Edward Hugh McGinnis (25 June 1941 – 2 April 2020), better known by the stage name Eddie Large, was a British comedian. He was best known as one half of the double act Little and Large, with Syd Little (the stage name of Cyril Mead).
| Eddie Large | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Edward Hugh McGinnis |
| Born | 25 June 1941 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 2 April 2020 (aged 78) Bristol, England |
| Medium | Comedian |
| Spouse |
|
| Children | 3 |
| Notable works and roles | The Little and Large Show |
Early life
editLarge was born Edward Hugh McGinnis in Glasgow in 1941.[1] His father Teddy served as a Petty Officer in the Royal Navy during World War II and after he returned from the war the family moved to a tenement in Oatlands.[2] When he was nine years old, the family moved again to Manchester, where he attended Claremont Road Primary School[3] and a grammar school.[4] He played football as a schoolboy, becoming a supporter of nearby Manchester City which had its ground opposite his home,[5] and he maintained a lifelong devotion to the club. After he left school, he worked as an electrician and was a singer.[6]
Little and Large
editLarge met singer and guitarist Cyril Mead in the Stonemason's Arms pub in Timperley and they formed a double act following the reaction to Eddie's comic heckling of Cyril,[3] who switched to comedy. The duo then performed in northern clubs, turning professional in 1963.[7] As Little and Large, the two men began their television career on the talent show Opportunity Knocks winning in 1971[8] and starred in many television comedy programmes, including their own series The Little and Large Show[1] and the ITV series Who Do You Do? doing impressions and also performing as pantomime stars.[9]
In an interview in 2010, Large said that he and Syd Little had not spoken to each other for several years.[10] During the 2010–11 football season, football entertainment show Soccer AM produced comedy sketches with Peterborough footballer Mark Little, and Eddie Large, as the newly reformed Little and Large.[11]
Later career
editLarge worked on the after-dinner circuit[12] and, in the latter years of his life, performed some cameo acting roles in dramas such as The Brief and Blackpool.[9] His autobiography, entitled Larger than Life, was published in 2005.[13] In 2013, Large released his first single without Little, a parody of "Je t'aime... moi non plus" by Serge Gainsbourg entitled "Gee Musky... Moi Non Plus".[14]
Personal life and death
editLarge married his first wife, Sandra Baywood, in 1965. The marriage ended in divorce, with Large marrying his second wife, Patsy Scott, in 1983.[15] Large lived in Portishead, near Bristol, with his wife Patsy and 26-year-old son.[9] He also had two daughters and three grandchildren.[1]
After being admitted to hospital in March 2002 due to kidney problems, Large underwent a heart transplant at Papworth Hospital, Cambridge in 2003 at the age of 62, and recovered fully.[9] Large was hospitalised for some weeks in late 2013 after tripping over a road sign near his Portishead home.[16]
Large died on 2 April 2020, aged 78 at Southmead Hospital in Bristol after contracting coronavirus while receiving treatment for heart failure. Large had suffered from kidney and heart problems for a number of years.[13] Large's funeral took place at South Bristol Crematorium on 24 April 2020, in Bristol, with Syd Little in attendance, who said that Large was his "best friend".[17]
References
edit- ^ a b c Dixon, Stephen (2 April 2020). "Eddie Large obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ Eddie Large and Stafford Hildred (1 July 2005). Larger Than Life: My Autobiography. John Blake. ISBN 1844541282.
- ^ a b Wythenshawe Famous locals Little and Large Retrieved 11 February 2016
- ^ Who's Who on Television. ITV Books, 1982
- ^ Chronicle, Evening (18 June 2003). "Heart swap for Eddie Large". nechronicle.
- ^ Gray, Sarra. "Eddie Large: Little and Large star made millions from impressive 50 year career". Daily Express. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ Owen, Cathy (2 April 2020). "Comedian Eddie Large of Little & Large has died". Wales Online. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ "Little and Large 'haven't spoken for a long time'". Independent. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Eddie Large: Comedian dies aged 78 with coronavirus". BBC News. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ "Little and Large 'haven't spoken for a long time'". The Independent. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- ^ "Soccer AM | Sky Sports". Soccer AM. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- ^ "Eddie Large, funnyman half of the prime-time television double-act Little and Large – obituary". Daily Telegraph. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ a b Evans, Mel (2 April 2020). "Comedian Eddie Large dies aged 78 after contracting coronavirus". Metro. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ Lavender, Jane (2 April 2020). "Eddie Large's regret about heart transplant that saved his life". Mirror. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ "Comedian Eddie Large dies aged 78 after contracting coronavirus". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ "Comedian Eddie Large in hospital after road sign fall". BBC News. 16 November 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Eddie Large funeral held in Bristol". BBC News. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
External links
edit- Eddie Large at the British Film Institute
- Eddie Large at IMDb