Born November 9, 1927 in the Govan area of Glasgow, comedian, actor and entertainer Johnny Beattie has enjoyed a career in show business spanning over fifty years. He is one of the last of the traditional music hall entertainers and has appeared in summer seasons and pantomimes all over Scotland, often as host in shows such as Pride of the Clyde.
He began his career in the music hall and variety show tradition, similar to Scottish figures such as Rikki Fulton, Jack Milroy and Stanley Baxter, all of whom knew each other and were of a similar age to each other. He has appeared in television shows such as Taggart, and acted alongside Liam Neeson and Billy Connolly in the 1990 film adaptation of the William McIlvanney novel, The Big Man (called Crossing the Line when released in the United States). He was also the host of the Scottish Television show Now You See It for many years.
In recent years he has become known to a younger generation as playing the character, Malcolm Hamilton in the soap opera River City. His song The Glasgow Rap was a big hit locally. A natural comic, he is in great demand as a compere and after-dinner speaker. Beattie is also a tireless worker for children's charities.
A well liked and respected character, Beattie recieved the Lord Provost's Performing Arts Award in 1993. Presently the Honorary President of the Scottish Music Hall Society, he is the father of actresses Maureen Beattie and Louise Beattie.
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