John Le Mesurier (born John Elton Le Mesurier Halliley; 5 April 1912 – 15 November 1983) was an English actor who performed in many mediums of light entertainment, including film, radio and theatre.[1] Le Mesurier's career spanned from 1934 until his death in 1983. He is best remembered for his role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the BBC situation comedy Dad's Army, between 1968 and 1977.[2]

Le Mesurier made his professional stage debut in September 1934 in Dangerous Corner at the Palladium Theatre in Edinburgh under his birth name, and appeared on television for the first time four years later as Seigneur de Miolans in the BBC Television broadcast of "The Marvellous History of St Bernard". The broadcast was adapted from a 15th-century manuscript by Henri Ghéon.[3] After wartime service as a captain in the Royal Tank Regiment,[1] Le Mesurier returned to acting and made his radio debut on the BBC Home Service in a March 1947 broadcast of Escape or Die. He continued working in television roles throughout his career, but it was his portrayal in the BBC television play Traitor, of a character loosely based on Kim Philby, which earned him the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor in 1972.[4]

In 1948, Le Mesurier worked on his first film, Death in the Hand, a mystery in which he played the character Jack Mottram. He went on to appear in over 100 films, including Private's Progress (1955), I'm All Right Jack (1959), The Punch and Judy Man (1962), Carlton-Browne of the F.O. (1959), The Pink Panther (1963), Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965), and The Italian Job (1969).[1] He always appeared in supporting roles.

Le Mesurier took a relaxed approach to acting, saying: "I'm a jobbing actor ... as long as they pay me I couldn't care less if my name is billed above or below the title".[5] He was known for playing "an indispensable figure in the gallery of second-rank players which were the glory of the British film industry in its more prolific days".[1] Le Mesurier died in November 1983 from a stomach haemorrhage; his last words before slipping into a coma were: "It's all been rather lovely."[6] The Guardian noted that Le Mesurier gave the impression of an "inimitable brand of bewildered persistence under fire which [he] made his own",[7] while Philip Oakes considered that Le Mesurier single-handedly "made more films watchable, even absorbing than anyone else around".[8]

Selected stage credits

Selected stage credits of John Le Mesurier
Production[9] Date Theatre Role Notes
Dangerous Corner September 1934 Palladium Theatre, Edinburgh Billed as John Halliley[10]
The Thirteenth Chair October 1934 Philip Mason[11] Billed as John Halliley[11]
The Dover Road October 1934 Leonard[12] Billed as John Halliley[12]
She Stoops to Conquer November 1934 Sir Charles Marlow[13] Billed as John Halliley[13]
The Mollusc December 1934 Billed as John Halliley[14]
Grumpy December 1934 Ernest Heron[15] Billed as John Halliley[15]
The Christmas Party December 1934 Colonel MacHashit[16] Billed as John Halliley[16]
The Happy Ending January 1935 Billed as John Halliley[17]
While Parents Sleep January 1935 Billed as John Halliley[18]
Dangerous Corner February 1935
Cavalcade March 1935
Up in Mabel's Room July 1935 Coliseum Theatre, Oldham
Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary September 1935 Sheffield Repertory Company
Twelfth Night November 1935 Malvolio[19]
Peace in Our Time September 1936 Croydon Repertory Theatre Mr Platt[20]
Dusty Ermine October 1936
The Apple Cart October 1936
Bees on the Boat Deck November 1936
Ah! Wilderness November 1936
The Constant Nymph November 1936 Lewis Dodd[21]
Charley's Aunt December 1936
January 1937
Love on the Dole September 1937
Payment Deferred July 1938 Theatre Royal, Glasgow
The Romantic Young Lady July 1938 Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
Petticoat Influence August 1938 Theatre Royal, Glasgow
Husband to a Famous Woman August 1938 Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh
August 1938 Theatre Royal, Glasgow
Three Sisters September 1938 Konstantin[22] with the Howard and Wyndham Players[23]
The Moon in the Yellow River September 1938
Tovarich October 1938 Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh Prince Mikail[24]
Private Lives October 1938 Elyot Chase[25]
Gaslight July 1939 – May 1939 Apollo Theatre, London (understudy)[26]
May 1939 Finsbury Park Empire, London Mr Manningham[27]
May 1939 – June 1939 Savoy Theatre, London
June 1939 Chiswick Empire, London
June 1939 Chelsea Palace Theatre, London
July 1939 Grand Theatre, Blackpool
October 1939 Prince's Theatre, Manchester
Goodness, How Sad November 1939 – December 1939 On tour
Journey's End January 1940 Palace Court Theatre
French Without Tears January 1940 – February 1940 Grand Theatre, Blackpool
The Man in Half Moon Street March 1940 Brixton Theatre, London
Mystery at Greenfingers May 1940
The First Mrs Fraser May 1940
French Without Tears December 1941 ENSA
Just William December 1946 New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Uncle Noel[28]
The Winslow Boy June 1947 Empire Theatre, Chatham
The Dubarry October 1947 – November 1947 Princes Theatre, London
The Linden Tree 23 May 1949 New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
Love in Idleness June 1949
Playbill August 1949
Queen of Hearts December 1949 – January 1950
The Smooth-Faced Gentleman 14 August 1950
Traveller's Joy 1951 New Theatre, Bromley
Angry Dust January 1952 New Torch Theatre, London Doctor[29]
The Hanging Judge September 1952 – December 1952 New Theatre, London Governor of Norwich Gaol[30]
Piccolo July 1953 – August 1953 Connaught Theatre with Worthing rep.[31]
The Snow Was Black October 1953 The New Watergate, London
Here Comes April March 1954 Connaught Theatre
Twenty Minutes South June 1955 Players' Theatre, London
July 1955 – October 1955 St Martin's Theatre, London
Coroner's Verdict February 1956 Richmond Theatre London
Malice Domestic June 1956 New Lindsey Theatre Dr. James Gully[32]
Army Benevolent Fund Gala 19 November 1961 Victoria Palace Theatre, London
The Daily Express Starlight Dance 23 July 1962 Lyceum Theatre, London
Homage to T. S. Eliot 13 June 1965 London Fringe Theatre
Poetry Reading 20 September 1970 Little Medway Theatre, Kent
The Television Arts Ball 31 December 1973 Royal Albert Hall, London
Dad's Army September 1975 Forum Theatre, Billingham Sergeant Arthur Wilson
2 October 1975 – February 1976 Shaftesbury Theatre, London
February 1976 – August 1976 On tour [33]
One of Us 8 August 1976 Aldwych Theatre, London
An Inspector Calls August 1976 Salisbury, Rhodesia
In Concert August 1977 New Fair Oak Theatre, Rogate
Bedroom Farce January 1979 – March 1979 Hilton Playhouse, Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur
Hay Fever 23 April 1980 – 31 May 1980 Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith Simon Bliss[34]
July 1980 – September 1980 Provincial tour
August 1981 Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guilford
September 1981 – October 1981 Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon
October 1981 Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

Television

John Le Mesurier's television appearances
Programme[35][36] Date Channel Role Notes
The Marvellous History of St Bernard 17 April 1938 BBC Television Seigneur de Miolans[3]
Richard of Bordeaux 18 December 1938 BBC Television Sir John Montague
They Flew Through Sand 14 June 1946 – 17 June 1946 BBC Television R.A.F. press officer
Just William 23 December 1946 BBC Television Uncle Noel[28][37]
Whirligig 17 February 1951 – 28 April 1951 BBC Television Six episodes
The Railway Children 20 February 1951 – 17 July 1951 BBC Television Doctor Six episodes
Show Me a Spy! 31 July 1951 – 8 November 1951 BBC Television Sir Alexander Blythe Four episodes
Sherlock Holmes, "The Second Stain" 1 December 1951 BBC Television Eduardo Lucas
A Time to be Born 24 December 1951 BBC Television Joseph
The Drayton Case 1953 Inspector Henley
1066 and All That 25 December 1952 – 27 December 1952 BBC Television Two episodes
Teleclub5 4 December 1953 BBC Television
Happy Holidays 10 July 1954 – 18 September 1954 BBC Television Mr Mulberry Six episodes
The Unguarded Hour 29 March 1955 BBC Television
Douglas Fairbanks Presents, "Flight One-Zero-One" 27 June 1955 US network Dr Garside First aired on 27 June 1955 on US networks, before UK broadcast on ITV Television on 23 May 1956
The Granville Melodramas 30 November 1955 – 13 December 1955 ITV Television Sir William Ralston; Sir John; Mr Rencelaw Three episodes
Douglas Fairbanks Presents, "Deadline Vienna" 21 January 1956 NBC Geoffrey Warren First aired on 21 January 1955 on NBC, before UK broadcast on ITV Television on 3 July 1956
Douglas Fairbanks Presents, "The Way Home" 11 April 1956 ITV Television Dr Lloyd
Crown Theatre Presents 3 July 1956 ITV Television
Douglas Fairbanks Presents 9 July 1956 ITV Television
Saturday Playhouse 25 August 1956 ITV Television
Assignment Foreign Legion, "The Search" 12 October 1956 ITV Television Leblond
The Errol Flynn Theatre, "Mademoiselle Fifi" 24 November 1956 ITV Television Curé
Fireside Theatre 16 December 1956 ITV Television
Douglas Fairbanks Presents, "The Ludlow Affair" 28 January 1957 NBC Inspector Burroughs First aired on 28 January 1957 on NBC, before UK broadcast on ITV Television on 16 December 1956
Television Playhouse 28 March 1957 ITV Television
The Gay Cavalier, "Sealed Knot" 16 July 1957 ITV Television Sir Richard Willis
Douglas Fairbanks Presents 9 September 1957 ITV Television
Assignment Foreign Legion 10 September 1957 ITV Television
Hancock's Half Hour, "The Lawyer" 2 December 1957 BBC Television Lord Chief Justice Williams Series 3, episode 9; broadcast live[38]
The Lafarge Affair 15 December 1957 BBC Television
Sword of Freedom 15 February 1958 ITV Television
Television Playhouse 7 March 1958 ITV Television
Douglas Fairbanks Presents 3 April 1958 ITV Television
Hancock's Half Hour, "The New Nose" 16 January 1959 BBC Television Dr Francis Worthington Series 4, episode 4[39]
Play of the Week 20 January 1959 ITV Television
Hancock's Half Hour, "The Horror Serial" 20 January 1959 BBC Television Colonel Series 4, episode 6[40]
The Adventures of William Tell, "The Avenger" 7 March 1959 ITV Television Duke of Burgundy
Hancock's Half Hour, "The Servants" 27 March 1959 BBC Television Colonel[41] Series 4, episode 13[41]
The Errol Flynn Theatre 19 April 1959 ITV Television
Hancock's Half Hour, "Lord Byron Lived Here" 9 October 1959 BBC Television National Trust Officer[42] Series 5, episode 3[42]
Interpol Calling, "The Long Weekend" 11 October 1959 ITV Television Monsieur Lamprou
Hancock's Half Hour, "The Cruise" 30 October 1959 BBC Television The Captain[43] Series 5, episode 6[43]
The Enormous Shadow 10 November 1959 ITV Television
Saber of London 18 January 1960 ITV Television Franz
Hancock's Half Hour, "The Cold" 4 March 1960 BBC Television Doctor Callaghan[44] Series 6, episode 1[44]
The Somerset Maugham Stories 7 April 1960 ITV Television
Play Gems 5 June 1960 ITV Television
The Adventures of William Tell 26 June 1960 ITV Television
Jazz Session 6 August 1960 BBC Television
Saber of London, "A Diplomatic Affair" 29 August 1960 ITV Television Franz
Danger Man, "An Affair of State" 13 November 1960 ITV Television
The Third Man 3 December 1960 ITV Television
Hancock's Half Hour, "The Lift" 16 June 1961 BBC Television The Air Marshal[45] Series 7, episode 4[45]
The Pursuers 18 June 1961 ITV Television
Ghost Squad, "Death From A Distance" 4 November 1961 ITV Television Volgu[46]
Armchair Theatre, "Tune on the Old Tax Fiddle" 17 December 1961 ITV Television
Saber of London 5 February 1962 ITV Television
Danger Man 31 March 1962 ITV Television
Dial RIX 5 October 1962 BBC Television
Mr Justice Duncannon 25 January 1963 – 15 February 1963 BBC Television Two episodes
This Is Your Life 12 February 1963 BBC Television Le Mesurier's wife, Hattie Jacques, was the show's main guest
Galton and Simpson Comedy Playhouse, "A Clerical Error" 5 April 1963 BBC Television
Play of the Week, "The Brimstone Butterfly" 16 April 1963 ITV Television
Casebook 5 October 1963 ITV Television
Armchair Theatre, "Long Past Glory" 17 November 1963 ITV Television Harry
The Avengers, "Mandrake" 24 January 1964 ITV Television Dr Madrombie
Festival, "The Lady of the Camellias" 12 February 1964 BBC Television de Giray
Festival, "The Master of Santiago" 26 February 1964 BBC Television
Sunday Story 5 April 1964 – 12 April 1964 BBC Television
Armchair Theatre, "The Blackmailing of Mr. S" 26 July 1964 ITV Television
Play of the Week, "The Bachelors" 23 November 1964 ITV Television Octave De Coetquidan
The Largest Theatre in the World, "Tea Party" 25 March 1965 BBC One Disley
Story Parade, "The Bachelors" 1 April 1965 BBC Two
Memoirs of a Chaise Longue 2 July 1965 BBC One
Riviera Police 9 August 1965 ITV Television
Theatre 625, "Dr Knock" 2 January 1966 BBC Two Dr Parpalaid
The Avengers, "What the Butler Saw" 26 February 1966 ITV Television Benson
The Wednesday Play, "Macready's Gala" 2 March 1966 BBC One Canon Dunwoodie
Frankie Howerd 8 March 1966 BBC One
Pardon the Expression 1 April 1966 – 13 June 1966 ITV Television Four episodes
Thirty Minute Theatre, "The Caramel Crisis" 25 April 1966 BBC Two Lame
Marriage Lines, "Home Market" 6 May 1966 BBC One
Adam Adamant Lives!, "The Terribly Happy Embalmers" 4 August 1966 BBC One
George and the Dragon 19 November 1966 – 24 December 1966 ITV Television Colonel Maynard Six episodes
Hugh and I 3 January 1967 BBC One
All Gas and Gaiters, "The Bishop Gets the Sack" 31 January 1967 BBC One Television producer
Thirty-Minute Theatre, "An Absolute Treasure" 22 February 1967 BBC One Brian Turner
Mr Rose 17 March 1967 ITV Television
The Troubleshooters 20 March 1967 BBC One Kemp Episode: "Some Days You Just Can't Win"
George and the Dragon 20 May 1967 – 1 July 1967 ITV Television Colonel Maynard Seven episodes
Further Adventures of Lucky Jim 30 May 1967 BBC Two
To Lucifer: A Son 29 June 1967 BBC One
George and the Dragon 6 January 1968 – 17 February 1968 ITV Television Colonel Maynard Seven episodes
Call My Bluff 25 February 1968 BBC Two
Dad's Army 31 July 1968 – 11 September 1968 BBC One Sergeant Arthur Wilson Series 1; six episodes
George and the Dragon 26 September 1968 – 31 October 1968 ITV Television Colonel Maynard Six episodes
Harry Worth, "Private Pimpernel" 21 October 1968 BBC One Colonel Fullbright
Two in Clover 25 February 1969 ITV Television Chairman
Dad's Army 1 March 1969 – 5 April 1969 BBC One Sergeant Arthur Wilson Series 2; six episodes
The Mind of Mr J.G. Reader 11 June 1969 ITV Television Joseph Bracher
W. Somerset Maugham: The Creative Impulse 17 June 1969 BBC Two Mr Albert Forrester
Tales of Edgar Wallace, "Flat Two" 25 July 1969 ITV Television Warden
Dad's Army 11 September 1969 – 11 December 1969 BBC One Sergeant Arthur Wilson Series 3; fourteen episodes
The Wednesday Play, "The Last Train Through the Harecastle Tunnel" 1 October 1969 BBC One Judge Grayson
The Coward Revue 26 December 1969 BBC One
Saturday Night Theatre 3 January 1970 ITV Television
Bird's Eye View 22 March 1970 BBC Two
Comedy Playhouse, "Haven of Rest" 1 April 1970 BBC One Mr Prentice
Shine a Light 13 May 1970 ITV Television
A Royal Television Gala Performance 25 May 1970 BBC One Sergeant Arthur Wilson
The Des O'Connor Show 31 July 1970 ITV Television
Dad's Army 25 September 1970 – 18 December 1970 BBC One Sergeant Arthur Wilson Series 4; thirteen episodes
Dear Mother...Love Albert 8 March 1971 ITV Television
This Is Your Life 24 March 1971 ITV Television Clive Dunn was the show's main guest
The Morecambe & Wise Show 22 April 1971 BBC One
Paul Temple 9 June 1971 BBC One
Jokers Wild 7 July 1971 ITV Television
Jokers Wild 28 July 1971 ITV Television
Misleading Cases 6 August 1971 BBC One
Doctor at Large, "Mr Moon" 22 August 1971 ITV Television Stanley Moon
Play for Today, "Traitor" 14 October 1971 BBC One Adrian Harris Le Mesurier's performance won him a British Academy of Film and Television Arts "Best Television Actor" award.[47]
The Goodies 10 December 1971 BBC One
Dad's Army, Special, "Battle of the Giants" 27 December 1971 BBC One Sergeant Arthur Wilson
Jason King, "If It's Got to Go – It's Got to Go" 16 February 1972 ITV Television Dr.Litz
Jackanory 11 September 1972 – 15 September 1972 BBC One Five episodes
A Class by Himself 13 September 1972 – 18 October 1972 ITV Television Lord Bleasham Six episodes
Sykes, "Uncle" 29 September 1972 BBC One
Dad's Army 6 October 1972 – 29 December 1972 BBC One Sergeant Arthur Wilson Series 5; thirteen episodes
Armchair Theatre, "Anywhere But England" 31 October 1972 ITV Television Freddie
Jason King 5 January 1973 ITV Television
Comedy Playhouse, "Marry the Girls" 1 February 1973 BBC One
Thriller, "File it Under Fear" 2 June 1973 ITV Television Stubbs
Black and Blue, "Rust a Highly Moral Farce" 4 September 1973 BBC One Sir Henry
Dad's Army 31 October 1973 – 12 December 1973 BBC One Sergeant Arthur Wilson Series 6; six episodes
Orson Welles Great Mysteries, "Death of an Old-Fashioned Girl" 24 November 1973 ITV Television, Anglia Sidney Goldsmith One episode
Crown Court, "Murder Most Foul" 27 December 1973 ITV Television Reginald Standish
Late Night Theatre, "Silver Wedding" 25 September 1974 ITV Television Geoffrey
Dad's Army 15 November 1974 – 23 December 1974 BBC One Sergeant Arthur Wilson Series 7; six episodes
Village Hall, "Pie in the Sky" 18 May 1975 ITV Television Harold Garfield
Centre Play, "The Flight Fund" 14 July 1975 BBC Two Edward
Dad's Army 5 September 1975 – 10 October 1975 BBC One Sergeant Arthur Wilson Series 8; six episodes
Shades of Greene, "The Root of All Evil" 7 October 1975 ITV Television Schmidt
Dad's Army, Special "My Brother and I" 26 December 1975 BBC One Sergeant Arthur Wilson
Bod 1975–1976 BBC One Narrator Thirteen episodes
This Is Your Life 10 March 1976 ITV Television Arnold Ridley was the show's main guest
Dad's Army, Special "The Love of Three Oranges" 26 December 1976 BBC One Sergeant Arthur Wilson
Dad's Army 2 October 1977 – 6 November 1977 BBC One Sergeant Arthur Wilson Series 9; six episodes
A Christmas Carol 24 December 1977 BBC Two Marley's ghost
The Morecambe & Wise Show 25 December 1977 BBC One
Flint 15 January 1978 BBC One
An Honourable Retirement 4 November 1979 ITV Television Edward Brown
Ripping Yarns, "Roger of the Raj" 24 October 1979 BBC Two Colonel Runciman
The Dick Emery Show 5 January 1980 BBC One
The Shillingbury Blowers 6 January 1980 ITV Television
Worzel Gummidge, "Very Good, Worzel" 3 February 1980 ITV Television Baines
Night of One Hundred Stars 21 December 1980 ITV Television
Brideshead Revisited, "Julia" 17 November 1981 ITV Television Father Mowbray Episode 6
Dead Ernest 15 February 1982 ITV Television Head of Plagues Episode 3
Bognor 9 March 1982 – 23 March 1982 ITV Television Blight-Purley Three episodes
Hi-de-Hi! 7 November 1982 BBC One The Dean
A Married Man 10 July 1983 – 31 July 1983 Channel 4 Eustace Lough Four episodes

Selected radio broadcasts

Selected radio broadcasts of John Le Mesurier
Broadcast[48] Date Channel Notes
Escape or Die 2 March 1947 BBC Home Service
Mutiny in the Navy 14 April 1947 BBC Third Programme
Alexander the Corrector 17 August 1947 BBC Home Service
Trafalgar Square 29 August 1951 BBC Home Service
The Trial of Sir Walter Raleigh 9 September 1951 BBC Home Service
Focus on General Elections 23 October 1951 BBC Home Service
Alcock and Brown 28 October 1951 BBC General Overseas Service
Lord Delamere 22 November 1951 BBC General Overseas Service
I was a Communist 8 February 1952 BBC General Overseas Service
Dr Arnold of Rugby 19 February 1952 BBC Home Service
Edward Gibbon Wakefield 11 May 1952 BBC General Overseas Service
At the Sign of the Maid's Head 26 June 1952 BBC Home Service
Portrait of Sir Edward Coke 18 July 1952 BBC Home Service
The World is My Parish 16 June 1953 BBC Home Service
Elizabethan Theatre 9 September 1953 BBC General Overseas Service
Rodney Stone 20 May 1954 BBC Home Service
Brigadier Gerard 1 September 1954 BBC Light Programme
Abu Hassan 31 March 1957 BBC Third Programme
Abu Hassan 1 April 1957 BBC Third Programme
Doctor in the House 25 June 1968 BBC Radio 4
Late Night Extra 31 January 1969 BBC Radio 1 and 2
Brothers in Law 9 June 1970 BBC Radio 4
Brothers in Law 16 June 1970 BBC Radio 4
Today 12 March 1971 BBC Radio 4
Open House 12 July 1971 BBC Radio 2
Brothers in Law 27 July 1971 BBC Radio 4
Sounds Familiar 17 May 1972 BBC Radio 2
Brothers in Law 3 July 1972 BBC Radio 4
Desert Island Discs 17 February 1973 BBC Radio 4
Dad's Army, series 1 28 January 1974 – 10 June 1974 BBC Radio 4 Role: Sergeant Arthur Wilson[49]
Dad's Army, Special 25 December 1974 BBC Radio 4 Role: Sergeant Arthur Wilson[49]
Dad's Army, series 2 11 February 1975 – 24 June 1975 BBC Radio 4 Role: Sergeant Arthur Wilson[49]
Dad's Army, series 3 16 March 1976 – 7 September 1976 BBC Radio 4 Role: Sergeant Arthur Wilson[49]
The Kamikaze Ground Staff Reunion Dinner 16 December 1979 BBC Radio 3
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 24 January 1980 BBC Radio 4 Role: The Wise Old Bird[50]
Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves 3 December 1980 – 7 January 1981 BBC Radio 4
The Lord of the Rings 8 March 1981 – 30 April 1981 BBC Radio 4 Role: Bilbo Baggins[51]
The Flower Case 24 October 1982 BBC Radio 3
The Dog It Was That Died 9 December 1982 BBC Radio 3
It Sticks Out Half a Mile 13 November 1983 – 15 January 1984 BBC Radio 2 Role: Arthur Wilson[51]
Nine episodes
It Sticks Out Half a Mile 21 August 1984 – 2 October 1984 BBC Radio 2 Role: Arthur Wilson[51]
Four episodes

Filmography

Filmography of John Le Mesurier
Film[52][35] Year Role Notes
The Hangman Waits 1947 Newspaper office worker
Death in the Hand 1948 Jack Mottram
Escape from Broadmoor 1948 Pendicot
Old Mother Riley's New Venture 1949 Karl
A Matter of Murder 1949 Ginter
Dark Interval 1950 Cedric, the butler
The Small Miracle 1951
Blind Man's Bluff 1952 Leftie Jones
Mother Riley Meets the Vampire 1953 Scotland Yard Man Uncredited[53]
The Blue Parrot 1953 Henry Carson
Black 13 1953 Inspector
The Pleasure Garden 1953 Colonel Pall K. Gargoyle
Dangerous Cargo 1954 Luigi
Twist of Fate 1954 1st. Man at Casino ( U.S. ' Beautiful Stranger ')
Stranger from Venus 1954 Man at Desk Uncredited[54]
Police Dog 1955 C.I.D. inspector
Make Me an Offer 1955 Mr. Toshack Uncredited
A Time to Kill 1955 Phineas Tilliard
Josephine and Men 1955 Registrar
Private's Progress 1956 Psychiatrist
The Baby and the Battleship 1956 The marshal's aide
The Battle of the River Plate 1956 Rev. George Groves – Padre, HMS Exeter Uncredited[55]
Brothers in Law 1957 His Honour Judge Ryman
The Good Companions 1957 Monte Mortimer
The Admirable Crichton 1957 Cook Uncredited[56]
These Dangerous Years 1957 Commanding Officer
High Flight 1957 Commandant
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk 1958 Judge
Happy Is the Bride 1958 Chaytor
Gideon's Day 1958 Prosecuting counsel Uncredited[57]
Another Time, Another Place 1958 Dr Aldridge
The Moonraker 1958 Oliver Cromwell
Law and Disorder 1958 Sir Humphrey Pomfret
Blind Spot 1958 Brent
Man with a Gun 1958 Harry Drayson
Blood of the Vampire 1958 Chief Justice
I Was Monty's Double 1958 Adjutant R.A.P.C.
The Captain's Table 1959 Sir Angus
Operation Amsterdam 1959 Colonel Janssen
The Lady Is a Square 1959 Fergusson
Too Many Crooks 1959 Magistrate
Carlton-Browne of the F.O. 1959 Grand Duke Alexis
The Hound of the Baskervilles 1959 Barrymore
Jack the Ripper 1959 Dr. Tranter
Shake Hands with the Devil 1959 British General
I'm All Right Jack 1959 Waters
The Wreck of the Mary Deare 1959 MOA Lawyer Uncredited[58]
Ben-Hur 1959 Doctor Uncredited[59]
A Touch of Larceny 1959 Head of the Admiralty Uncredited[60]
Desert Mice 1959 Staff Colonel
Follow a Star 1959 Birkett
Our Man in Havana 1959 Louis, headwaiter Uncredited[61]
Let's Get Married 1960 The dean
School for Scoundrels 1960 Skinner, headwaiter
The Day They Robbed the Bank of England 1960 Green, deputy cashier of Bank of England
Dead Lucky 1960 Inspector Corcoran
Never Let Go 1960 Pennington
Doctor in Love 1960 Dr Mincing
The Bulldog Breed 1960 Prosecuting Counsel
The Pure Hell of St Trinian's 1960 Minister
Five Golden Hours 1961 Doctor Alfieri
The Night We Got the Bird 1961 Clerk of the Court
The Rebel 1961 Office manager
Mr. Topaze 1961 The blackmailer
Very Important Person 1961 Piggott
Don't Bother to Knock 1961 Father Uncredited[62]
Invasion Quartet 1961 The colonel
On the Fiddle 1961 Sergeant Hixon
Hair of the Dog 1962 Sir Mortimer Gallant
Flat Two 1962 Warden [63]
Only Two Can Play 1962 Salter
Village of Daughters 1962 Don Calogero
Mrs. Gibbons' Boys 1962 Coles
Go to Blazes 1962 Fisherman
Waltz of the Toreadors 1962 Rev. Grimsley
Jigsaw 1962 Mr Simpson
The Main Attraction 1962 Bozo
We Joined the Navy 1962 Dewberry Snr
The Wrong Arm of the Law 1963 Assistant police commissioner
The Punch and Judy Man 1963 Sandman
The Mouse on the Moon 1963 British delegate
In the Cool of the Day 1963 Doctor Arraman
The Pink Panther 1963 Defence lawyer
Hot Enough for June 1964 Roger Allsop
Never Put It in Writing 1964 Adams
The Moon-Spinners 1964 Anthony Gamble
Operation Crossbow 1965 British Army Officer (scenes deleted)
Masquerade 1965 Sir Robert
City Under the Sea 1965 Reverend Jonathan Ives
Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines 1965 French painter
The Liquidator 1965 Chekhov
The Early Bird 1965 Colonel Foster
Thunderball 1965 Man at Army Meeting Uncredited
Where the Spies Are 1966 MacGillivray
Our Man in Marrakesh 1966 George C. Lillywhite
The Wrong Box 1966 Dr Slattery
The Sandwich Man 1966 Abadiah, religious sandwich man
Eye of the Devil 1966 Dr. Monnet
Finders Keepers 1966 Mr. X
The 25th Hour 1967 President of Court Original title: La Vingt-cinquième Heure[64]
Mister Ten Per Cent 1967 Jocelyn Macauley
Casino Royale 1967 M's Driver Uncredited[65]
Cuckoo Patrol 1967 Gibbs
Monsieur Lecoq 1967 Owner of French chateau

The Inn Way Out

1967 Pub Bore Film Short
Salt and Pepper 1968 Colonel Woodstock
Midas Run 1969 Wells
The Italian Job 1969 Prison governor
The Magic Christian 1969 Sir John Uncredited[66]
Doctor in Trouble 1970 Purser
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever 1970 Pelham
Dad's Army 1971 Sergeant Arthur Wilson
Au Pair Girls 1972 Mr Wainwright
The Alf Garnett Saga 1972 Mr Frewin
Confessions of a Window Cleaner 1974 Inspector Radlett
Brief Encounter 1974 Stephen
The Culcheth Job 1974 "Cast member"
Barry McKenzie Holds His Own 1974 Robert Crowther
Three for All 1975 Mr Gibbons
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother 1975 Lord Redcliff
Jabberwocky 1977 Passelewe, the chamberlain
Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers 1977 Col. Bromley Pickering
Rosie Dixon – Night Nurse 1978 Sir Archibald MacGregor
What's Up Nurse! 1978 Dr Ogden
Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? 1978 Doctor Deere
The Spaceman and King Arthur 1979 Sir Gawain Original US title; Unidentified Flying Oddball[67]
The Shillingbury Blowers 1980 Council Chairman
The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu 1980 Perkins
Sir John Betjeman Late Flowering Love 1981 "Cast member"
The Passionate Pilgrim 1984 Narrator [68]
Facelift 1984 Bruce Voice, (final film role)

Discography

Albums

Album recordings by John Le Mesurier
Album[69] Year Record label Catalogue number Notes
Dad's Army: Original Cast Recording 1975 Warner Bros. Records K56186
What is Going To Become of Us All? 1976 Warner Communications K54080
Once Upon a World 1977 B7 Media 1906577005
The Velveteen Rabbit 1978 Columbia Records SCX6599 featuring Robin Le Mesurier, with music by Ed Welch

Singles

Singles released by John Le Mesurier
Single[69] Year Record label Notes
"A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" 1975 Warner Bros. Records B side: "Hometown", with Arthur Lowe and company
"There Ain't Much Change From A Pound These Days" 1982 KA Records with Clive Dunn
B side: "After All These Years", with Dunn

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b c d "John Le Mesurier (1912–1983)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). OUP. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/31350. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ McCann 2010, p. ix.
  3. ^ a b Barry 1992, p. 190.
  4. ^ Angelini, Sergio. "Traitor (1971)". Screenonline. British Film Institute. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  5. ^ de Jongh, Nicholas (16 November 1983). "Dad's Army star dies". The Guardian. London. p. 1.
  6. ^ Le Mesurier 1988, p. 189.
  7. ^ "The ubiquitous second row". The Guardian. London. 16 November 1983. p. 10.
  8. ^ Oakes, Philip (7 February 1971). "Worrier on the Warpath". The Sunday Times. London. p. 26.
  9. ^ McCann 2010, pp. 305–307.
  10. ^ "Palladium Theatre: "Dangerous Corner"". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 4 September 1934. p. 6.
  11. ^ a b "Palladium Theatre: "The Thirteenth Chair"". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 2 October 1934. p. 10.
  12. ^ a b "Palladium Theatre: "The Dover Road"". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 9 October 1934. p. 10.
  13. ^ a b "Palladium Theatre: "She Stoops to Conquer"". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 13 November 1934. p. 14.
  14. ^ "Palladium Theatre: "The Mollusc"". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 4 December 1934. p. 14.
  15. ^ a b "Palladium Theatre: "Grumpy"". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 11 December 1934. p. 14.
  16. ^ a b "Palladium Theatre: "The Christmas Party"". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 26 December 1934. p. 10.
  17. ^ "Palladium: "The Happy Ending"". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 8 January 1935. p. 14.
  18. ^ McCann 2010, p. 305.
  19. ^ McCann 2010, p. 72.
  20. ^ McCann 2010, p. 76.
  21. ^ McCann 2010, pp. 76–77.
  22. ^ Le Mesurier 1984, p. 31.
  23. ^ "Glasgow: "Idiot's Delight" at the Empire". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 6 September 1938. p. 14.
  24. ^ "Edinburgh Entertainments: Lyceum Theatre: "Tovarich"". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 11 October 1938. p. 13.
  25. ^ "Edinburgh Theatres: Lyceum : "Private Lives"". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 25 October 1938. p. 17.
  26. ^ McCann 2010, p. 81.
  27. ^ McCann 2010, p. 82.
  28. ^ a b McCann 2010, p. 104.
  29. ^ Bradbury, Parnell (17 January 1952). "New Torch Theatre". The Times. London. p. 2.
  30. ^ McCann 2010, p. 119.
  31. ^ McCann 2010, p. 306.
  32. ^ "New Lindsey Theatre". The Times. London. 21 June 1956. p. 5.
  33. ^ Pertwee 2009, p. 165.
  34. ^ Billington, Michael (30 April 1980). "Hay Fever". The Guardian. London. p. 10.
  35. ^ a b "Filmography: Le Mesurier, John". Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  36. ^ McCann 2010, pp. 308–310.
  37. ^ "Television Programmes". Radio Times. 20 December 1946.
  38. ^ Webber 2011, p. 259.
  39. ^ Webber 2011, p. 266.
  40. ^ Webber 2011, p. 268.
  41. ^ a b Webber 2011, p. 275.
  42. ^ a b Webber 2011, p. 278.
  43. ^ a b Webber 2011, p. 281.
  44. ^ a b Webber 2011, p. 287.
  45. ^ a b Webber 2011, p. 298.
  46. ^ "Cast: Ghost Squad (ITV, 1961–63): Death From A Distance". Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  47. ^ "BAFTA Awards 1971". BAFTA Awards Database. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  48. ^ McCann 2010, pp. 307–308.
  49. ^ a b c d McCann 2010, p. 252.
  50. ^ McCann 2010, p. 279.
  51. ^ a b c McCann 2010, p. 287.
  52. ^ McCann 2010, pp. 310–311.
  53. ^ Browning & Picart 2010, p. 127.
  54. ^ Warren 1997, p. 420.
  55. ^ "Cast: The Battle of the River Plate". Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 17 January 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  56. ^ "Cast: The Admirable Crichton". Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  57. ^ "Cast: Gideon's Day". Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  58. ^ Parish, Stanke & Pitts 1977, p. 77.
  59. ^ "Cast: Ben-Hur". Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 18 January 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  60. ^ "Cast: A Touch of Larceny". Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 18 January 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  61. ^ "Cast: Our Man in Havana". Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 13 January 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  62. ^ "Why Bother to Knock (1964)". Turner Classic Movies. Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  63. ^ Pratt, Vic. "Flat Two (1962)". Screenonline. British Film Institute. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  64. ^ "Cast: La 25E Heure". Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 17 January 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  65. ^ McFarlane 2005, p. 412.
  66. ^ "Cast: The Magic Christian". Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  67. ^ Unidentified Flying Oddball at the American Film Institute Catalog
  68. ^ Morecambe 2009, p. 168.
  69. ^ a b McCann 2010, p. 311.

Bibliography

External links

Categories