Dad's Army - John Le Mesurier TV

Born: 5th April 1912, Chaucer Road, Bedford, England, as John Charles Elton Le Mesurier de Somerys Halliley

Died: 15 November 1983, in Ramsgate Hospital, after a long fight with liver disease

Parents: Son of Charles Elton Halliley and Anne Michelle Halliley (nee Le Mesurier)

Married: John had three wives:
- June Melville, an actress/director/producer, born 1915, died 1970 (married 1939-47, divorced)
- Hattie Jacques, an actress, born as Josephine Edwina Jacques on 7 Feb 1924, died 6 Oct 1980 (1952 - 65, divorced)
- Joan Malin, a circus performer (married 2 March 1966 till his death, now widow Joan Le Mesurier)

Children: Robin and Kim Le Mesurier, sons from marriage to Hattie Jacques. Kim (known as Jake) died in 1990, aged 35.

Biographies and Books of Interest:
A Jobbing Actor - by John Le Mesurier (autobiography)
Lady Don't Fall Backwards - by Joan Le Mesurier (the autobiography of John's wife, with much about him)
Dear John - by Joan Le Mesurier (biography)

Acknowledgements: SFTA award for Best Television Actor 1971, for dramatic lead role in Dennis Potter’s television play Traitor

Professional Debut: The Palladium Theatre, Edinburgh, in repertory, 1935

John Le Mesurier's Television Career
Television Show	Role	Notes	Maker	Date
John Le Mesurier made his television debut in 1938, in the BBC's Alexandra Palace days. 1930's______1950's______1960's______1970's______1980's
The Marvellous History of St __ Bernard Richard of Bordeaux Gaslight They Flew Through Sand They Flew Through Sand Just William _ The Railway Children The Railway Children The Railway Children Whirligig The Railway Children Whirligig Whirligig Whirligig Whirligig The Railway Children The Railway Children Show Me A Spy! Show Me A Spy! Show Me A Spy! Show Me A Spy! Sherlock Holmes A Time To Be Born Saturday Special The Twelfth Brother In Search of Maitland A Time to be Born Happy Holidays Happy Holidays Happy Holidays Happy Holidays Happy Holidays The Unguarded Hour Flight One-Zero-One Twenty Minutes South The Grenville Melodramas The Grenville Melodramas _ The Grenville Melodramas_ Deadline in Vienna The Way Home Assignment Foreign Legion Mademoiselle Fifi The Ludlow Affair’ The Gay Cavalier The Vise Hancock’s Half Hour _ The Trial of Marie Lafarge The Macropulos Secret Sword of Freedom The Winslow Boy The Vise Hancock’s Half Hour The Education of Mr Surrage Hancock’s Half Hour Adventures Of William Tell Hancock’s Half Hour Hancock’s Half Hour Interpol Calling Hancock’s Half Hour The Enormous Shadow The Third Man	Signour de Miolans _ Sir John Montague Policeman RAF Press Oficer RAF Press Officer _ _ The Doctor The Doctor The Doctor _ The Doctor _ _ _ _ The Doctor The Doctor Sir Alexander Blythe Sir Alexander Blythe Sir Alexander Blythe Sir Alexander Blythe Eduardo Lucas Joseph _ Judah Doctor Martin Innkeeper Mr Mulberry Mr Mulberry Mr Mulberry Mr Mulberry Mr Mulberry Pewson Doctor Garside Arthur Harris Sir William Ralston__ Sir John _ Mr Rencleaw _ Geoffrey Warren Dr Lloyd Leblond Curè Inspector Burroughs Sir Richard Wilson Lord Chief Justice __Williams Prosecuting Consel Doctor Kolenaty _ _ Sir Robert Quinlan Dr. Worthington Bindloss The Colonel Duke of Burgundy Colonel Winthrop National Trust man Monsieur Iamprou The Captain Wensley Prime Minister	adaptation of book _ _ _ a play of the RAF in the Western Desert repeat performance of above a play televised from The Granville Theatre, Walham Green, based on Richmal Crompton's books episode 3 'An Illness and a Birthday' episode 4 'Prisoners and Captives' episode 5 'Saviours of the Train' 'Mr. Lumber's Shop' segment episode 7 'The Hound in the Red Jersey' 'Mr. Lumber's Shop' segment 'Mr. Lumber's Shop' segment 'Mr. Lumber's Shop' segment 'Mr. Lumber's Shop' segment episode 10 'The Old Gentleman' episode 12 'The End of Things' two part comedy thriller for children, live, Part 1 Part One ‘Number Unknown’ re-performed Part Two ‘Address Unknown’ Part Two ‘Address Unknown’ re-performed episode 6 ‘The Second Stain’ as a villain play Children's Television details unknown Children's Television Children's Television, nativity play episode 1, with Hattie Jacques and Clive Dunn episode 1, with Hattie Jacques and Clive Dunn episode 1, with Hattie Jacques and Clive Dunn episode 1, with Hattie Jacques and Clive Dunn episode 1, with Hattie Jacques and Clive Dunn drama of a murder trial in Douglas Fairbanks Presents anthology ep. 'The Unwanted Child; or The Babe in the Wood' episode 'Clara The Maid of Durham, or Home Sweet Home' episode 'The Drunkard; or The Fallen Saved' in Douglas Fairbanks Presents anthology in Douglas Fairbanks Presents anthology episode 4 'The Search' in Errol Flynn Theatre anthology in Douglas Fairbanks Presents anthology episode ‘The Sealed Knot’ episode 5 'The Baby-Sitter' episode ‘The Lawyer: The Crown vs James S.’ ___________________________________ Sunday Night Theatre play Television Playhouse play episode 'Portrait in Emerald Green' not confirmed episode 'Silence For Sale' episode ‘The New Nose’ Play of the Week episode ‘The Horror Serial’ episode ‘The Avenger’ episode ‘The Servants’ episode ‘Lord Byron Lived Here’ episode 5 ‘The Long Weekend’ episode ‘The Cruise’ ITV Play of the Week episode 'Harry Lime and the King'	BBC _ BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC _ BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC ITV BBC BBC BBC _ BBC ITV NBC CBS NBC AR ABC (US) BBC _______ BBC ITV _ BBC ABC (US) BBC ITV BBC ITC BBC BBC ITC BBC ITV BBC	17 Apr 1938 _ 18 Dec 1938 19 Mar 1939 14 June 1946 17 June 1946 23 Dec 1946 _ 20 Feb 1951 27 Feb 1951 6 Mar 1951 17 Mar 1951 20 Mar 1951 28 Apr 1951 26 May 1951 23 Jun 1951 14 Jul 1951 17 July 1951 31 July 1951 1 Nov 1951 4 Nov 1951 8 Nov 1951 11 Nov 1951 1 Dec 1951 24 Dec 1951 1 Mar 1952 6 Jul 1952 15 Oct 1953 24 Oct 1953 24 Jul 1954 7 Aug 1954 21 Aug 1954 4 Sep 1954 18 Sept 1954 29 Mar 1955 27 June 1955 8 Aug 1955 30 Nov 1955 6 Dec 1955 _ 13 Dec 1955 _ 21 Jan 1956 9 July 1956 12 Oct 1956 24 Nov 1956 28 Jan 1957 21 Aug 1957 8 Nov 1957 2 Dec 1957 ____ 15 Dec 1957 7 Mar 1958 14 Mar 1958 2 Oct 1958 1959 16 Jan 1959 20 Jan 1959 30 Jan 1959 8 Feb 1959 27 Mar 1959 9 Oct 1959 11 Oct 1959 30 Oct 1959 10 Nov 1959 3 Dec 1959
Man From Interpol Hancock’s Half Hour Saber of London Danger Man The Pursuers Hancock Anna Karenina Ghost Squad A Tune On The Old Tax Fiddle Dial RIX Mr. Justice Duncannon This Is Your Life Hattie Jacques Mr. Justice Duncannon Hancock A Clerical Error The Brimstone Butterfly Long Past Glory The Avengers The Lady Of The Camellias The Master Of Santiago Sunday Story Sunday Story The Blackmailing of Mr. S The Bone Yard Thorndyke The Bachelors Tea Party The Bachelors Barnaby Spoot and the _Exploding Whoopee Cushion Memoirs Of A Chaise Longue A World of Comedy _ _ A World of Comedy _ _ Riviera Police Doctor Knock The Avengers Macready’s Gala Frankie Howerd Pardon The Expression Pardon The Expression Marriage Lines Pardon The Expression Pardon The Expression Comedy Half Hour The Caramel Crisis Adam Adamant Lives George And The Dragon _ Hugh And I All Gas And Gaiters An Absolute Treasure Mr Rose The Troubleshooters Further Adventures of_Lucky Jim To Lucifer - A Son Call My Bluff Two in Clover Dad’s Army Harry Worth Christmas Night With The Stars The Creative Impulse The Mind Of Mr JG Reeder The Last Train Through __ Harecastle Tunnel Christmas Night With The Stars The Coward Revue	Count Salon The Doctor Franz Alvarado Joe Raker Air Marshal ?? Volgu Toby Dixon George Frampton Mr. Justice Hoop himself Mr. Justice Hoop Ambrose Butterfield Caleb Bullrush Mr Slade Harry Doctor Macombie de Giray Don Bernal de la Encina himself himself Mr Sparrow Superintendant Melchior Pembury Octave de_Coetquidan Disley Patrick Seton Mr Bostock _ Creature Of Habit Magistrate, Psychologist, _ Solicitor, Man in _ Restaurant Magistrate, Psychologist, _ Solicitor, Man in _ Restaurant Jeremiah Canlon Dr. Parpalaid Benson Canon Dunwoodie guest Sir Charles Dobson Sir Charles Dobson Mr. Hopkins Sir Charles Dobson Sir Charles Dobson _ Lame Velmer Colonel Maynard _ _ Timothy Post Brian Turner Purser Kemp _ Lucifer contestant The Chairman Sgt Arthur Wilson _ Colonel Fullbright Sgt Arthur Wilson Mr. Albert Forester Joseph Bracher Judge Grayson _ Sgt Arthur Wilson Sgt Arthur Wilson	episode 'Odds On Murder' episode ‘The Cold’ episode 'The Diplomatic Affair' episode 1.10 ‘An Affair Of State’ episode 2 'The Husband' episode ‘The Lift’ not confirmed crime adventure, episode 'Death From a Distance' one hour play in ArmchairTheatre series topical farce, episode 'What A Drag' episode 'Brief to Counsel', comedy tribute show to his then wife actress episode 'A Case of Whisky' episode ‘The Politician’ one-off Galton & Simpson Comedy Playhouse Victorian period drama, 80 minutes one-off comedy drama by Len Deighton episode 'Mandrake' drama, with Billie Whitelaw, in Festival genre 90 minute drama in the Festival series Part 1 'In the Olive Garden', reading an Easter story Part 2 'In Joseph's Garden' Armchair Theatre play Wednesday Play episode 'A Case of Premeditation' ITV Play of the Week The Largest Theatre In The World genre in the 'Story Parade' series one-off sitcom, as a joke shop proprietor _ comedy by Marty Feldman & Barry Took episode 'Innocent But Insane' _ _ episode 'The Enormous Ear' _ _ episode 2 ‘That Kind of Girl’ Theatre 625 play, with Leonard Rossitter episode “What The Butler Saw” Wednesday Play comedy show episode 23 'The Take-Over Bid' episode 32 ‘Thunderfinger Part 1’ episode 'And Then There Were Five' episode 33 ‘Thunderfinger Part 2' episode 34 'The Switched On Scene' with Warren Mitchell. Recorded 3 March 1966 Thirty Minute Theatre, short drama episode “The Terribly Happy Embalmers” 26 episodes, starring John, Sid James and Peggy Mount episode 'Chinese Crackers', with Geoffrey Lumsden episode 'The Bishop Gets The Sack' Thirty Minute Theatre, short drama episode ‘The Jolly Swagman’, crime drama episode 'Some Days You Just Can't Win' episode 'Home James' one-off Comedy Playhouse with Patrick Campbell and Jocasta Innes episode 2 regular starring role for 80 episodes _ episode ‘Private Pimpernel’, with James Beck Dad’s Army insert, recorded 27 Oct 68 W. Somerset Maugham play episode ‘The Investors’, crime drama in the Wednesday Play genre _ Dad’s Army insert 'Resisting The Agressor' ‘Dad’s Army’ skit with Arthur Lowe, Clive Dunn	NBC BBC ITV ITV ITV BBC BBC ATV ABC BBC BBC ITV BBC ATV BBC AR ABC AR BBC BBC BBC BBC AR BBC 1 BBC 1 ITV BBC BBC 2 BBC _ BBC AR _ _ AR _ _ AR BBC ATV BBC BBC Granada Granada BBC 1 Granada Granada Granada BBC BBC ATV _ BBC BBC BBC Granada BBC BBC BBC BBC2 Thames BBC _ BBC BBC 1 BBC Thames BBC _ BBC 1 BBC	1960 4 Mar 1960 29 Aug 1960 13 Nov 1960 1961 16 Jun 1961 3 Nov 1961 4 Nov 1961 17 Dec 1961 5 Oct 1962 25 Jan 1963 12 Feb 1963 15 Feb 1963 7 Mar 1963 5 Apr 1963 16 Apr 1963 17 Nov 1963 24 Jan 1964 12 Feb 1964 26 Feb 1964 5 Apr 1964 12 Apr 1964 26 July 1964 30 Sep 1964 10 Oct 1964 23 Nov 1964 25 Mar 1965 1 Apr 1965 28 May 1965 _ 2 July 1965 16 Jul 1965 _ _ 30 Jul 1965 _ _ 9 Aug 1965 2 Jan 1966 26 Feb 1966 2 Mar 1966 8 Mar 1966 28 Mar 1966 30 May 1966 3 Jun 1966 6 Jun 1966 13 Jun 1966 1966 25 Apr 1966 4 Aug 1966 19 Nov 1966 - 31 Oct 1968 3 Jan 1967 31 Jan 1967 22 Feb 1967 17 Mar 1967 20 Mar 1967 30 May 1967 29 June 1967 25 Feb 1968 25 Feb 1968 31 July 1968 - 13 Nov 1977 21 Oct 1968 25 Dec 1968 17 Jun 1969 11 Jun 1969 1 Oct 1969 _ 25 Dec 1969 26 Dec 1969
Suffer Little Children Bird’s Eye View Haven Of Rest Royal TV Gala Performance The Des O’Connor Show Christmas Night With The __ Stars British Screen Awards _ Dear Mother...Love Albert This Is Your Life: Clive Dunn Morecambe And Wise Show Paul Temple Joker’s Wild Joker's Wild Misleading Cases Doctor At Large Traitor The Goodies Jason King Out Of The Box British Screen Awards Athlete Jackanory Jackanory _ Jackanory _ A Class By Himself _ Jackanory Jackanory _ Sykes Anywhere But England Old Boy Appeal Christmas Night With The __ Stars Marry The Girls Blue Peter Between The Wars Thriller The Sergeant From Sandhurst Rust Great Mysteries Crown Court Storyteller Francis Howerd In Concert Silver Wedding Brief Counter Village Hall The Flight Fund Death of an Old Fashioned Girl The Root Of All Evil Bod _ This Is Your Life: Arnold Ridley Storyteller Multi Coloured Swap Shop A Christmas Carol Morecambe And Wise Show Flint John Le Mesuirer Appeal An Honourable Retirement Ripping Yarns The 70s Stop Here	Henderson Guide Mr Prentice Sgt Arthur Wilson himself Sgt Arthur Wilson _ himself _ himself Sailor Sgt Wilson West himself himself Maurice Sason Mr Stanley Moon Adrian Harris Uncle Tom Doctor Litz ?? himself _ himself himself _ himself _ Lord Bleasham _ himself _ himself _ Lord Hetherington Freddie himself Sgt Arthur Wilson _ Luke Elms Sgt Wilson Mr Stubbs himself Sir Henry Sidney Goldsmith Reginald Standish himself? himself Geoffrey Stephen Harold Garfield Uncle Edward the patron Schmidt Narrator _ himself & Sgt Wilson Narrator Sgt Wilson Jacob Marley Sgt Wilson The Rev. Ossian Flint himself Colonel Runciman Sgt Arthur Wilson	Saturday Night Theatre episode “What A Lovely Day!”, documentary one-off old folk’s home sitcom Dad's Army sketch 'Guarding Buckingham Palace' guest on this variety show Dad’s Army insert 'The Choir Practise' _ supporting Jimmy Perry and David Croft who won an award for best television script for Dad’s Army episode 'Lost Weekend" guest on tribute show to Clive Dunn guest cameo, Arthur Lowe was main guest episode 'Paper Chase', crime series contestant on gameshow, also with Clive Dunn contestant on gameshow, with Clive Dunn episode ‘What Is A Snail?’, courtroom comedy episode ‘Mr Moon’ Play For Today genre episode “Farm Fresh Food”, aka ‘Health Farm’ episode 17, ‘If It’s Got To Go - It’s Got To Go’ ?? won Best Actor for the play Traitor episode 2 'Hurdles' read ‘Andy The Dandy Lion’, part 1 ‘The Red Trunk’ reading ‘Andy The Dandy Lion’, part 2 ‘Ten Million People’ reading ‘The 27th Annual African Hippopotamus Race’, part one ‘Six Days To Go’ starring role in six part aristocracy comedy _ reading ‘The 27th Annual African Hippopotamus Race’, part two ‘The Mighty Zamboots’ reading ‘The 27th Annual African Hippopotamus Race’ part three ‘On Your Marks’ episode 'Uncle', with ex-wife Hattie Jacques ‘Armchair Theatre’ play set in the Mediterranean made appeal for the Simon Community Trust Dad’s Army insert 'Broadcast To The Empire' _ Comedy Playhouse, starring role appearance with Arthur Lowe as Mainwaring 'Mr Loveday's Little Outing' play with Ronald Fraser episode ‘File It Under Fear’, UK/US-made On Camera documentary about John Le Mesurier comedy playlet in the series ‘Black And Blue’ episode ‘Death of an Old Fashioned Girl’ episode 'Murder Most Foul' probably children’s story with Frankie Howerd in a one-off stand-up show in the Late Night Theatre series US film for TV episode 'Pie in the Sky', anthology series 'Centre Play' drama, with Harold Bennett In Orson Welles' Great Mysteries anthology play in series ‘Shades Of Greene” 15 five minute cartoons for Watch With Mother, 13 episodes guest on tribute show to friend Arnold Ridley Episode 'The Treasure' by W. Somerset Maugham Children’s show, with Clive Dunn hour long Dickens adaptation Dad’s Army cameo with Lowe and Laurie drama in "Play of the Month" series making an appeal for the Simon Community Trust episode “Roger Of The Raj” I assume a clip show, included Arthur Lowe	ITV BBC BBC BBC 1 ATV BBC 1 _ BBC _ YTV Thames BBC BBC YTV YTV BBC LWT BBC BBC 2 ITC BBC ITV BBC 1 BBC BBC BBC _ HTV _ BBC _ BBC _ BBC Thames BBC1 BBC 1 BBC BBC LWT ATV BBC BBC Fox/Anglia Granada BBC YTV ITV ITC Granada BBC 1 Anglia Thames BBC _ Thames BBC 1 BBC BBC BBC BBC BBC 1 _ BBC 1 BBC 1	3 Jan 1970 22 Mar 1970 1 Apr 1970 24 May 1970 31 Jul 1970 25 Dec 1970 _ 4 Mar 1971 _ 8 Mar 1971 24 Mar 1971 22 Apr 1971 9 June 1971 7 July 1971 28 July 1971 6 Aug 1971 22 Aug 1971 14 Oct 1971 10 Dec 1971 16 Feb 1972 1972 1972 12 Jun 1972 11 Sep 1972 12 Sep 1972 _ 13 Sep 1972 _ 13 Sep 1972 - 18 Oct 1972 14 Sep 1972 _ 15 Sep 1972 _ 29 Sep 1972 31 Oct 1972 12 Nov 1972 25 Dec 1972 1 Feb 1973 22 Feb 1973 1 June 1973 2 June 1973 31 July 1973 4 Sept 1973 28 Nov 1973 27 Dec 1973 1974 18 Sept 1974 25 Sept 1974 12 Nov 1974 18 May 1975 14 Jul 1975 7 Oct 1975 25 Sep 1975 23 Dec 1975 - 9 Mar 1976 10 Mar 1976 10 Jul 1976 15 Oct 1977 24 Dec 1977 25 Dec 1977 15 Jan 1978 19 Feb 1978 1979 25 Oct 1979 31 Dec 1979
The Dick Emery Show The Shillingbury Blowers Worzel Gummidge Night of 100 Stars Behind The Scenes with... The __ Mermaid Theatre Brideshead Revisited Dead Ernest Bognor Bognor Bognor _ Hi-De-Hi A Married Man _ The Passionate Pilgrim Late Flowering Love The Unforgettable John Le __Mesurier ___________________________	guest Council Chairman Baines Sgt Arthur Wilson himself? _ Father Mulberry ??? Bright-Purley Bright-Purley Bright-Purley _ Hugo Buxton Eustace Lough _ Narrator Colonel Hunter Dunn himself and clips ____________________	comedy sketch show one off drama kid’s series, episode ‘Very Good Worzel’ variety celebration of British acting a special about the 30th anniversary of the theatre and its reopening after refurbishment episode 6 ‘Julia’ of epic mini-series comedy episode 'Just Desserts Part One - Scoff Not" ep. 'Just Desserts Part Two - A Health Warning" episode 'Just Desserts Part Three - The Fastest Cork In The West" (comedy-drama) episode 'Carnival Time' last TV role, aired posthumously, 4-part drama _ short film, aired posthumously dramatising Sir John Betjeman poem, made July 81 documentary series profiling famous stars ___________________________________________	BBC ITV Southern ITV BBC 1 _ BBC ITV Thames Thames Thames _ BBC LWT _ Anglia C4 ITV ________	5 Jan 1980 6 Jan 1980 3 Feb 1980 21 Dec 1980 24 Sep 1981 _ 17 Nov 1981 15 Feb 1982 9 Mar 1982 16 Mar 1982 23 Mar 1982 _ 7 Nov 1982 10 July 1984 - 31 July 1984 1984 3 Mar 1985 9 Sep 2001 ____________
TV Credits_____Radio Credits______Film Credits______Stage Credits______Other Work Back To Actors Back To Dad's Army Homepage