Benjamin Patrick Aris (16 March 1937 – 4 September 2003) was an English actor who was best known for his parts in Hi-de-Hi! and To the Manor Born, and was also very active on stage. He was often cast as an eccentric, upper-class man.
Aris was born in London, and following the Second World War, he trained at the Arts Educational School. At the age of only 16, he joined a national theatre tour of Zip Goes a Million. He then did National Service in the Army and following that appeared in many musicals and films including The Plague of the Zombies, The Charge of the Light Brigade and Hamlet.
His first television role was in the sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em in 1973. The following year he appeared in Invasion of the Dinosaurs, a 1974 Doctor Who serial. His other early television roles included Sam and the River (1975), Crown Court, Wodehouse Playhouse and Target. During that time he also appeared in Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World, Juggernaut, Tommy, The Music Lovers and The Savage Messiah.
For three episodes, from 1980 to 1981, he played Mr Spalding in To the Manor Born, and then in 1982, he made his first appearance in Hi-de-Hi! as Julian Dalrymple-Sykes, a dancer. He became a regular in 1985 and played the part until the show's end in 1988. He also starred in Bergerac, Agatha Christie's Poirot, You Rang, M'Lord? and Boon. As well as acting with Penelope Keith in To the Manor Born, he also appeared with her in Executive Stress and No Job for a Lady.
One of most memorable stage performances was in the West End playing Geoffrey in Stepping Out by Richard Harris. His final stage appearance was in The Lady in the Van by Alan Bennett, opposite Dame Maggie Smith. His final TV appearance was in the 2002 drama Ready. He died in Surrey in 2003 aged 66.
