John Sessions was a ‘loner’ who launched comedy career to swerve his ‘Ugly Ducklingitis’
Spitting Image and Have I Got News For You star John Sessions described himself as a ‘loner’ and an ‘outsider’ growing up and admitted he embraced being funny to avoid childhood bullies
John Sessions described himself as a “loner” and admitted he launched a comedy career to combat his “Ugly Ducklingitis”.
The funnyman has died at age 67 after suffering a heart attack at home on Monday.
He was best known for his appearances in shows such as Spitting Image, Have I Got News For You and Whose Line Is It Anyway?
In an interview with the Independent back in 1993, Sessions opened up about his childhood and admitted he embraced being funny to combat childhood bullies.
In a joint chat with his pal Timothy Spall, Sessions said: “We both suffered from Ugly Duckling-itis as youngsters, and we both took recourse to playing the clown.
“I was a terrible loner and an outsider, having moved from Scotland to England when I was little, which was why I started inventing characters and creating little worlds.
“Being funny was the only way I knew to make friends and stop people hitting me.”
Sessions went on to explain that getting a laugh became hugely important to him both in his career and in his personal life.
He added: “Laughter is water in the desert for me. I tend to play up to people who find me funny.
“I’m not quite as desperate for laughter and approval as I used to be, but it still gives me a kick to make friends laugh.
“I cannot communicate at all with humourless people.”
He added that he felt like he was “keeping the melancholy at bay” with his work and described it as “harnessing… demons to create comedy.”
News of Sessions’ death was confirmed by his agent Alex Irwin.
He said in a statement: “It is with great sadness we can confirm that on Monday 2nd November, the actor John Sessions died at his home in South London. He will be hugely missed.”
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Tributes have flooded in for the performer, whose career in the spotlight spanned almost five decades.
Peep show star Robert Webb reflected on losing two of his heroes just days apart.
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