Kenneth Connor
Kenneth Connor | |
|---|---|
 Kenneth Connor | |
| Years active | 1918-1993 |
| Spouse | Margaret |
Kenneth Connor, MBE (6 June, 1916 – 28 November, 1993) was a British comedy stage, radio, film and TV actor, best known for the Carry On films.
Born the son of a naval officer in London, Connor first appeared on the stage at the age of 2 and by 11 had his own act. After periods at drama school and the army during which time he participated in the British invasion of Rome, he returned to the stage, but found most success in radio comedy, particularly as comedian Ted Ray's brother-in-law in "Ray's a Laugh." He had a small role as a taxi driver in The Ladykillers (1955), and was an occasional guest on The Goon Show on radio, being called upon to fill in during regular cast members' illness.
In 1958 he was cast in the first Carry On film, Carry On Sergeant. He became one of the key regulars of the series, appearing in 17 of the 30 original films and many of the television productions. In his earlier Carry On appearances he frequently played sympathetic straight roles, often as the romantic lead. His appearances subsided during the middle period of the Carry On film run; however, he returned in the later films. In his later appearances he often played married men with a wandering eye, various lascivious and lusty men, and pompous unsympathetic characters. His son Jeremy appeared as his son in Carry On Nurse. Between 1971 and 1973 Connor joined Dad's Army stars Arthur Lowe and Ian Lavender on the BBC radio comedy Parsley Sidings. In contrast with some of his Carry On co-stars, Connor found further success on the London stage playing a leading role alongside Frankie Howerd in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and he also appeared in West End revues. On television he appeared in "The Black and White Minstrel Show", in the children's show Rentaghost (1983–1984), and as Monsieur Alfonse in 'Allo 'Allo! (1984–1992) and Uncle Sammy Morris in Hi-de-Hi! (1986–1988). He also made guest appearances in sitcoms, including That's My Boy, You Rang, M'Lord? and he made a memorable cameo in an episode of Blackadder the Third in 1987, alongside fellow veteran comic star Hugh Paddick. His final tv appearance as Mr Warran in The Memoirs Of Sherlock Holmes episode, The Red Circle was broadcast posthumously in 1994. He was in over fifty movies and was honoured by the Queen with an MBE in 1991.
Connor died of cancer in London in 1993, and was survived by his wife Margaret (Miki), his son and three grandchildren, Thomas, Hayley and Rose, all of whom have been accomplished child actors.