Paddy Joyce

Born Patrizio Schaurek in Trieste Italy to a Czech father Frantisek Schaurek and an Irish mother Eileen sister of James Joyce Paddy Joyce was an Irish actor of British stage film and television Returning to Dublin at the age of five following his fathers death Joyce studied at Belvedere College the alma mater of his famous uncle After school Paddy turned his attention to singing Initially he formed a close harmony quartet with three other gentlemen named Four Dots and a Dash subsequently renamed The Four Ramblers In 1949 he was part of a trio with two ladies named The Humoresques which toured Canada with the popular English comedian and actor George Formby Turning to actor Joyce took his mothers maiden name because Schaurek limited him to Eastern European roles He made his cinematic debut in The Cruel Sea and performed in Lionel Bart and Joan Littlewoods Fings Aint Wot They Used Tbe in the early 60s before later working regularly with Ken Loach appearing in The Big Flame written by Jim Allen and Poor Cow He also starred in Allens play The Lump Joyce was a regular in two of the UKs biggest soaps Between 1968 and 1974 he had a recurring role as the rag and bone man Tommy Deakin in Coronation Street and between 1990 and 1993 he played John Royle the father of Queen Vic owner Eddie Royle Michael Melia in EastEnders Joyce lived in Muswell Hill London with his Canadian wife Dorothy and two children He died of a stroke in London in the year 2000 aged 77