{{Short description|English comedian}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox comedian | name = Bobby Knoxall | image = | imagesize = | caption = | birth_name = Robert McKenna | birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|12|24|df=yes}} | birth_place = Sunderland, England | death_date ={{Death date and age|2009|07|20|1933|12|24|df=yes}} | death_place = Sunderland, England }}
'''Robert McKenna''' MBE (24 December 1933 – 20 July 2009) was an English comedian, better known by his stage name '''Bobby Knoxall'''.<ref name="birth">{{cite web|url=http://robert-mckenna.gonetoosoon.org/|title=Robert McKenna|accessdate=2009-07-22|publisher=Gone Too Soon website |date=20 July 2009}}</ref>
==Early life== Knoxall was born in the East End of Sunderland in 1933 and attended St Patrick's School. Illiterate after being expelled from two schools by the age of 12, he obtained a job as a barrow boy selling fruit.<ref name="echo">{{cite news |author=Tim Booler and Jessica Forster |url=http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Comic-legend-Bobby-Knoxall-dies.5477981.jp |title=Comic legend Bobby Knoxall dies |work=Sunderland Echo |date=2009-07-21 |accessdate=2009-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727161637/http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Comic-legend-Bobby-Knoxall-dies.5477981.jp |archive-date=2009-07-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="chortle">{{cite web |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2009/07/21/9324/end_of_a_north-east_legend |title=End of a North-East legend |date=2009-07-21 |work=Chortle |accessdate=2009-07-22}}</ref>
==Career== Although he was mainly known in North East England, he also toured. He appeared with a group of rock 'n' roll dancers in London, before becoming a vocalist and turning his patter between songs into a comedy act.<ref name="echo"/> He became a cabaret star appearing alongside the likes of Johnny Mathis, Roy Orbison and Louis Armstrong.<ref name="chortle"/> He also became popular in Africa and the Middle East, appearing on bills with Ella Fitzgerald and José Feliciano.<ref name="echo"/>
Knoxall recorded Sunderland’s 1973 FA Cup Final record, "Sunderland All the Way".<ref name="echo"/> He quit performing owing to ill-health, but made a comeback in 2002.<ref name="chortle"/> He received an MBE for services to entertainment and charity in 2004.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/wear/4136293.stm |title=Honours for Wearside community |date=2004-12-31 |work=BBC News |access-date=2009-07-22}}</ref> It is estimated he raised at least £1million for charity during his 50-plus years on the stage.<ref name="bobbyecho">{{cite book |title=Bobby - the dazzling 'clown prince' of charity|date=22 July 2009 |publisher=Sunderland Echo |page=6 }}</ref> His autobiography, ''Stand Up!'', was released in 2003.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2003/9/29/75333.html |title=Comic writes life story |work=Northern Echo |date=2003-09-29 |accessdate=2009-07-22}}</ref>
Knoxall, who suffered from liver and kidney problems, died in July 2009 at Sunderland Royal Hospital.<ref name="chortle"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Knoxall, Bobby}} Category:English male comedians Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire Category:People from Sunderland Category:Comedians from County Durham Category:1933 births Category:2009 deaths Category:20th-century English comedians