Monday, May 27, 2013

Dad's Army star Pertwee dies aged 86

Dad's Army star Pertwee dies aged 86

Bill Pertwee playing Warden Hodges in an episode of Dad's Army

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In Dad's Army, Bill Pertwee played a grumpy World War II air raid warden

Bill Pertwee, who played Warden Hodges in Dad's Army, has died, his agent has confirmed.

The 86-year-old also starred as PC Wilson in You Rang M'Lud? He also appeared in three Carry On films.

Agent Meg Poole said he died peacefully on Monday with his family around him. He is survived by his son Jonathan.

His Dad's Army character was a greengrocer who became chief air raid warden when World War II broke out. His catchphrase was: "Put that light out!"

He was a thorn in the side of Captain Mainwaring and Sgt Wilson (played by Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier respectively), who called him "a common little man".

The actor first played the grumpy Dad's Army warden in 1968.

Bill PertweePertwee played Warden Hodges in 60 episodes of Dad's Army between 1968 and 1977

The show went on to earn a Bafta for best comedy in 1971 and inspired a film - also starring Pertwee - in the same year.

Pertwee went on to become a founder member and the president of the Dad's Army Appreciation Society.

Ms Poole said: "He was a really, really nice man. Very bright, very intelligent.

"He came from a big theatrical family, a big showbusiness family, and like all of them it was his life and it was very important to him and he was a hugely professional, very clever man."

His wife, actress Marion McLeod, died in 2005.

Pertwee was made an MBE in 2006 for his services to charity - he supported children's hospices.

In 1957, Pertwee wrote to BBC director and producer Richard Afton in search of his big TV break. In the letter, he mentions his cousin, the actor Jon Pertwee, who became one of the stars of the hit radio comedy The Navy Lark before taking on the title role in Doctor Who in 1970.

Bill Pertwee had only been an entertainer for a couple of years when he wrote the letter, having served his apprenticeship in variety halls across the country.

His break eventually came with the offer to join the hugely popular radio show Beyond Our Ken with Kenneth Horne and Kenneth Williams.

This lead to appearing in the radio series Round The Horne, again starring Williams and created by Barry Took and Marty Feldman.

He also appeared opposite Morecambe and Wise writer Eddie Braben - who died last week - in The Show with Ten Legs.

Pertwee's other credits included Carry on Lovin', Carry on Girls and Carry On at Your Convenience.

Did you meet Bill Pertwee? Have you worked with him? Please tell us your memories of him using the form below.

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Dad's Army star Pertwee dies aged 86
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