Guest Actor Biography
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Guest Actor Biography |
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by Pete Stampede, Alan Hayes and David K. Smith Arnold Ridley has a place in TV Heaven as the vague, frail Private Godfrey in Dad's Army - a role he took on at the tender age of 72! He had earlier been a playwright, and his most successful work, The Ghost Train, was filmed twice (including a television adaptation transmitted as early as 1937). Sad but true story: he ended up signing away his royalties to these plays, and so had to end up doing bit parts like this into his old age. His work was recognised however, when he was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire). Born 7 January 1896 in Bath, Somerset, England, he was a director in addition to being a playwright and actor, having directed Royal Eagle (1936). He died 12 March 1984. Links: It really is touching to see how much interest there still is in Dad's Army, as shown by the number of related sites. The Dad's Army Appreciation Society's site is, if anything, even more comprehensive, with full listings of episodes (including, sadly, the ones that ended up being wiped), articles on spin-offs, like the forgotten radio sequel It Sticks Out Half a Mile (I thought I was the only one who remembers that!), and reports on the Society's conventions and activities; several of the surviving cast and production team have been in touch. Of the several unofficial sites, I like Andy's Dad's Army Web Site, which has some very rare interviews with the stars, from the time the show was first broadcast. Strange But True: The Dad's Army Appreciation Society produce a Dad's Army Handbook, the basis of which is a 1996 episode guidebook, Dad's Army: A Guide to Television, Radio, Film and Stage, written by TheAvengers.TV family webmasters, Alan and Alys Hayes! |
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