Ronald William George `` Ronnie '' Barker , ( 25 September 1929 -- 3 October 2005 ) was an English actor , comedian and writer .
Ronald William George Barker ( 25 September 1929 -- 3 October 2005 ) , popularly known as Ronnie Barker and ( as a writer ) Gerald Wiley , was an English comic actor , comedian and writer .