Brian Norman Roger Rix, Baron Rix, CBE, DL (born 27 January 1924) is an English actor and campaigner.

Biography

In 1949 he married the actress Elspet Gray. The couple had four children, the producer and children's author James "Jamie" Rix, Jonathan Rix, actress Louisa Rix and Shelley Rix. Their daughter, Shelley Elspet Rix, was born with Down's syndrome, and he has always used his name to promote public awareness and understanding of learning disabilities. Shelley Elspet Rix died in July 2005 in Hounslow, Greater London. Elspet Gray died on 18 February 2013.

Rix became a radio ham at the age of 13 and became a life vice-president of the Radio Society of Great Britain in 1979. His call sign is G2DQU. He is also president of the Friends of Richmond Park. In 1970 he was President of the Lord's Taverners and he continues his love of cricket as a member of the MCC and Yorkshire CCC.

Rix was the subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions, in October 1961 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at a friend's house in Surrey, and again in April 1977, when Andrews surprised him at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. He was also a castaway on Desert Island Discs on two occasions. The first was with Roy Plomley on 16 May 1960, which was also the first time a castaway was caught on film and broadcast the following evening. His second appearance was with Kirsty Young on 1 March 2009.