Graham Stark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Graham Stark
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Graham Stark, c. early 1960s
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| Born |
Graham William Stark
20 January 1922 |
| Died | 29 October 2013 (aged 91) London, England
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1939–1999 |
| Spouse(s) |
Audrey Nicholson
(m. 1959) |
| Children | 3 |
Graham William Stark (born January 20, 1922 – died October 29, 2013) was a famous English comedian, actor, writer, and director. He was known for his funny roles and his long career in movies and TV.
Early Life
Graham Stark was born in New Brighton, which is part of Wallasey in Cheshire, England. His father worked as a purser, which is an officer on a ship who handles money and takes care of passengers.
When he was just 13 years old, Graham started his acting career. He performed in a pantomime show at the Lyceum Theatre in London. A pantomime is a fun, musical play often performed around Christmas, with singing, dancing, and jokes.
During World War II, Graham served in the army in Greece. While there, he met other future stars like Dick Emery, Tony Hancock, and Peter Sellers. Peter Sellers became a very close friend. They were all part of "Gang Shows," which were entertainment groups that performed for soldiers. After the war, Graham studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Career
After the war, Graham Stark started working on BBC Radio. He appeared in shows like Happy Go Lucky and Ray's a Laugh. He even filled in for Spike Milligan on the popular The Goon Show when Spike was sick.
Graham also worked a lot on TV. He was a regular on shows with Peter Sellers and Benny Hill. In 1964, he even had his own short-lived comedy show called The Graham Stark Show. Sadly, all episodes of this show are now lost.
One of his most famous roles was in the Pink Panther movies. He first played Hercule Lajoy, Inspector Clouseau's serious assistant, in A Shot in the Dark (1964). Graham Stark appeared in seven Pink Panther films, playing different characters, including Dr. Auguste Balls. He was in more Pink Panther movies than almost any other actor!
He also had a role in the movie Alfie (1966). He played Humphrey, a kind bus conductor. Later, in 1973, he took over the role of Private Joe Walker in the radio version of Dad's Army, a popular comedy about a group of older men in the Home Guard during WWII. In 1982, he appeared in the music video for Adam Ant's hit song "Goody Two Shoes".
Personal Life
In 1959, Graham Stark married Audrey Nicholson. They had two sons and one daughter. Graham was also a very talented photographer. He wrote a book about his life called Stark Naked in 2003.
Graham Stark passed away in London on October 29, 2013, at the age of 91. He had suffered a stroke.
Filmography as actor
- The Spy in Black (1939) as Bell Boy (uncredited)
- Ça c'est du cinéma (1951) (voice, uncredited)
- Emergency Call (1952) as Posh Charlie
- Down Among the Z Men (1952) as Spider
- Forces' Sweetheart (1953) as Simmonds
- Flannelfoot (1953) as Ginger
- Johnny on the Spot (1954) as Stevie
- The Sea Shall Not Have Them (1954) as Corporal (uncredited)
- One Good Turn (1955) as Boxing Competitor (uncredited)
- They Never Learn (1956) as Plum
- The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film (1959) (uncredited)
- Inn for Trouble (1960) as Charlie (Driver)
- Sink the Bismarck! (1960) as Petty Officer Williams (uncredited)
- The Millionairess (1960) as Butler
- A Weekend with Lulu (1961) as Chiron
- Double Bunk (1961) as Flowerman
- Dentist on the Job (1961) as Sourfaced Man
- Watch It, Sailor! (1961) as Carnoustie Bligh
- On the Fiddle (1961) as Sgt. Ellis
- Only Two Can Play (1962) as Hyman
- Operation Snatch (1962) as Soldier
- A Pair of Briefs (1962) as Police Witness
- Village of Daughters (1962) as Postman
- She'll Have to Go (1962) as Arnold
- The Wrong Arm of the Law (1963) as Sid Cooper
- The Mouse on the Moon (1963) as Standard Bearer
- Lancelot and Guinevere (1963) as Rian
- Strictly for the Birds (1963) as Hartley
- Ladies Who Do (1963) as Foreman
- Becket (1964) as Pope's Secretary (uncredited)
- A Shot in the Dark (1964) as Hercule Lajoy
- Guns at Batasi (1964) as Sgt. 'Dodger' Brown
- Go Kart Go (1964) as Policeman
- Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965) as Fireman
- San Ferry Ann (1965) as Gendarme
- You Must Be Joking! (1965) as McGregor's friend
- Runaway Railway (1965) as Grample
- Alfie (1966) as Humphrey
- The Wrong Box (1966) as Ian Scott Fife
- Finders Keepers (1966) as Burke
- Casino Royale (1967) as Cashier
- Rocket to the Moon (1967) as Grundle
- The Plank (1967) as Amorous Van Driver (Harry Nichols)
- A Ghost of a Chance (1968) as Thomas Dogood
- Salt and Pepper (1968) as Sgt. Walters
- The Picasso Summer (1969) as Postman
- The Magic Christian (1969) as Waiter
- Rhubarb (1969) as Golf Pro. Rhubarb
- Start the Revolution Without Me (1970) as Andre Coupe
- Doctor in Trouble (1970) as Satterjee
- Scramble (1970) (uncredited)
- Simon, Simon (1970) as 1st Workman
- The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971) as Guest Appearance (segment "Sloth") (uncredited)
- Hide and Seek (1972) as Milkman
- A Day at the Beach (1972) as Pipi
- Not Now, Darling (1973) as Painter (uncredited)
- Secrets of a Door-to-Door Salesman (1973) as Charlie Vincent
- Where's Johnny? (1974) as Professor Graham
- The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) as Pepi
- I'm Not Feeling Myself Tonight (1976) as Hotel M.C.
- Pure as a Lily (1976) as Detective Mike
- The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) as Hotel Clerk
- Gulliver's Travels (1977) (voice)
- Hardcore (1977) as Inspector Flaubert
- The Prince and the Pauper (1977) as Jester
- Let's Get Laid (1978) as Inspector Nugent
- What's Up Nurse! (1978) as Carthew
- Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) as Professor Auguste Balls
- The Prisoner of Zenda (1979) as Erik
- Le Pétomane (1979) as Defence Counsel
- There Goes the Bride (1980) as Bernardo Rossi, Headwaiter
- The Sea Wolves (1980) as Manners
- Hawk the Slayer (1980) as Sparrow
- Victor/Victoria (1982) as Waiter
- Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) as Hercule Lajoy
- Superman III (1983) as Blind Man
- Curse of the Pink Panther (1983) as Bored Waiter
- Bloodbath at the House of Death (1984) as Blind Man
- Blind Date (1987) as Jordan the Butler
- Jane and the Lost City (1987) as Tombs
- Son of the Pink Panther (1993) as Professor Auguste Balls
- The Incredible Adventures of Marco Polo (1998) as Old King
See also
In Spanish: Graham Stark para niños
