Eric Longworth
Encyclopedia
Eric Longworth was a British
actor, best known for his semi-regular part in Dad's Army
as Mr. Gordon, the town clerk of Walmington-on-Sea
.
Eric Groves Longworth was born in Shaw
, Lancashire
. He had decided from an early age to become an actor, but had his hopes dashed when his father died and Eric had to help support the family. He was 17 at the time. Up to his call up in 1939, which included a spell in Bombay, he had joined the Crompton Stage Society, a local amateur company, playing character parts to stall his ambitions.
After demob, he decided to go professional, joining the Oldham Coliseum Theatre
, staying with them for 11 years. He rose to become theatre manager at Oldham, and later became the manager of the old Guildford Theatre until 1963; at both theatres he continued to act, and occasionally direct, as well as managing. His first television appearance was in 1963, and was usually cast as civil servants or retired colonels. Longworth appeared in a 1972 episode of Lollipop
written by Jimmy Perry
, which could have led to him being chosen for the part of the Town Clerk. During the Dad's Army Stage Show, Longworth understudied (but, as he states, was thankfully never used for) Arthur Lowe
. He also made a few films, and spent time flying around the globe visiting family, mixed in with the occasional voice over work, and appearances for the DAAS
. He also appeared in other Jimmy Perry and David Croft sitcom Hi De Hi as a Head Waiter. Years Active 1963 - 1996
He had been a regular at Dad's Army events over the years. His most recent public appearance was at the Dad's Army 40th Birthday celebrations at the Imperial War Museum
in London
. He died on 20 August 2008. His funeral was held on 5 September.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actor, best known for his semi-regular part in Dad's Army
Dad's Army
Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show...
as Mr. Gordon, the town clerk of Walmington-on-Sea
Walmington-on-Sea
Walmington-on-Sea is a fictional seaside resort where the BBC Television sitcom, BBC radio series and film Dad's Army was based.Located on the channel coast of England in the county of Kent, the national "front line" following the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk during...
.
Eric Groves Longworth was born in Shaw
Shaw and Crompton
Shaw and Crompton is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Beal at the foothills of the South Pennines, north of Oldham, southeast of Rochdale, and to the northeast of the city of Manchester...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. He had decided from an early age to become an actor, but had his hopes dashed when his father died and Eric had to help support the family. He was 17 at the time. Up to his call up in 1939, which included a spell in Bombay, he had joined the Crompton Stage Society, a local amateur company, playing character parts to stall his ambitions.
After demob, he decided to go professional, joining the Oldham Coliseum Theatre
Oldham Coliseum Theatre
Oldham Coliseum Theatre is a theatre in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England.Oldham Coliseum is a building-based producing theatre. It has a capacity in its main auditorium of 585 seats; in addition the theatre has a studio with a capacity of 50 seats...
, staying with them for 11 years. He rose to become theatre manager at Oldham, and later became the manager of the old Guildford Theatre until 1963; at both theatres he continued to act, and occasionally direct, as well as managing. His first television appearance was in 1963, and was usually cast as civil servants or retired colonels. Longworth appeared in a 1972 episode of Lollipop
Lollipop
A lollipop, pop, lolly, sucker, or sticky-pop is a type of confectionery consisting mainly of hardened, flavored sucrose with corn syrup mounted on a stick and intended for sucking or licking. They are available in many flavors and shapes.- Types :Lollipops are available in a number of colors and...
written by Jimmy Perry
Jimmy Perry
Jimmy Perry OBE is an English writer, scriptwriter, producer, author and actor, most famous for devising and co-writing the BBC sitcoms Dad's Army with David Croft.-Education:...
, which could have led to him being chosen for the part of the Town Clerk. During the Dad's Army Stage Show, Longworth understudied (but, as he states, was thankfully never used for) Arthur Lowe
Arthur Lowe
Arthur Lowe was a BAFTA Award winning English actor. He was best known for playing Captain George Mainwaring in the popular British sitcom Dad's Army from 1968 until 1977.-Early life:...
. He also made a few films, and spent time flying around the globe visiting family, mixed in with the occasional voice over work, and appearances for the DAAS
Dad's Army Appreciation Society
The Dad's Army Appreciation Society is an organisation to remember the British television show Dad's Army. It is run by a small group of individuals and has over 1700 members.-History:...
. He also appeared in other Jimmy Perry and David Croft sitcom Hi De Hi as a Head Waiter. Years Active 1963 - 1996
He had been a regular at Dad's Army events over the years. His most recent public appearance was at the Dad's Army 40th Birthday celebrations at the Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He died on 20 August 2008. His funeral was held on 5 September.
Selected filmography
- All Neat in Black StockingsAll Neat in Black StockingsAll Neat in Black Stockings is a 1968 British comedy film directed by Christopher Morahan and starring Victor Henry, Susan George and Jack Shepherd. It is based on a novel by Jane Gaskell...
(1968) - Foreign ExchangeForeign Exchange (1970 film)Foreign Exchange is a 1970 British television thriller film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Robert Horton, Sebastian Cabot and Jill St. John. It was based on a novel by Jimmy Sangster. A former British spy arranges an exchange of captured spies with Russia.-Cast:* Robert Horton ... John...
(1970, TV film) - Perfect FridayPerfect FridayPerfect Friday is a British bank-heist film released in 1970, directed by Peter Hall. It stars Ursula Andress as Lady Britt Dorset, Stanley Baker as Mr Graham, David Warner as Lord Nicholas Dorset and T. P. McKenna as Smith.-Plot:...
(1970) - No Sex Please, We're BritishNo Sex Please, We're British (film)No Sex Please, We're British is a 1973 British comedy film directed by Cliff Owen and starring Ronnie Corbett, Ian Ogilvy, Susan Penhaligon and Arthur Lowe...
(1973)
External links
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/3062751/Eric-Longworth.htmlObituary in The TelegraphThe Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
] - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article4902121.eceObituary in The TimesThe TimesThe Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
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