict](/source/Second_Verdict)'' |Season 1 Episode 3: "The French Bluebeard" |- |1992–1994 |''[EastEnders](/source/EastEnders)'' |10 episodes |} === As actor === ==== Film ==== {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |1974 |''[Mahler](/source/Mahler_(film))'' |Grandfather | |- | rowspan="2" |1993 |''[Son of the Pink Panther](/source/Son_of_the_Pink_Panther)'' |Uncle Idris | |- |''[Genghis Cohn](/source/Genghis_Cohn)'' |Synagogue Warden | |} ==== Television ==== {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- | rowspan="3" |1956 |''[Without Vision](/source/Without_Vision)'' |Emrys |TV film |- |''[Nom–de–Plume](/source/Nom-de-Plume)'' |Sentry |Season 1 Episode 17: "The Free Air" |- |''[Over to William](/source/Over_to_William)'' |Mr. Carroway |Season 1 Episode 8: "William's Lucky Day" |- | rowspan="2" |1957 |''[Television World Theatre](/source/Television_World_Theatre)'' |Le Fer |Season 1 Episode 1: "The Life of Henry V" |- |''[ITV Television Playhouse](/source/ITV_Television_Playhouse)'' |Shayk of the Labourers |Season 2 Episode 47: "Desert Patrol" |- | rowspan="3" |1958 |''[Macbeth](/source/Macbeth_tv_series)'' |First Witch |2 episodes |- |''[Doomsday for Dyson](/source/Doomsday_for_Dyson)'' |Scientist |TV film |- |''[Dial 999](/source/Dial_999_(TV_series))'' |Sammy Wilson |Uncredited; Season 1 Episode 12: "The Big Fish" |- | rowspan="3" |1959 |''[The Vise](/source/The_Vise_(British_TV_series))'' |Blake |Season 6 Episode 21: "Dilemma for Harry" |- |''[Glencannon](/source/Glencannon_(TV_Series))'' |Truck Driver |Season 1 Episode 13: "Crocodile Tears" |- |''[ITV Play of the Week](/source/Play_of_the_Week_(TV_series))'' |M. Greville |Season 4 Episode 36: "The Age of Juliet" |- | rowspan="7" |1960 |''[ITV Television Playhouse](/source/ITV_Television_Playhouse)'' |Luigi Bonasera |Season 5 Episode 22: "The English Captain" |- |''[Hotel Imperial](/source/Hotel_Imperial_(TV_Series))'' |Little man |Season 2 Episode 8: "The Leopardess in 424" |- |''[Man from Interpol](/source/Man_from_Interpol)'' |Mayli |Season 1 Episode 10: "The Doll Maker" |- |''[The Roving Reasons](/source/The_Roving_Reasons)'' |Unknown |Season 1 Episode 10: "The Gibbering Gibraltarian" |- |''[The Haunted House](/source/The_Haunted_House_(1960_TV_Series))'' |Misargyrides |Season 1 Episode 1: "Part 1" |- |''[Barnaby Rudge](/source/Barnaby_Rudge_(TV_series))'' |Tailor |Season 1 Episode 10 |- | rowspan="2" |''[Armchair Theatre](/source/Armchair_Theatre)'' |Bates |Season 4 Episode 15: "Rain" |- | rowspan="2" |1961 |Manager |Season 4 Episode 30: "The Hero" |- |''[Colonel Trumper's Private War](/source/Colonel_Trumper's_Private_War)'' |Unknown |Season 1 Episode 1: "Operation Lubenski" |- | rowspan="2" |1962 |''[The Andromeda Breakthrough](/source/The_Andromeda_Breakthrough)'' |President of Azaran |3 episodes |- | rowspan="2" |''[ITV Play of the Week](/source/Play_of_the_Week_(TV_series))'' |Bilton |Season 8 Episode 8: "Major Barbara" |- | rowspan="7" |1963 |Luigi |Season 8 Episode 19: "Darkness at Noon" |- |''[Ghost Squad](/source/Ghost_Squad_(TV_series))'' |Dr. Malik |Season 2 Episode 5: "Death of a Sportsman" |- |''[BBC Sunday–Night Play](/source/BBC_Sunday-Night_Play)'' |Nikifor |Season 4 Episode 20: "The Fall of Mendel Krick" |- |''[Crane](/source/Crane_(TV_series))'' |Louis Barreto |Season 1 Episode 4: "My Deadly Friend" |- |''[Festival](/source/Festival_(British_TV_series))'' |Doctor of Philosophy |Season 1 Episode 9: "The Fire Raisers" |- |''[Boyd Q.C.](/source/Boyd_Q.C.)'' |Unknown |Season 6 Episode 13: "Fishy Story" |- | rowspan="2" |''[Story Box](/source/Story_Box_(TV_Series))'' |Tram Conductor |Episode: "Emil and the Detectives" |- |1964 |Balin |Episode: "Books – The Hobbit" |- | rowspan="3" |1965 |''[Front Page Story](/source/Front_Page_Story_(TV))'' |Claude Dupuis |Season 1 Episode 14: "Background Only: Not for Publication" |- |''[Coronation Street](/source/Coronation_Street)'' |Surveyor |Season 1 Episode 493 |- |''[For Whom the Bell Tolls](/source/For_Whom_the_Bell_Tolls_(TV_series))'' |Miguel |Season 1 Episode 4: "The Bridge" |- |1966 |''[The Man in the Mirror](/source/The_Man_in_the_Mirror_(TV_Series))'' |Waldo |6 episodes |- | rowspan="2" |1967 |''[Vacant Lot](/source/Vacant_Lot_(Bri))'' |Unknown |Season 1 Episode 7: "Criminal Negligence" |- |''[Theatre 625](/source/Theatre_625)'' |Stevo |Season 5 Episode 6: "The Single Passion" |- | rowspan="3" |1968 |''[Dr. Finlay's Casebook](/source/Dr._Finlay's_Casebook)'' |The Pope |Season 6 Episode 22: " 'Is there anybody there ?' Said the traveller" |- |''[Life with Cooper](/source/Life_with_Cooper)'' |Various Roles |Season 2 Episode 6: "The Second Holiday" |- |''[The Revenue Men](/source/The_Revenue_Men)'' |Louie Fisher |Season 1 Episode 4: "I'd Rather Be in Philadelphia" |- |1969 |''[Armchair Theatre](/source/Armchair_Theatre)'' |Enrico |Season 9 Episode 3: "What's a mother for ?" |- |1974 |''[Doctor Who](/source/Doctor_Who)'' |Bellal |3 episodes; serial: ''[Death to the Daleks](/source/Death_to_the_Daleks)'' |- | rowspan="3" |1980 |''[The Onedin Line](/source/The_Onedin_Line)'' |Mishin |Season 8 Episode 2: "Revenge" |- |''[Wainwrights' Law](/source/Wainwrights'_Law)'' |Inspector |Season 1 Episode 6: "The Party of the First Part" |- |''[A Little Silver Trumpet](/source/A_Little_Silver_Trumpet)'' |Mr. Hynes |Season 1 Episode 3 |- |1982 |''[The Chinese Detective](/source/The_Chinese_Detective)'' |Old man |Season 2 Episode 5: "Bounty Hunter" |- |1983 |''[Jemima Shore Investigates](/source/Jemima_Shore_Investigates)'' |Dr. Otto Hahn |Season 1 Episode 5: "Dr. Ziegler's Casebook" |- |1984 |''[Cold Warrior](/source/Cold_Warrior_(TV_series))'' |Graarud |Season 1 Episode 5: "The Immigrants" |- |1987 |''[One by One](/source/One_by_One_(TV_series))'' |Dr. Breen |Season 3 Episode 5: "The Monkey in Between" |- |1988–1989 | rowspan="2" |''[EastEnders](/source/EastEnders)'' |Mr. Bloom |16 episodes |- |1989 |Benny |Season 1 Episode 413 |- |1993 |''[London's Burning](/source/London's_Burning_(TV_series))'' |Shopkeeper |Season 6 Episode 5 |- |2010 |''[The Sarah Jane Adventures](/source/The_Sarah_Jane_Adventures)'' |Bellal |Uncredited; archive footage; Series 4 Episode 6: "[Death of the Doctor](/source/Death_of_the_Doctor): Part Two" |- |2012 |''[Beneath the City of the Exxilons](/source/Beneath_the_City_of_the_Exxilons)'' |Himself |Short documentary |} == References == {{Reflist}} == External links == * {{IMDb name|id=0946531|name=Arnold Yarrow}} * [https://theatricalia.com/person/5km/arnold-yarrow Arnold Yarrow] at Theatricalia * [https://tobyhadoke.com/happy-100th-birthday-arnold-yarrow/ HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY ARNOLD YARROW – Interviewed by Toby Hadoke] {{s-start}} {{succession box | title = Oldest-living ''[Doctor Who](/source/Doctor_Who)''-related person | years = 18 July 2020–9 December 2024 | before = [Peggy Batchelor](/source/Peggy_Batchelor) | after = [Laurie Webb](/source/Laurie_Webb) }} {{s-end}}{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Yarrow, Arnold}} Category:1920 births Category:2024 deaths Category:British male television actors Category:British male film actors Category:20th-century British screenwriters Category:British men centenarians Category:Royal Shakespeare Company members Category:Jewish British male actors Category:Male actors from London Category:Jewish centenarians Category:Jewish British writers Category:British male novelists Category:Writers from London Category:20th-century British novelists Category:20th-century British male writers Category:20th-century British male actors Category:21st-century British male actors --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Arnold Yarrow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Yarrow) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Yarrow?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.