Born:
February 22, 1926
in
London
Best Known For:
Being a member of the Carry On team.
Early-life:
Kenneth Charles Williams was born in London on February 22, 1926. He joined the Army in 1944 and first performed on stage in the Combined Services Entertainment alongside Stanley Baxter and Peter Nichols.
Career:
After leaving the Army, Williams landed work as a professional actor in repertory companies. On the strength of his performance in a production of Saint Joan, he was hired by a radio producer to do voice characterisations in radio comedy Hancock's Half Hour. His popularity on radio soared in the 1950s and 1960s when he starred with Kenneth Horne in Beyond Our Ken and Round the Horne. Williams also appeared in a number of revues on the stage in the West End, but he was best remembered for his comedy roles on the big screen in the Carry On films. He appeared in 25 of the Carry On films between 1958 and 1978. When the film work dried up, he became a regular on TV talk shows. He died on April 15, 1988 at the age of 62.
Quote:
His catchphrase: "Oh, stop messing about."
Trivia:
The posthumous publication of his diaries and letters caused controversy because he had criticised a number of his fellow performers.