Lawrence Martyn (22 March 1934 – 7 August 1994) was a British film and television actor known for his comedy performances. Martyn was born in London and was a member of the Parachute Regiment. He worked as a circus performer in his youth before becoming an actor regularly appearing on stage, and in films and TV. He was famous as store maintenance man "Mr. Mash" in the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

comedy series ''

Are You Being Served? ''Are You Being Served?'' is a British television sitcom that was broadcast from 1972 to 1985. It was created and written by David Croft (TV producer), David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd. Croft also served as executive producer and television directo ...

'', appearing in the first three series before being replaced by

Arthur English Arthur Leslie Norman English (9 May 1919 – 16 April 1995) was an English television, film and stage actor and comedian from the music hall tradition. Early life English was born at 22 Lysons Road in Aldershot,'Arthur English, ''Aldershot H ...

. He was unable to continue in this role because he was committed to the television series ''Spring and Autumn'' with

Jimmy Jewel James Arthur Thomas Jewel Marsh (4 December 1909 – 3 December 1995),Gifford, Denni''The Independent'', 5 December 1995. Note: This obituary wrongly gives the year of birth as 1912, which is contradicted by the Ben Warriss obituary. Retrie ...

. Other TV appearances included ''

On the Buses ''On the Buses'' is a British television British sitcom, sitcom that was broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV from 1969 to 1973. It was created by Chesney and Wolfe, Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe, who wrote most of the episodes. It spawned thr ...

'', '' Look - Mike Yarwood!'', ''

Rising Damp ''Rising Damp'' is a British sitcom, written by Eric Chappell and produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV, which was originally broadcast from 2 September 1974 until 9 May 1978. Chappell adapted the story from his 1973 stage play ''The Banana ...

'', '' The Detectives'' and ''

Grange Hill ''Grange Hill'' is a British Children's television series, children's television drama series, originally produced by the BBC and portraying life in a typical Comprehensive school (England and Wales), comprehensive school. The show began its ru ...

''. He also played alongside

Frankie Howerd Francis Alick Howard (6 March 1917 – 19 April 1992), better known by his stage-name Frankie Howerd, was an English actor and comedian. Early life Howerd was born the son of a soldier Francis Alfred William (1887–1934)England & Wales, Deat ...

in two of his BBC shows, ''

Up Pompeii! ''Up Pompeii!'' is a British television comedy series set in ancient Pompeii and broadcast between 1969 and 1970, starring Frankie Howerd. The first series was written by Talbot Rothwell, a scriptwriter for the ''Carry On'' films, and the seco ...

'' and ''

Whoops Baghdad ''Whoops Baghdad'' (also known as ''Frankie Howerd in Whoops Baghdad'' ) is a BBC television comedy programme first broadcast from 25 January to 1 March 1973. Starring Frankie Howerd, it was similar to his earlier programme ''Up Pompeii!'', with ...

''.

Career

Martyn replaced

Graham Stark Graham William Stark (20 January 1922 – 29 October 2013) was an English comedian, actor, writer and director, known for his close, personal friendship with Peter Sellers, appearance in several The Pink Panther films and Victor/Victoria.

in the role of the

spiv A spiv is a petty criminal in the United Kingdom who deals in illicit, typically black market, goods. Spivs were particularly active during the Second World War and in the post-war period when many goods were rationed due to shortages. According ...

Private Walker Private Joe Walker is a fictional black market spiv (or "wholesales supplier", as he describes it) and Home Guard platoon member, first portrayed by James Beck in the British television sitcom ''Dad's Army''. Appearing in the first six series, ...

for Series 2 and 3 of the radio version of ''

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 ...

'' after the sudden death of

James Beck Stanley James Carroll Beck (21 February 1929 – 6 August 1973) was an English television actor. He appeared in a number of programmes, but is best known for the role of Private Walker, a cockney spiv, in the BBC sitcom ''Dad's Army'' from th ...

in 1973. His film roles included ''

Carry On at Your Convenience ''Carry On at Your Convenience'' (also known as ''Carry On Round the Bend'' outside the UK) is a 1971 British comedy film, directed by Gerald Thomas and starring regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Hattie Jacq ...

,'' where he had a small part as the promenade rifle-range owner, and ''

Carry On Behind ''Carry On Behind'' is a 1975 British comedy film, the 27th release in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). It was the first entry in the series not to be scripted by Talbot Rothwell since '' Carry On Cruising'' 13 years previou ...

'', where he played an inept electrician who helps wire up the

public address A public address system (or PA system) is an electronic system comprising microphones, amplifiers, loudspeakers, and related equipment. It increases the apparent volume (loudness) of a human voice, musical instrument, or other acoustic sound sou ...

system at the caravan site where the film is set.

Death

Martyn died on or about 7 August 1994 at home in

St Mary's Bay, Kent St Mary's Bay, also known as The Bay, is a coastal village in Kent, England. Situated on Romney Marsh, St Mary's Bay has a long sandy beach which stretches north to Dymchurch and south to Littlestone-on-Sea. It has a station on the Romney ...

at age 60. An inquest into his death took place 9 November 1994 where a cause of death was unascertainable and an open verdict was recorded.

Filmography

* ''

Idol on Parade ''Idol on Parade'' (also known as ''Idle on Parade'') is a 1959 British comedy film directed by John Gilling and starring William Bendix, Anthony Newley, Sid James and Lionel Jeffries. The screenplay was by John Antrobus, based on the 1958 Willi ...

'' (1959) - Teenager * '' Too Young to Love'' (1960) - Minor Role (uncredited) * '' Never Let Go'' (1960) - Len * '' Deadline Midnight'' (1961, TV Series) - Billy Brewster * ''

Flame in the Streets ''Flame in the Streets'' is a 1961 British film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring John Mills and Sylvia Syms. The screenplay was by Ted Willis based on his 1958 play '' Hot Summer Night'' and was novelised by John Burke for Four Square ...

'' (1961) - Second Corner Boy (uncredited) * '' Partners in Crime'' (1961) - Pete Lake * ''

Never Back Losers ''Never Back Losers'' is a 1961 British 'B' crime film directed by Robert Tronson and starring Jack Hedley, Jacqueline Ellis and Patrick Magee. It was written by Lucas Heller based on the 1929 novel '' The Green Ribbon'' by Edgar Wallace. ...

'' (1961) - Clive Parker * ''

The Day the Earth Caught Fire ''The Day the Earth Caught Fire'' is a 1961 British science-fiction disaster film directed by Val Guest and starring Edward Judd, Leo McKern, and Janet Munro. It is one of the classic apocalyptic films of its era. The film opened at the Odeon Ma ...

'' (1961) - Man at Water Station (uncredited) * '' The Damned'' (1962) - Teddy Boy (uncredited) * '' On the Beat'' (1962) - Yob in Cafe (uncredited) * '' Breath of Life'' (1963) - Tony * ''

The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery ''The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery'' is a British comedy film, directed by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat, written by Sidney and Leslie Gilliat, and released on 4 April 1966. It is the last of the original series of films based on the ' ...

'' (1966) - Chips * '' Up the Junction'' (1968) - Barrow Boy * ''

'' (1970, TV Series) - Verminus / Spurius / Gaoler * ''

'' (1971) - Rifle Range Owner * ''

For the Love of Ada ''For the Love of Ada'' is an ITV sitcom that ran for 27 episodes between 1970 and 1971. It tells the story of a romance between pensioners. Created by the writing duo of Vince Powell and Harry Driver, the popular sitcom starred Irene Handl a ...

'' (1971, TV Series) - Brian * '' Kindly Leave the Kerb'' (1971, TV Series) * '' Upstairs, Downstairs'' (1972, TV Series) - The Electrician * ''

'' (1972-1975, TV Series) - Mr. Mash * ''Spring and Autumn'' (1972-1976, TV Series) - Brian Reid / Joe Dickinson * '' Elementary, My Dear Watson'' (1973) * ''

'' (1973, TV Series) - Derti Dhoti * ''

'' (1973, TV Series) - Fred * '' Look - Mike Yarwood!'' (1974-1976, TV Series) * ''

'' (1975) - Electrician * '' Don Alfonso'' (1975, Music film by

Mike Oldfield Michael Gordon Oldfield (born 15 May 1953) is an English retired musician, songwriter and producer best known for his debut studio album ''Tubular Bells'' (1973), which became an unexpected critical and commercial success. Though primarily a gu ...

) - Don Alfonso * '' A Sharp Intake of Breath'' (1980, TV Series) - Barry Penders * '' Omen III: The Final Conflict'' (1981) - Orator * ''

'' (1981, TV Series) - Bus Conductor * ''West End Tales'' (1981, TV Series) - Checkie * ''

Minder A minder is the person assigned to guide or escort a visitor, or to provide protection to somebody, or to otherwise assist or take care of something, i.e. a person who " minds". Government-appointed persons to accompany foreign visitors are of ...

'' (1982, TV Series) - Smith * '' Don't Wait Up'' (1983, TV Series) - Garage mechanic * ''

Slinger's Day ''Slinger's Day'' is a British sitcom that aired for two series from 1986 to 1987, made by Thames Television for the ITV network. It was a continuation of '' Tripper's Day'', which had originally come to a natural end after Leonard Rossiter's ...

'' (1986, TV Series) - 1st Man Customer * '' High & Dry'' (1987, TV Series) - Electricity Board Inspector * ''

The Bill ''The Bill'' is a British police procedural television series, broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV from 16 October 1984 until 31 August 2010. The programme originated from a one-off drama, "Woodentop (The Bill), Woodentop" (part of the ''Storyb ...

'' (1989-1993, TV Series) - Pub Landlord / Landlord / Greengrocer / Norman Harris (final appearance) * '' The Detectives'' (1993, TV Series) - Stable Hand

Radio

'The Random Jottings of Hinge & Bracket ', ('The Coalman Commeth') - ( 3 August 1986) - Coalman.. Dad's Army Private Walker 1973 Replaced James Beck

References

External links

BBC Comedy Guide entry
* 1934 births 1994 deaths English male film actors English male television actors British Parachute Regiment soldiers Male actors from London 20th-century English male actors {{UK-tv-actor-1930s-stub