Robert Dorning (13 May 1913 – 21 February 1989) was a musician, dance band vocalist, ballet dancer and stage, film and television actor. He is known to have performed in at least 77 television and film productions between 1940 and 1988.

Origins

Robert Dorning was born at 108 Croppers Hill in St Helens,

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancas ...

, England, on 13 May 1913. His father was Robert John Dorning who worked in a local pit as a coal miner haulier and his mother was Mary Elizabeth Dorning, formerly Howard. He was educated at Cowley Grammar School in St Helens, where he also learnt to play

violin The violin, sometimes known as a '' fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone ( string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument ( soprano) in the family in regu ...

and

saxophone The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of Single-reed instrument, single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed (mouthpi ...

. After leaving school, Dorning studied drama and dance in

Liverpool Liverpool is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the List of English districts by population, 10th largest English district by population and its E ...

with the intention of becoming a ballet dancer. During the 1930s he had a brief career as a musical comedian in theatre, before choosing acting as his profession.

Film roles

His first known film role was in the crime drama, ''They Came By Night'' (1940). However, his acting career was interrupted by

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

and Dorning served in the RAF. After being demobbed, he utilised his ballet dancing talents when cast as a dancer in '' The Red Shoes'' (1948). During the 1950s he had supporting roles in at least ten films, although one was the well-received prisoner of war film, '' The One That Got Away'' (1957), in which he had the role of Corporal Wilson, the rest were mainly crime dramas. Although his film career was overshadowed by his more prolific television work, towards the end of his career he was cast in a number of notable film productions. These included the

Hammer A hammer is a tool, most often a hand tool, consisting of a weighted "head" fixed to a long handle that is swung to deliver an impact to a small area of an object. This can be, for example, to drive nails into wood, to shape metal (as wi ...

film '' Fanatic'' (1965), ''

Cul-de-Sac A dead end, also known as a cul-de-sac (, from French for 'bag-bottom'), no through road or no exit road, is a street with only one inlet or outlet. The term "dead end" is understood in all varieties of English, but the official terminology ...

'' (1966), directed by

Roman Polanski Raymond Roman Thierry Polański , group=lower-alpha, name=note_a ( né Liebling; 18 August 1933) is a French-Polish film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, tw ...

, '' Man About the House'' (1974), '' Confessions of a Pop Performer'' (1975), '' Carry On Emmannuelle'' (1978), '' The Human Factor'' (1979), ''

Ragtime Ragtime, also spelled rag-time or rag time, is a musical style that flourished from the 1890s to 1910s. Its cardinal trait is its syncopated or "ragged" rhythm. Ragtime was popularized during the early 20th century by composers such as Scott J ...

'' (1981), Agatha Christie's '' Evil Under the Sun'' (1982) and ''

Mona Lisa The ''Mona Lisa'' ( ; it, Gioconda or ; french: Joconde ) is a half-length portrait painting by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. Considered an archetypal masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, it has been described as "the best kno ...

'' (1986).

Television roles

In 1958 Dorning began a lengthy television career appearing in many classic comedies such as ''

Hancock's Half Hour ''Hancock's Half Hour'' was a BBC radio comedy, and later television comedy series, broadcast from 1954 to 1961 and written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. The series starred Tony Hancock, with Sidney James; the radio version also co-starr ...

'' (1959–60), ''

Bootsie and Snudge ''Bootsie and Snudge'' is a British sitcom that aired on ITV for three series from 1960 to 1963, with a fourth in 1974. The show is a spin-off of '' The Army Game'', a sitcom about soldiers undertaking national service, and follows two of the m ...

'' (1960), ''

Steptoe and Son ''Steptoe and Son'' is a British sitcom written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson about a father-and-son rag-and-bone business in 26a Oil Drum Lane, a fictional street in Shepherd's Bush, London. Four series were broadcast by the BBC in black and w ...

'' (1965), '' Wodehouse Playhouse'' (1978), and '' Rising Damp'' (1978). Dorning played Mr. West, the bank inspector, in the classic ''

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 ...

'' episode "

Something Nasty in the Vault "Something Nasty in the Vault" is the fifth episode of the third series of the British comedy series ''Dad's Army''. It was originally transmitted on Thursday 9 October 1969. Synopsis Captain Mainwaring and Sergeant Wilson find themselves trapp ...

" (1969) in which a bomb lands on Mainwaring's bank. Writer

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 ...

initially envisaged

Jon Pertwee John Devon Roland "Jon" Pertwee (; 7 July 1919 – 20 May 1996) was an English actor, comedian, entertainer, cabaret performer and TV presenter. Born into a theatrical family, he served in the Royal Navy and the Naval Intelligence Division during ...

as the pompous bank manager and Home Guard officer Captain Mainwaring with Robert Dorning as

Sergeant Wilson Sergeant Arthur Wilson is a fictional Home Guard platoon sergeant and bank chief clerk, first portrayed by John Le Mesurier in the BBC television sitcom ''Dad's Army''. Background Wilson was born in 1887, and is carefree, cheerful and well ...

but eventually gave the roles to

Arthur Lowe Arthur Lowe (22 September 1915 – 15 April 1982) was an English actor. His acting career spanned 36 years, including starring roles in numerous theatre and television productions. He played Captain Mainwaring in the British sitcom '' D ...

and

John Le Mesurier John Le Mesurier (, born John Elton Le Mesurier Halliley; 5 April 191215 November 1983) was an English actor. He is perhaps best remembered for his comedic role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the BBC television situation c ...

respectively. Dorning also had roles in a number of television soap operas and appeared as two different ''

Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' is an English soap opera created by Granada Television and shown on ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres around a cobbled, terraced street in Weatherfield, a fictional town based on inner-city Salford. Orig ...

'' characters. He was Edward Wormold in 1965 and Alderman Rogers in an episode in 1972. In addition to this, he also starred alongside

in the second series of Coronation Street spin-off ''

Pardon the Expression ''Pardon The Expression!'' was an ITV sitcom made by Granada Television, that was first broadcast from Wednesday 2 June 1965 to Monday 27 June 1966. The sitcom was one of four spin-offs from the soap opera '' Coronation Street''. ''Pardon the ...

'', and a follow up series, '' Turn out the Lights'' as Wally Hunt. He played Tupman in the TV musical '' Pickwick'' for the BBC in 1969. In 1974 he played Lewis Potter in '' Emmerdale Farm''. Dorning also appeared in a number of television thrillers including '' The Avengers'' (1966), ''

The Sweeney ''The Sweeney'' is a 1970s British television police drama focusing on two members of the Flying Squad, a branch of the Metropolitan Police specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London. It stars John Thaw as Detective Insp ...

'' (1975), '' The Professionals'' (1978) and '' Bergerac'' (1988). In 1975, Dorning took the part of Colonel Grope, described as "an ex-Indian army, alcoholic racialist", in ''The Melting Pot''. This was a sitcom written by

Spike Milligan Terence Alan "Spike" Milligan (16 April 1918 – 27 February 2002) was an Irish actor, comedian, writer, musician, poet, and playwright. The son of an English mother and Irish father, he was born in British Colonial India, where he spent his ...

and

Neil Shand Neil Hodgson Shand (3 March 1934 – 14 April 2018) was a British television comedy writer. He was born in Luton to parents from Glasgow, the son of a Vauxhall employee and a dressmaker. Neil was the eldest of three boys. Raised in a "two up tw ...

, which was cancelled by the BBC after just one episode.

His thespian family

His daughter,

Stacy Dorning Stacy Dorning (born 11 May 1958) is an English actress, best known for appearing in the second series of '' The Adventures of Black Beauty'' (1973–74). She also appeared in '' Just William'' (1977–78) and '' Keep It in the Family'' (1980–8 ...

(born 1958), starred in the children's television series '' The Adventures of Black Beauty'' (1973–74) as well as ''

Just William ''Just William'' is the first book of children's short stories about the young school boy William Brown, written by Richmal Crompton, and published in 1922. The book was the first in the series of William Brown books which was the basis for ...

'' (1976). Acting was a family tradition as Robert's Lancaster-born wife, Honor Shepherd (1926–2000), had been an actress since the age of eleven. Like her husband she appeared in a number of television programmes, including ''

Emergency Ward 10 ''Emergency Ward 10'' is a British medical soap opera series shown on ITV between 1957 and 1967. Like ''The Grove Family'', a series shown by the BBC between 1954 and 1957, ''Emergency Ward 10'' is considered to be one of British television's ...

'' (1957), ''

'' (1961), '' Dixon of Dock Green'' (1966) and ''

Juliet Bravo ''Juliet Bravo'' is a British television police procedural drama series, first broadcast on 30 August 1980, that ran for six series and a total of 88 episodes on BBC1. The theme of the series concerned a female police inspector who took over con ...

'' (1981). Their youngest daughter Kate Dorning appeared in '' Rumpole of the Bailey'' (1979) '' The Professionals'' (1980) and ''Alice in Wonderland'' (1986). Family members would sometimes appear together within the same programme. In 1979 Kate, Stacy and their mother Honor all appeared within an episode of the television drama ''

Dick Turpin Richard Turpin (bapt. 21 September 1705 – 7 April 1739) was an English highwayman whose exploits were romanticised following his execution in York for horse theft. Turpin may have followed his father's trade as a butcher ea ...

''. Kate Dorning's son Jack Dorning is continuing the family tradition, graduating from Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance in 2014. Robert Dorning died on 21 February 1989 in London of

diabetes Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ...

Selected filmography

* '' They Came by Night'' (1940) - (uncredited) * '' The Red Shoes'' (1948) - Dancer * ''

Lady in the Fog ''Lady in the Fog'' is a 1952 British mystery film directed by Sam Newfield and starring Cesar Romero, Lois Maxwell and Bernadette O'Farrell. It is based on a BBC serial by Lester Powell as scripted by Orville H. Hampton, . It was made by Lipper ...

'' (1952) - Minor Role (uncredited) * '' You Pay Your Money'' (1957) - Birdwatcher (scenes deleted) * '' The One That Got Away'' (1957) - Corporal Wilson (uncredited) * ''

Moment of Indiscretion ''Moment of Indiscretion'' is a low budget 1958 British crime film. Plot Janet Miller is accused of the murder of a stabbed woman. Janet's handkerchief and spare house key have been discovered at the crime scene, and she is cagey about her wher ...

'' (1958) - (Mr. Evans) * ''

Links of Justice ''Links of Justice'' is a 1958 British film. Plot Edgar Mills and his mistress Stella plot to murder Edgar's wealthy wife Clare. But best laid go awry, and Edgar ends up dead. Clare becomes prime suspect, but is able to prove she acted in self-d ...

'' (1958) - (uncredited) * ''The Secret Man'' (1958) - Captain Scott * ''

Innocent Meeting ''Innocent Meeting'' is a 1958 British crime film directed by Godfrey Grayson and starring Sean Lynch, Beth Rogan and Raymond Huntley. In the film, a teenager on probation for theft bonds with the daughter of middle-class parents after meeting ...

'' (1959) - (uncredited) * ''

Top Floor Girl ''Top Floor Girl'' is a 1959 British drama film directed by Max Varnel and starring Kay Callard, Neil Hallett and Robert Raikes. The screenplay was co-written by Brian Clemens. Premise A ruthlessly ambitious woman becomes involved with the son ...

'' (1959) - Carter (uncredited) * ''

No Safety Ahead ''No Safety Ahead'' is a 1959 British film.''No Safety Ahead''
at

'' (1959) - (uncredited) * ''Mystery in the Mine'' (1959) - Milkman * '' Man Accused'' (1959) - Beckett * ''Live Now - Pay Later'' (1962) - (unconfirmed) * '' Fanatic'' (1965) - Ormsby * ''

'' (1966) - Philip Fairweather * ''The Troublesome Double'' (1967) - The Mayor * ''

Salt and Pepper Salt and pepper is the common name for edible salt and ground black pepper, which are ubiquitously paired on Western dining tables as to allow for the additional seasoning of food after its preparation. During food preparation or cooking, they ...

'' (1968) - Club secretary * '' School for Sex'' (1969) - Civil servant * '' Pickwick'' (1969) - Tracy Tupman * '' The Black Windmill'' (1974) - Jeweller (uncredited) * '' Man About the House'' (1974) - Col. Manners (uncredited) * ''Smokey Joe's Revenge'' (1974) - Mr. Williams * '' Confessions of a Pop Performer'' (1975) - Augustus * ''

I'm Not Feeling Myself Tonight ''I'm Not Feeling Myself Tonight'' is a 1976 British comedy film directed by Joseph McGrath and starring Barry Andrews, James Booth and Sally Faulkner. Cast * Barry Andrews as Jon Pigeon * James Booth as S.J. Nutbrown * Sally Faulkner as ...

'' (1976) - Man at Party * ''

The Ups and Downs of a Handyman ''The Ups and Downs of a Handyman'' is a 1976 British comedy film directed by John Sealey and starring Barry Stokes, Sue Lloyd and Bob Todd. Its alternative titles at various times have been ''Confessions of a Handyman'', ''Confessions of an ...

'' (1976) - Newsagent * ''Must Wear Tights'' (1978) - Agent * '' Carry On Emmannuelle'' (1978) - The Prime Minister * '' The Human Factor'' (1979) - Jameson * ''The Great Monkey Rip-Off'' (1979) - Sir Charles Fitzhugh * ''

'' (1981) - Gent with Stanford White * '' Evil Under the Sun'' (1982) - Concierge * ''

'' (1986) - Hotel Bedroom Man * ''

Pirates Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and other valuable goods. Those who conduct acts of piracy are called pirates, v ...

'' (1986) - Commander of Marines

References

External links

*
Childhood Recollections
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dorning, Robert 1913 births 1989 deaths People from St Helens, Merseyside English male film actors English male television actors Royal Air Force personnel of World War II 20th-century English male actors Male actors from Lancashire