RalphC Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Early life Born in Covent Garden, Westminster, Dunn is the cousin of actress Gretchen Franklin. As a child, he almost died while having a supernumerary nipple removed. Dunn was educated at Sevenoaks School, an independent boarding school for boys (now coeducational), in the town of Sevenoaks in Kent in south east England. After leaving school, Dunn studied at the independent Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, in London. Career Dunn played small film roles from the 1930s onwards, appearing alongside Will Hay in the films Boys Will Be Boys (1935) and Good Morning, Boys (1937). After a break for service in the army with the 4th Queen's Own Hussars, during the Second World War, during the course of which he spent four years in prisoner-of-war and labour camps in Austria, he worked for many years in music halls and theatres. In 1956 and 1957, Dunn appeared in both series of The Tony Hancock Show and the army reunion party episode of Hancock's Half Hour in 1960. In the 1960s he made many appearances with Tony Hancock, Michael Bentine, Dora Bryan and Dick Emery, among others, before winning the role of Jones in Dad's Army in 1968. From an early time his trademark character was that of a doddering old man. This first made an impression in the show Bootsie and Snudge, a spinoff from The Army Game. Dunn played the old dogsbody,"Mr Johnson" at a slightly seedy gentlemen's club where the characters Pte. "Bootsie" Bisley (Alfie Bass) and Sgt. Claude Snudge (Bill Fraser) found work after leaving the Army. In 1967 he made a guest appearance in an episode of The Avengers, playing the proprietor of a toy shop in "Something Nasty in the Nursery". He was also one of the alien voices in the Cadbury's Smash advertisements in the 1970s, alongside Dad's Army co-star Bill Pertwee. Dunn was one of the younger members of the Dad's Army cast when, at 48, he took on the role of the elderly butcher whose military service in earlier wars made him the most experienced member of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard, as well as one of the most decrepit. Jack Haig and David Jason had previously been considered for the role. Dunn's staunch socialist beliefs often caused him to fall out with Arthur Lowe, who played Captain Mainwaring and who was an active Conservative. When the series ended and Dunn finally accepted an OBE, after many offers, it was reported that Lowe would only accept a higher-rated honour from the Queen. After Dad's Army ended, Dunn capitalised on his skill in playing elderly character roles by playing the lead character Charlie Quick in the slapstick children's TV series Grandad, from 1979 to 1984 (he played the caretaker at a village hall, and sung the lyrics in the theme). He had previously had a number one hit single with the song "Grandad" on his 51st birthday in January 1971, accompanied by a children's choir. The song was written by bassist Herbie Flowers. He performed the song four times on Top of the Pops. The B-side of "Grandad", "I Play The Spoons", also received considerable airplay. After the cancellation of Grandad in 1984, he effectively disappeared from the screen, retiring to Portugal. Following the success of the "Grandad" record, Dunn released several other singles. Personal life He married actress Priscilla Pughe-Morgan (born 14 January 1934[8]) in June 1959[9] and they have two daughters, Polly and Jessica. Both of Dunn's parents were actors; he lived with his family in Portugal. A 2006 article described Dunn as having eye trouble and sometimes being unable to see, but otherwise he appears to be in good health.[1] In August 2008, he recorded a message for the programme Jonathan Ross Salutes Dad's Army, which was shown to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Dad's Army. He was, along with Ian Lavender, Bill Pertwee, Frank Williams and Pamela Cundell, for several years one of few surviving members of the Dad's Army cast. Family Dunn's cousin Gretchen Franklin was also a television actress, best remembered as Ethel Skinner in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Dunn was amongst relatives to inherit a share in Franklin's estate following her 2005 death. Death Clive Dunn died on November 7th, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Yes, very sad, another comedy icon bites the dust, presumably that just leaves Private Pike alive now from the entire Dad's Army cast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 RIP Clive. Rhodes is right - only Ian Lavender left now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loose Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I thought he was in his nineties in the seventies! RIP Clive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hookey Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 RIP Clive. Rhodes is right - only Ian Lavender left now. Rhodes is wrong, ARP Warden Hodges (Bill Pertwee) is still alive. As he said "Entire Cast" he can't say he just meant the soldiers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edinburgh Exile Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Frank Williams, the vicar, is also still with us as well. Very sad to hear about Clive Dunn though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I honestly thought Bill had left this mortal coil years ago - my mistake! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missunderstood Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Corporal Jones was my favourite character in my all time favourite TV programme. BTW also still alive are Frank Williams (the vicar) and Pamela Cundell (Mr Fox) RIP Clive Dunn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_W Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Very sad - recently been watching some old Dads Army episodes that we have not seen before - not sure how that is possible mind. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyDi Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 RIP Clive..everyone's favourite "Grandad" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUFC Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 BTW also still alive Pamela Cundell (Mr Fox) Sex change? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missunderstood Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Sex change? Oops, senior moment I'm afraid. Meant to say MRS Fox is still with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savagebee Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 R.I.P Ive got the Dads Army box set great stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big J R Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Sad sad loss. I still always watch the re-runs of 'Dad's Army' on BBC 1, Saturday evenings. R.I.P. Clive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEVEN TEARS BOY Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 RIP 'Grandad' - still play that from time to time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savagebee Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big J R Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 The late great Clive Dunn, (L/Cpl Jones), with Noel Edmonds. ENJOY !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savagebee Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Frank Williams, the vicar, is also still with us as well He must be in his nineties then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horace Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 81 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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