John Walter Lawrence Clegg (born 9 July 1934) is an Indian-born

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), lit ...

, best known for playing the part of Gunner '

Paderewski Ignacy Jan Paderewski (; – 29 June 1941) was a Polish pianist and composer who became a spokesman for Polish independence. In 1919, he was the new nation's Prime Minister and foreign minister during which he signed the Treaty of Versail ...

' Graham in the BBC

sitcom A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ...

It Ain't Half Hot Mum ''It Ain't Half Hot, Mum'' is a BBC television sitcom about a Royal Artillery concert party based in Deolali in British India and the fictional village of Tin Min in Burma, during the last months of the Second World War. It was written by Jimm ...

''.

Early life and career

Clegg was born on 9 July 1934 in

Murree Murree (Punjabi, Urdu: مری) is a mountain resort city, located in the Galyat region of the Pir Panjal Range, within the Muree District of Punjab, Pakistan. It forms the outskirts of the Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area, and is about ...

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...

(present-day

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

) to English parents. When he and his parents arrived back in England, Clegg became a student at

RADA The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA; ) is a drama school in London, England, that provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London, close to the S ...

. After leaving

Clegg joined the Watford Palace Theatre Company, where he met

Jimmy Perry James Perry, (20 September 1923 – 23 October 2016)Simon Morgan-Russell, "Perry, James (Jimmy) (1923–2016)", ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, Jan 202available online Retrieved 25 August 2020. was an Engli ...

, who would go on to cast Clegg in the role for which he is best known. It was there that he also met many of his future co-stars, including Michael Knowles,

Donald Hewlett Donald Marland Hewlett (30 August 1920 – 4 June 2011) was a British actor who was best known for his sitcom roles as Colonel Charles Reynolds in ''It Ain't Half Hot Mum'' and Lord Meldrum in '' You Rang, M'Lord?'', both written by Jimmy Perry ...

, and

Mavis Pugh Mavis Gladys Fox Pugh (25 June 1914 – 6 December 2006) was a British actress who made many appearances (typically playing upper-class women) in several sitcoms including ''Dad's Army'', ''Are You Being Served?'' and ''Fawlty Towers''. Her best ...

(whom he married in 1959). Pugh appeared in Croft and

Perry Perry, also known as pear cider, is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented pears, traditionally the perry pear. It has been common for centuries in England, particularly in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire. It is also mad ...

sitcoms including ''

Dad's Army ''Dad's Army'' is a British television sitcom about the United Kingdom's Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, and originally broadcast on BBC1 from 31 July 1968 to 13 November 1977. It ran fo ...

'', ''

'' and ''

Hi-de-Hi! ''Hi-de-Hi!'' is a BBC television sitcom shown on BBC1 from 1 January 1980 to 30 January 1988. Set in 1959 and 1960 in Maplins, a fictional holiday camp, the show was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, who also wrote '' Dad's Army'' an ...

'', but she is best known for playing Lady Lavender Southwick in ''

You Rang, M'Lord? ''You Rang, M'Lord?'' is a BBC television sitcom written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, the creators of ''Dad's Army''. It was broadcast between 1990 and 1993 on the BBC (although there had earlier been a pilot episode in 1988). The show was s ...

''. Due to the twenty year age gap between Clegg and Pugh many were sceptical as to whether the marriage would last, apart from Jimmy Perry and his wife Gillian. After the wedding there was a whip-round at the theatre which collected enough money to buy what Clegg described in an interview as ‘lots of practical things, like sponges and cloths - the most practical things you could imagine.’ During his time at Watford, Clegg appeared in many performances including

farce Farce is a comedy that seeks to entertain an audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, ridiculous, absurd, and improbable. Farce is also characterized by heavy use of physical humor; the use of deliberate absurdity o ...

s such as ''

Charley's Aunt ''Charley's Aunt'' is a farce in three acts written by Brandon Thomas. The story centres on Lord Fancourt Babberley, an undergraduate whose friends Jack and Charley persuade him to impersonate the latter's aunt. The complications of the plot in ...

'' and '' The Happiest Days of Your Life''. He also appeared in thrillers such as '' Gas Light''.

Later television and film career

Clegg's first television role was as D.C. Greaves in '' Dixon of Dock Green'' in 1961. Clegg’s first film appearance was as a minor role in the 1967

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as brea ...

Half a Sixpence ''Half a Sixpence'' is a 1963 musical comedy based on the 1905 novel ''Kipps'' by H. G. Wells, with music and lyrics by David Heneker and a book by Beverley Cross. It was written as a vehicle for British pop star Tommy Steele. Background ...

'', playing a shop assistant. He then went on to make many television appearances including the dramatised documentary ''The Gunpowder Plot'' in which he playing

Francis Tresham Francis Tresham ( 1567 – 23 December 1605), eldest son of Thomas Tresham and Muriel Throckmorton, was a member of the group of English provincial Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, a conspiracy to assassinate King Jame ...

, during the documentary he started alongside

Martin Shaw Martin Shaw (born 21 January 1945) is an English actor. He came to national recognition as Doyle in ITV crime-action television drama series '' The Professionals'' (1977–1983). Further notable television parts include the title roles in '' ...

which he later featured alongside in ''Death in Holy Order'' in 2003''.'' In 1973 he was cast in the BBC

'' as Gunner Graham, the concert party’s

pianist A pianist ( , ) is an individual musician who plays the piano. Since most forms of Western music can make use of the piano, pianists have a wide repertoire and a wide variety of styles to choose from, among them traditional classical music, ja ...

. The show ran for eight series and Clegg appeared in all 56 episodes, however Clegg did not appear in the 1979 stage adaptation of the series. Instead, the role was taken up by David Rowley, who was able to play the piano live on stage. Since ''It Ain't Half Hot Mum'' he has made numerous television and film appearances including ''

'', ''

Are You Being Served? ''Are You Being Served?'' is a British sitcom created and written by executive producer David Croft (Croft also directed some episodes) and Jeremy Lloyd, with contributions from Michael Knowles and John Chapman, for the BBC. Set in London ...

'' and '' Bless This House''. Between 2 August and 17 August 1978 Clegg appeared as Clifford Howes in the

soap opera A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio drama ...

Crossroads Crossroads, crossroad, cross road or similar may refer to: * Crossroads (junction), where four roads meet Film and television Films * ''Crossroads'' (1928 film), a 1928 Japanese film by Teinosuke Kinugasa * ''Cross Roads'' (film), a 1930 Brit ...

''. In 1979, he made an appearance in the television adaptation of the

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

play ''

Measure for Measure ''Measure for Measure'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604 and first performed in 1604, according to available records. It was published in the '' First Folio'' of 1623. The play's plot features its ...

'', in which he played Froth, the foolish gentleman. In 1981, he appeared with various other members of the ''It Ain't Half Hot Mum'' cast in game show ''

Family Fortunes ''Family Fortunes'' is a British television game show based on the American game show ''Family Feud''. The programme ran on ITV from 6 January 1980 to 30 December 2002. A celebrity version, '' All Star Family Fortunes'', followed from 2006 to ...

'', which saw them go head to head with the hosts of the show ''

Give Us a Clue ''Give Us a Clue'' is a British televised game show version of charades which was broadcast on ITV from 1979 to 1992. The original host was Michael Aspel from 1979 to 1984, followed by Michael Parkinson from 1984 to 1992. The show featured two ...

''. In 1995 he appeared as a guest on David Croft's appearance on ''

This Is Your Life This Is Your Life may refer to: Television * ''This Is Your Life'' (American franchise), an American radio and television documentary biography series hosted by Ralph Edwards * ''This Is Your Life'' (Australian TV series), the Australian versio ...

''. Clegg had a recurring role in the sitcom ''

'' in which he played Mr Franklyn the Meldrum family physician; in the series he featured alongside many actors who he had previously worked with on ''

'' including Michael Knowles and

. In 1982, Clegg made a return to the theatre, co-producing with his wife a one-man show about

Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)'' The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist. He was born in British India, which inspired much of his work. ...

which achieved success at the

Edinburgh Festival Fringe The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as The Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, or Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest arts and media festival, which in 2019 spanned 25 days and featured more than 59,600 performances of 3,841 dif ...

. During the 1990s, Clegg had a bit part in ''

Tom & Viv ''Tom & Viv'' is a 1994 historical drama film directed by Brian Gilbert, based on the 1984 play of the same name by British playwright Michael Hastings about the early love life of American poet T. S. Eliot. The film stars Willem Dafoe, Mirand ...

'' (1994) and played a vicar in the 1997 film ''

Shooting Fish ''Shooting Fish'' is a 1997 British romantic crime comedy film directed by Stefan Schwartz and co-written with Richard Holmes. Starring Dan Futterman and Stuart Townsend as two con men with Kate Beckinsale as their unwilling assistant, the film ...

'' alongside

Dan Futterman Daniel Paul Futterman (born June 8, 1967) is an American actor, screenwriter, and producer. Futterman wrote the screenplay for the film '' Capote'', for which he received an Academy Award nomination, an Independent Spirit, Boston Society of Fil ...

and

Stuart Townsend Stuart Townsend (born 15 December 1972) is an Irish actor. He portrayed Lestat de Lioncourt in the film adaptation of Anne Rice's ''Queen of the Damned'' (2002), and Dorian Gray in Alan Moore's ''The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen'' (2003) ...

. In the same year Clegg featured alongside

Helena Bonham Carter Helena Bonham Carter (born 26 May 1966) is an English actress. Known for her roles in blockbusters and independent films, particularly period dramas, she has received various awards and nominations, including a British Academy Film Award a ...

and

Richard E. Grant Richard E. Grant (born Richard Grant Esterhuysen; 5 May 1957) is a Swazi-English actor and presenter. He made his film debut as Withnail in the comedy ''Withnail and I'' (1987). Grant received critical acclaim for his role as Jack Hock in Mar ...

in the British

romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typic ...

'' Keep the Aspidistra Flying'' (released in the USA and New Zealand as ''A Merry War''), which was based on the

novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itself ...

George Orwell Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950), better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic. His work is characterised by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to totalit ...

. He has most recently been in the 2001 film '' Bridget Jones's Diary'' (playing an unnamed elderly man), the 2003 television film ''

Death in Holy Orders ''Death in Holy Orders'' is a 2001 detective novel in the Adam Dalgliesh series by P. D. James. Setting The novel is mainly set in and around an Anglo-Catholic theological college, Saint Anselm's, on the windswept coast of East Anglia. It pro ...

'', which was based on the book by

P. D. James Phyllis Dorothy James, Baroness James of Holland Park, (3 August 1920 – 27 November 2014), known professionally as P. D. James, was an English novelist and life peer. Her rise to fame came with her series of detective novels featuring th ...

(with Clegg playing the role of Father John Betterton), and the 2006 short ''Tommy the Kid'' in which he played a police officer.

Acting credits

*1961: '' Dixon of Dock Green'' - D.C. Greaves - 1 episode *1962: ''

Dr. Finlay's Casebook ''Dr. Finlay's Casebook'' is a television drama series that was produced and broadcast by the BBC from 1962 until 1971. Based on A. J. Cronin's 1935 novella ''Country Doctor'', the storylines centred on a general medical practice in the fictiona ...

'' - Dr. Mitchell - 1 episode *1963: ''

Compact Compact as used in politics may refer broadly to a pact or treaty; in more specific cases it may refer to: * Interstate compact * Blood compact, an ancient ritual of the Philippines * Compact government, a type of colonial rule utilized in Britis ...

'' - Captain Hicks - 1 episode *1965: ''Fothergale Co. Lt.'' - Shop assistant - 1 episode *1967: ''

'' - Shop assistant *1968: ''The Gunpowder Plot'' -

*1971: ''

Whack-O! ''Whack-O!'' is a British sitcom TV series starring Jimmy Edwards, written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden, and broadcast from 1956 to 1960 and 1971 to 1972. The series (in black and white) ran on the BBC from 1956 to 1960 and (in colour) from ...

'' - Proctor - 1 episode *1972: ''

Father, Dear Father ''Father, Dear Father'' is a British television sitcom produced by Thames Television for ITV from 1968 to 1973 starring Patrick Cargill. It was subsequently made into a spin-off film of the same title released in 1973. An Australian sequel ...

'' - Vicar - 1 episode *1972: '' Lollipop Loves Mr Mole'' - Taxi Driver - 1 episode *1972: ''

'' - Wireless Operator - 1 episode *1973: '' Bless This House'' - Waiter - 1 episode *1973: ''Thirty Minutes Worth'' - Umbrella Salesmen - 1 episode *1974: '' My Name Is Harry Worth'' - Shop assistant - 1 episode *1974-75: ''

'' - Customer - 2 episodes *1974-81: ''

'' - Gunner Graham - 56 episodes *1975: ''The Tommy Cooper Hour'' - 1 episode *1975: ''

Comedy Playhouse ''Comedy Playhouse'' is a long-running British anthology series of one-off unrelated sitcoms that aired for 120 episodes from 1961 to 1975. Many episodes later graduated to their own series, including ''Steptoe and Son'', '' Meet the Wife'', ' ...

'' - Gerald - 1 episode *1975: ''Hogg’s Back'' - Policeman - 3 episodes *1976: '' Whodunnit?'' - Brother Paul - 1 episode *1978: ''

'' - Clifford Howes - 7 episodes *1979: ''

'' - Froth *1979: ''

Spooner's Patch ''Spooners Patch'' is a British television sitcom, written by Ray Galton (best known for his writing collaborations with Alan Simpson, including ''Steptoe and Son'') and Johnny Speight (best known for ''Till Death Us Do Part''). It ran for 3 s ...

'' - Vicar - 2 episodes *1981: '' Keep It in the Family'' - Vicar - 1 episode *1982: ''Summer Festival'' -

- 1 episode *1987: ''

Three Up, Two Down ''Three Up, Two Down'' is a British sitcom starring Michael Elphick and Angela Thorne that ran from 1985 to 1989. It was written by Richard Ommanney. Cast *Michael Elphick as Sam Tyler *Angela Thorne as Daphne Trenchard *Lysette Anthony as Angi ...

'' - Max - 1 episode *1989: ''The Nineteenth Hole'' - Sam - 1 episode *1990: ''

'' - Mr. Franklyn - 2 episodes *1991: ''

Doctor at the Top ''Doctor at the Top'' is a British television comedy series based on a set of books by Richard Gordon about the misadventures of a group of doctors. With episodes written (though not jointly) by George Layton and Bill Oddie, the series follows ...

'' - Dinner Guest - 1 episode *1993: ''

Demob Demobilization or demobilisation (see spelling differences) is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and mili ...

'' - Camera - 1 episode *1994: ''

'' - second man *1994: ''

Mr. Bean ''Mr. Bean'' is a British sitcom created by Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis, produced by Tiger Aspect and starring Atkinson as the title character. The sitcom consists of 15 episodes that were co-written by Atkinson alongside Curtis and R ...

'' - Calligrapher - 1 episode *1995: ''

Coogan's Run ''Coogan's Run'' is a 1995 UK TV series featuring Steve Coogan as a series of odd characters living in the fictional town of Ottle. It was written by various people including Coogan, Patrick Marber, David Tyler, Graham Linehan, Arthur Mathews, ...

'' - Alf - 1 episode *1997: ''

'' - Church Vicar *1997: '' Keep the Aspidistra Flying'' - Mckechnie *2001: '' Bridget Jones's Diary'' - Elderly man *2003: ''Death in Holy Order'' - Father John Betterton *2006: ''Tommy the Kid'' - Police Officer

Guest appearances

* 1976: ''This Is Your Life'' (

Windsor Davies Windsor Davies (28 August 1930 – 17 January 2019) was a British actor. He is best remembered for playing Battery Sergeant Major Williams in the sitcom '' It Ain't Half Hot Mum'' (1974–1981) over its entire run. The show's popularity resulted ...

) * 1981: ''

'' * 1995: ''

'' ( David Croft) * 2009: ''The Dad's Army Podcast''

References

External links

*
John Clegg at the BBC Comedy Guide
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clegg, John English male film actors English male television actors Living people 1934 births People from Murree 20th-century English male actors 21st-century English male actors