 John Le Mesurier became so closely associated with the role of ex-public school Sgt. Arthur Wilson in the TV series (BBC, 1968-1977) and film of Dad's Army (d. Norman Cohen, 1971), that one may forget that he appeared in over 100 films, often in one-scene cameos. He worked in a legal office before taking up acting, first in repertory at Birmingham, then with small roles in 'B' films. He became a jobbing character actor of the '50s and '60s, appearing in West End plays, numerous films and TV episodes, his persona making him ideal for bishops, neurotic high-ranking military officers - or racket-running from Dockland warehouses. Few films stand out, but he was well used by the Boulting brothers in Private's Progress (d. John Boulting, 1956), in which he memorably played an army psychiatrist with a 'tic', and in I'm All Right Jack (d. John Boulting, 1959), his comic genius was much in evidence as a sinister 'time and motion' expert. His best sustained screen acting is probably in Dennis Potter's TV play Traitor (BBC, tx. 14/10/1971). One of the most widely recognised and loved faces in British films, his trademark expressions included a world-weary sigh, a twitch, grimace and raised eyebrow. His second wife (of 3) was Hattie Jacques (1949-1965). Bibliography
John Le Mesurier, A Jobbing Actor, 1985;
Joan Le Mesurier, Dear John, 2001. Roger Philip Mellor, Encyclopedia of British Film
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FILM & TV CREDITS
