The Glasgow-born actor has sadly passed away at the age of 99.
10:40, 12 Dec 2025Updated 12:18, 12 Dec 2025
Stanley Baxter (Image: Mirrorpix)
Legendary Scots actor Stanley Baxter has died at the age of 99.
The Glasgow-born star and comedian began his career as a child in the Scottish edition of the BBC’s Children’s Hour. He rose to fame in the 1960’s and was best known for TV’s The Stanley Baxter Show.
Baxter was educated at Hillhead High School and was schooled for the stage by his mother.
Following employment in mining as a Bevin Boy in World War Two, he developed his performing skills further during his national service with the British Army’s Combined Services Entertainment unit, working alongside comedy actor Kenneth Williams, actor Peter Vaughan, film director John Schlesinger and dramatist Peter Nichols, who used the experience as the basis for his play Privates on Parade.
Stanley Baxter(Image: PA)
After the war, Baxter returned to Glasgow taking to the stage for three years at Glasgow’s Citizens’ Theatre.
Following success on the radio with Jimmy Logan, Howard and Wyndham Ltd invited him to star in pantomime at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow followed by the Half Past Eight Shows, and their successors the Five Past Eight Shows at Glasgow’s Alhambra Theatre.
He moved to London to work in television in 1959.
Earlier this month, BBC Scotland announced an hour-long documentary featuring archive footage and candid interviews to celebrate the star’s legacy as he approached his 100th birthday.
The documentary will air on December 31.
Baxter received several accolades throughout his career, most notably multiple BAFTA Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Comedy Awards. In 2020, at the age of 94, Baxter announced he was gay.
The stage and screen star told how he spent nearly 50 years married to his wife Moira despite knowing he was homosexual. In his biography The Real Stanley Baxter, he admitted Moira knew he was homosexual before they were married.
He remained married to Moira until she died of an overdose in 1997.
Paying tribute following the news of the star’s death, a spokesperson for BAFTA said: “We’re saddened to hear that Scottish actor and comedian Stanley Baxter has died aged 99. Baxter starred in a string of TV comedy shows including the BAFTA-winning The Stanley Baxter Series and The Stanley Baxter Big Picture Show.
“He received an Outstanding Contribution to Film & Television award at the BAFTA Scotland Awards in 2020.”
A statement from Scots Gay Arts reads: “Farewell the Great Stanley Baxter who leaves us at 99, a true legend.”
Rev Derek Browning said: “Scottish actor and comedian Stanley Baxter has died at the age of 99. Another light dimmed.”
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