I was very sad to hear of the death of Ronnie Barker, who was such a warm, friendly and encouraging presence to have when I started in television. He was also a great comic actor to learn from.

John Cleese’s remark is a condolence tribute following the death of British comedian and actor Ronnie Barker (best known for The Two Ronnies, Porridge, and Open All Hours) in October 2005. Cleese, already prominent from the 1960s–70s British television comedy boom, frames Barker not only as a celebrated performer but as a personally supportive colleague. The wording suggests a statement released to the press rather than a line from a scripted program or memoir, emphasizing Barker’s off-camera generosity toward younger or newer television performers and Cleese’s sense of professional debt to Barker’s example as a comic actor.

John Cleese’s remark is an obituary-style tribute that emphasizes professional generosity as much as talent. By recalling Ronnie Barker as “warm, friendly and encouraging” when Cleese was starting out, Cleese frames Barker not only as an accomplished performer but as a formative presence within British television’s comedy community. The second sentence shifts from personal kindness to craft: Barker is presented as a model of comic acting whose technique could be studied and absorbed. Together, the lines suggest that artistic legacies are transmitted through mentorship, example, and collegial support, not merely through celebrated performances.