Edward Sinclair Perry (3 February 1914 – 29 August 1977) was an English actor who played the role of

verger A verger (or virger, so called after the staff of the office, or wandsman (British)) is a person, usually a layperson, who assists in the ordering of religious services, particularly in Anglican churches. Etymology The title of ''verger'' ...

Maurice Yeatman in ''

Dad's Army ''Dad's Army'' is a British television British sitcom, sitcom about the United Kingdom's Home Guard (United Kingdom), Home Guard during the World War II, Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft (TV producer), David Crof ...

''. He also made appearances in ''

Z-Cars ''Z-Cars'' or ''Z Cars'' (pronounced "zed cars") is a British television police procedural series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, near Liverpool. Produced by the BBC, it debut ...

'' and ''

Danger Man ''Danger Man'' (retitled ''Secret Agent'' in the United States for the revived series, and ''Destination Danger'' and ''John Drake'' in other overseas markets) is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again b ...

''. The earliest work in his belated main career was in radio before being noticed and offered small parts on television. His first appearance in ''

'' was in the fifth episode (before audiences had been introduced to the Vicar) as the caretaker, playing the verger from the second series. He also appeared in several films and theatre productions, and was being offered work in panto just as the series finished, but died soon after from a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which m ...

while on holiday in

Cheddar Cheddar most often refers to either: *Cheddar cheese *Cheddar, Somerset, the village after which Cheddar cheese is named Cheddar may also refer to: Places * Cheddar, Ontario, Canada * Cheddar Yeo, a river which flows through Cheddar Gorge and ...

Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lor ...

. This came as a shock to the cast, and it was

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 ''Dad' ...

who stated at his funeral service, "With the loss of Teddy, it is now quite clear that there will be no more ''Dad's Army''." He was born and married as Edward Sinclair, although his death was registered as Edward Sinclair Perry.

Selected filmography

* '' The Magic Christian'' (1969) - Park Attendant (uncredited) * ''

'' (1971) - Verger Maurice Yeatman * '' No Sex Please, We're British'' (1973) - Postman

References

External links

* 1914 births 1977 deaths 20th-century English male actors British Army personnel of World War II British male comedy actors English male film actors English male radio actors English male stage actors English male television actors Male actors from Oldham Military personnel from Lancashire Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry soldiers {{UK-tv-actor-1910s-stub