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Born: April 5, 1912 – Died: November 15, 1983
John Le Mesurier, the renowned British actor best known for his role in "Dad's Army", was born on April 5, 1912. Born to a solicitor father, he initially pursued a career in law but eventually followed his true passion for acting. Le Mesurier's journey in the entertainment industry began when he studied drama at the Fay Compton School of Acting, alongside notable actor Alec Guinness. From there, he made his mark in both films and television, delivering exceptional performances in comedy as well as drama. With a career spanning several decades, Le Mesurier's contributions to the entertainment industry continue to be celebrated.
Early Life and Career
John Le Mesurier's first professional role was in the film "The Passing of the Third Floor Back" (1935). He later appeared in numerous films, including notable roles in "The Italian Job" (1969) and "The adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother" (1975). However, it was his role as Sergeant Wilson in the long-running television series "Dad's Army" (1968-1977) that catapulted him into stardom. Le Mesurier's portrayal of Sgt. Wilson became one of his most popular and beloved performances, earning him recognition and acclaim from audiences.
Throughout his career, John Le Mesurier won several awards for his acting talent. He received a BAFTA award for Best Actor of the Year in 1971 for his performance in "Traitor" (TV movie). His role in "Dad's Army" also garnered him widespread appreciation and made him a household name in the United Kingdom.
Le Mesurier was married multiple times, including a well-known marriage to actors Hattie Jacques. They divorced in 1965. Le Mesurier did not have any children.
John Le Mesurier's impact on the entertainment industry lies in his versatility as an actor. He showcased his talent in both comedic and dramatic roles, earning him respect from critics and fellow actors alike. His portrayal of Sgt. Wilson in "Dad's Army" solidified his status as a beloved television figure. Le Mesurier's skillful performances and his contributions to the industry have made him an enduring figure in British television and film history.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dad's Army: The Missing Episodes (TV Mini Series) | Sergeant Wilson |
| 2007 | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Video) | (voice) |
| 1984 | The Passionate Pilgrim (Short) | Narrator |
| 1984 | Facelift | Bruce (voice) |
| 1983 | A Married Man (TV Mini Series) | Eustace Lough |
| 1982 | Hi-de-Hi! (TV Series) | Hugo Buxton |
| 1982 | Bognor (TV Series) | Blight-Purley |
| 1982 | Dead Ernest (TV Series) | Head of Plagues |
| 1981 | Brideshead Revisited (TV Mini Series) | Father Mowbray |
| 1981 | Late Flowering Love (Short) | Col. Hunter Dunn (segment "A Subaltern's Love-Song") |
| 1980 | The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu | Perkins |
| 1980 | Worzel Gummidge (TV Series) | Baines |
| 1980 | Shillingbury Tales (TV Series) | Council Chairman |
| 1980 | ...And the Band Played On (TV Movie) | Council Chairman |
| 1980 | The Dick Emery Show (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1979 | An Honourable Retirement (TV Movie) | Edward Brown |
| 1979 | Ripping Yarns (TV Series) | Colonel Runciman |
| 1979 | Unidentified Flying Oddball | Sir Gawain (as John le Mesurier) |
| 1978 | Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? | Dr. Deere |
| 1978 | Rosie Dixon - Night Nurse | Sir Archibald MacGregor |
| 1978 | BBC Play of the Month (TV Series) | Ossian Flint |
| 1977 | What's Up Nurse! | Dr. Ogden |
| 1971–1977 | The Morecambe & Wise Show (TV Series) | Sgt. Arthur Wilson | Captain Bligh's Crewman |
| 1977 | A Christmas Carol (TV Movie) | Marley's Ghost |
| 1968–1977 | Dad's Army (TV Series) | Sgt. Arthur Wilson | Colonel Smythe |
| 1977 | Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers | Col. Bromley-Pickering |
| 1977 | Jabberwocky | The Chamberlain |
| 1975 | Bod (TV Series) | Narrator (voice) |
| 1975 | The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother | Lord Redcliff |
| 1975 | Shades of Greene (TV Series) | Schmidt |
| 1975 | Centre Play (TV Series) | Uncle Edward |
| 1975 | Three for All | Mr. Gibbons |
| 1975 | Village Hall (TV Series) | Harold Garfield |
| 1974 | Barry McKenzie Holds His Own | Robert Crowther |
| 1974 | Brief Encounter (TV Movie) | Stephen |
| 1974 | Late Night Drama (TV Series) | Geoffrey |
| 1974 | Confessions of a Window Cleaner | Inspector Radlett |
| 1963–1974 | Comedy Playhouse (TV Series) | Judge | Luke Elms | Mr. Prentice ... |
| 1973 | Crown Court (TV Series) | Reginald Standish |
| 1973 | Orson Welles' Great Mysteries (TV Series) | Sidney Goldsmith |
| 1973 | Black and Blue (TV Series) | Sir Henry |
| 1973 | Rust (TV Movie) | Unknown |
| 1973 | Thriller (TV Series) | Stubbs |
| 1973 | Between the Wars (TV Series) | Lord Moping |
| 1973 | Blue Peter (TV Series) | Sgt. Arthur Wilson |
| 1968–1972 | A Christmas Night with the Stars (TV Series) | Sergeant Wilson - Dad's Army segment | Sergeant Arthur Wilson - Dad's Army segment | Sergeant Arthur Wilson |
| 1961–1972 | Armchair Theatre (TV Series) | Freddie | Harry | Mr. Elvin |
| 1971–1972 | A Class by Himself (TV Series) | Lord Bleasham | Lord Shepton |
| 1972 | Sykes (TV Series) | Lord Hetherington |
| 1972 | The Alf Garnett Saga | Mr. Ronald Frewin |
| 1972 | Au Pair Girls | Mr. Wainwright |
| 1972 | Jason King (TV Series) | Doctor Litz |
| 1971 | The Goodies (TV Series) | Uncle Tom |
| 1971 | Play for Today (TV Series) | Adrian Harris |
| 1971 | Doctor at Large (TV Series) | Stanley Moon |
| 1971 | Misleading Cases (TV Series) | Mr. Mason |
| 1971 | Paul Temple (TV Series) | West |
| 1971 | Dad's Army | Sgt. Wilson |
| 1971 | Dear Mother... ...Love Albert (TV Series) | Vicar |
| 1970 | On a Clear Day You Can See Forever | Pelham |
| 1970 | Doctor in Trouble | Purser (as John le Mesurier) |
| 1970 | Shine a Light (TV Series) | Lighthouseman Lionel Parrott |
| 1970 | ITV Saturday Night Theatre (TV Series) | Henderson |
| 1969 | The Coward Revue (TV Movie) | Sgt. Arthur Wilson |
| 1969 | The Magic Christian | Sir John (uncredited) |
| 1969 | The Undertakers (Short) | Vicar |
| 1966–1969 | The Wednesday Play (TV Series) | Judge Grayson | Canon Dunwoodie | Superintendent Melchior |
| 1969 | W. Somerset Maugham (TV Series) | Albert Forrester |
| 1969 | The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder (TV Series) | Joseph Bracher |
| 1969 | The Italian Job | Governor |
| 1969 | Midas Run | Wells |
| 1969 | Two in Clover (TV Series) | Chairman |
| 1966–1968 | George and the Dragon (TV Series) | Colonel Maynard |
| 1968 | Harry Worth (TV Series) | Colonel Fullbright |
| 1968 | Salt and Pepper | Col. Woodstock |
| 1967 | The Inn Way Out (Short) | Pub Bore |
| 1967 | The Cuckoo Patrol | Gibbs |
| 1967 | The Further Adventures of Lucky Jim (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1967 | Casino Royale | M's Driver (uncredited) |
| 1967 | Mister Ten Per Cent | Jocelyn Macauley |
| 1967 | Mogul (TV Series) | Kemp |
| 1967 | Mr. Rose (TV Series) | Purser |
| 1966–1967 | Thirty-Minute Theatre (TV Series) | Brian Turner | Lame |
| 1967 | The 25th Hour | Tribunal President |
| 1967 | All Gas and Gaiters (TV Series) | Timothy Post, the television producer |
| 1967 | Hugh and I (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1966 | Finders Keepers | Mr. X |
| 1966 | Eye of the Devil | Dr. Monnet |
| 1966 | Adam Adamant Lives! (TV Series) | Velmer (as John le Mesurier) |
| 1966 | The Sandwich Man | Religious Sandwich Man |
| 1966 | Pardon the Expression (TV Series) | Sir Charles Dobson |
| 1966 | The Marriage Lines (TV Series) | Mr. Hopkins |
| 1966 | The Wrong Box | Doctor Slattery |
| 1966 | Bang! Bang! You're Dead! | George C. Lillywhite |
| 1966 | Frankie Howerd (TV Series) | Jocelyn |
| 1964–1966 | The Avengers (TV Series) | Benson | Dr. Macombie |
| 1966 | Theatre 625 (TV Series) | Dr. Parpalaid |
| 1965 | Where the Spies Are | MacGillivray |
| 1965 | The Liquidator | Chekhov |
| 1965 | The Early Bird | Colonel Foster (golf partner) |
| 1965 | Riviera Police (TV Series) | Jeremiah Canlon |
| 1965 | A World of Comedy (TV Mini Series) | Magistrate | Psychiatrist | Solicitor ... |
| 1965 | Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes | French Painter |
| 1965 | City in the Sea | Rev. Jonathan Ives |
| 1965 | Masquerade | Sir Robert |
| 1965 | Story Parade (TV Series) | Patrick Seton |
| 1965 | Operation Crossbow | British Army Officer (scenes deleted) |
| 1965 | Tea Party (TV Movie) | Disley |
| 1959–1964 | ITV Play of the Week (TV Series) | Octave de Coetquidan | Wensley | Bindloss |
| 1964 | Thorndyke (TV Series) | Pembury |
| 1964 | Armchair Mystery Theatre (TV Series) | Mr. Sparrow |
| 1964 | The Moon-Spinners | Anthony Gamble |
| 1964 | Room at the Bottom (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1964 | Never Put It in Writing | Adams |
| 1964 | Agent 8 3/4 | Roger Allsop |
| 1964 | Festival (TV Series) | Don Bernal de la Encina | de Giray |
| 1963 | The Pink Panther | Defence Barrister (as John LeMesurier) |
| 1963 | In the Cool of the Day | Dr. Arraman |
| 1963 | The Mouse on the Moon | British Delegate |
| 1963 | The Punch and Judy Man | Charles Ford (Sandman) |
| 1963 | The Wrong Arm of the Law | Assistant Commissioner |
| 1963 | Hancock (TV Series) | Ambrose Butterfield |
| 1963 | Mr. Justice Duncannon (TV Series) | Mr. Justice Hoop |
| 1962 | We Joined the Navy | Dewberry Sr. |
| 1962 | The Main Attraction | Bozo (as John LeMesurier) |
| 1962 | Dial RIX (TV Series) | George Frampton |
| 1962 | Jigsaw | Mr. Simpson |
| 1962 | Mrs. Gibbons' Boys | Coles |
| 1962 | Go to Blazes | Fisherman |
| 1962 | Waltz of the Toreadors | Rev. Grimsley |
| 1962 | Village of Daughters | Don Calogere |
| 1962 | Flat Two | Warden |
| 1962 | The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre (TV Series) | Warden |
| 1962 | Hair of the Dog | Sir Mortimer Gallant |
| 1962 | Only Two Can Play | Salter |
| 1961 | The Pursuers (TV Series) | Joe Raker |
| 1961 | Ghost Squad (TV Series) | Volgu |
| 1961 | On the Fiddle | Hixon |
| 1961 | Invasion Quartet | Colonel |
| 1961 | Hancock (TV Series) | The Air Marshall |
| 1961 | Why Bother to Knock | Father |
| 1961 | A Coming-Out Party | Piggott, Escape Officer |
| 1961 | I Like Money | Blackmailer |
| 1961 | Call Me Genius | Office Manager |
| 1961 | Five Golden Hours | Dr. Alfieri |
| 1961 | The Night We Got the Bird | Clerk of the Court |
| 1960 | The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's | Minister of Education |
| 1960 | The Bulldog Breed | Prosecuting Counsel |
| 1960 | Danger Man (TV Series) | Alvarado |
| 1960 | Doctor in Love | Dr. Mincing |
| 1960 | Dead Lucky | Inspector Corcoran |
| 1960 | Never Let Go | Pennington |
| 1960 | The Day They Robbed the Bank of England | Green |
| 1957–1960 | Hancock's Half Hour (TV Series) | Doctor Callaghan | Ship's Captain | National Trust official ... |
| 1960 | Somerset Maugham Hour (TV Series) | Colonel Brabazon |
| 1960 | School for Scoundrels | Head Waiter |
| 1960 | Let's Get Married | Dean |
| 1960 | Man from Interpol (TV Series) | Count Salon |
| 1960 | A Touch of Larceny | Head of the Admiralty (uncredited) |
| 1957–1959 | The Vise (TV Series) | Sir Robert Quinlan | Professor Franz Tomulkin | Wilson |
| 1959 | Desert Mice | Staff Colonel |
| 1959 | Our Man in Havana | Louis - Waiter (uncredited) |
| 1959 | Follow a Star | Birkett |
| 1959 | The Third Man (TV Series) | Prime Minister |
| 1959 | Ben-Hur | Doctor (uncredited) |
| 1959 | The Wreck of the Mary Deare | M.O.A. Lawyer (uncredited) |
| 1959 | Interpol Calling (TV Series) | Monsieur Iamprou |
| 1959 | I'm All Right Jack | Waters |
| 1959 | Shake Hands with the Devil | British General |
| 1959 | Jack the Ripper | Dr. Tranter |
| 1959 | The Hound of the Baskervilles | Barrymore |
| 1959 | William Tell (TV Series) | Duke of Burgundy |
| 1959 | Man in a Cocked Hat | Grand Duke Alexis |
| 1959 | Too Many Crooks | Magistrate |
| 1959 | The Lady Is a Square | Fergusson |
| 1959 | Operation Amsterdam | Colonel Janssen |
| 1959 | The Captain's Table | Sir Angus |
| 1958 | Target (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1958 | Hell, Heaven or Hoboken | Adjutant R.A.P.C. |
| 1958 | Man with a Gun | Harry Drayson |
| 1958 | Blood of the Vampire | Judge |
| 1958 | Blind Spot | Mr. Brent |
| 1958 | Law and Disorder | Sir Humphrey Pomfret |
| 1958 | The Moonraker | Cromwell |
| 1958 | Another Time, Another Place | Dr. Aldridge |
| 1958 | Gideon of Scotland Yard | Prosecuting Barrister (uncredited) |
| 1958 | Sword of Freedom (TV Series) | Guilio Basti |
| 1957–1958 | ITV Television Playhouse (TV Series) | Dr. Kulenaty | Luigi |
| 1958 | Happy Is the Bride | William Chaytor |
| 1958 | The Man Who Wouldn't Talk | Judge |
| 1957 | BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (TV Series) | Prosecuting Counsel |
| 1957 | High Flight | Commandant |
| 1957 | The Gay Cavalier (TV Series) | Sir Richard Willis |
| 1957 | Dangerous Youth | Commanding Officer |
| 1957 | Paradise Lagoon | Monsieur Fleury (uncredited) |
| 1957 | The Good Companions | Monte Mortimer |
| 1957 | Brothers in Law | His Honour Judge Ryman |
| 1955–1957 | Rheingold Theatre (TV Series) | Inspector Burroughs | Dr. Lloyd | Geoffrey Warren ... |
| 1956 | The Errol Flynn Theatre (TV Series) | Curé |
| 1956 | Pursuit of the Graf Spee | Rev. George Groves - Padre, HMS Exeter (uncredited) |
| 1956 | Assignment Foreign Legion (TV Series) | Leblond |
| 1956 | The Baby and the Battleship | The Marshal's Aide |
| 1956 | Private's Progress | Psychiatrist |
| 1955 | The Granville Melodramas (TV Series) | Mr. Rencelaw | Sir John | Sir William Ralston |
| 1955 | A Time to Kill | Phineas Tilliard |
| 1955 | Josephine and Men | Registrar |
| 1955 | Twenty Minutes South (TV Movie) | Arthur Harris |
| 1955 | Police Dog | Inspector (as John Lemesurier) |
| 1955 | Make Me an Offer! | Mr. Toshack (uncredited) |
| 1955 | The Unguarded Hour (TV Movie) | Pewson |
| 1954 | Happy Holidays (TV Series) | Mr. Mulberry |
| 1954 | The Venusian | Man at Desk (uncredited) |
| 1954 | Twist of Fate | Man at Baccarat Table |
| 1954 | Dangerous Cargo | Luigi |
| 1953 | The Pleasure Garden (Short) | Col. Pall K Gargoyle |
| 1953 | A Time to Be Born (TV Movie) | An Innkeeper |
| 1953 | Black 13 | Inspector |
| 1953 | The Blue Parrot | Henry Carson |
| 1953 | In Search of Maitland (TV Movie) | Doctor Martin |
| 1953 | The Drayton Case (Short) | Divisional Superintendent Henley |
| 1952 | Vampire Over London | Scotland Yard Man (uncredited) |
| 1952 | Saturday Special (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1952 | The Twelfth Brother (TV Movie) | Judah (6th July version) |
| 1952 | Blind Man's Bluff | Lefty Jones |
| 1951 | A Time to Be Born (TV Movie) | Joseph |
| 1951 | Never Take No for an Answer | Unknown |
| 1951 | Sherlock Holmes (TV Mini Series) | Eduardo Lucas |
| 1951 | Show Me a Spy (TV Series) | Sir Alexander Blythe |
| 1951 | The Railway Children (TV Series) | Dr. Forrest | Doctor |
| 1951 | Whirligig (TV Series) | Mr. Lumber's Shop segment |
| 1950 | Dark Interval | Cedric, the butler |
| 1949 | A Matter of Murder | Ginter |
| 1949 | Old Mother Riley's New Venture | Karl (as John Le Meseurier) |
| 1948 | Escape from Broadmoor (Short) | Pendicot |
| 1948 | Death in the Hand (Short) | Jack Mottram |
| 1947 | The Hangman Waits | Newspaper Office Worker (uncredited) |
| 1946 | Just William (TV Movie) | Unknown |
| 1946 | They Flew Through Sand (TV Movie) | R.A.F. press officer |
| 1938 | Richard of Bordeaux (TV Movie) | Sir John Montague |
| 1938 | The Marvellous History of St. Bernard (TV Movie) | Seigneur de Miolans |
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