Dad's Army star's death 'a real loss'

Dad's Army star Clive Dunn has died at the age of 92.

He passed away in Portugal, where he lived for the past 30 years, from complications following an operation earlier this week.

His agent, Peter Charlesworth, broke the news and said the star would be 'sorely missed' and 'a real loss to the acting profession'.

Dunn - who played Lance-Corporal Jones in the sitcom – was also a chart-topper with his 1971 novelty single Grandad, reached number one in the charts.

Stephen Fry tweeted his condolences, saying: he was 'saddened' to hear the news, while radio presenter Danny Baker said: 'Stylish,content, lived well to the end, Clive Dunn. Made a terrific a record too, Simone'.

Friday Night Dinner creator Robert Popper added: 'Sad about Clive Dunn. Dad's Army has always been one of my fave comedy shows.'

An Italia Conti trained actor, Dunn started his acting career in the Thirties, appearing in Will Hay comedy films.

During the war, he was a prisoner of war and in Austria, and on demob resumed his career, making appearance alongside Tony Hancock, Michael Bentine and Dick Emery, among others. Even as a young man, he usually played a doddery old man.

But it was the role of Lance-Corporal Jack Jones in Dad's Army – famed for his catchphrases ‘Don’t panic!’, ‘Permission to speak, sir?’ and ‘They don't like it up 'em!’ – that was to make his name. He got the role in 1968, when he was only 48, even though the character was 70.

Dunn's left-wing views often caused him to fall out with Arthur Lowe, who played Captain Mainwaring and who was an active Conservative. When the series ended and Dunn was awarded an OBE.

After Dad's Army, Dunn starred in the TV series Grandad, from 1979 to 1984, built on the success of his 1971 No 1.

He is survived by his wife Priscilla Morgan and two daughters, Jessica and Polly.

His death also means that the only survivng members of the Dad’s Army cast are 66-year-old Ian Lavender, who played young Private Pike, 86-year-old Bill Pertwee, who played Chief Warden Hodges, and 81-year-old Frank Williams, who played Reverend Timothy Farthing.

Here he is in action:

Published: 7 Nov 2012