Sidekick to Inspector Clouseau... and Harry Hill

Burt Kwouk, who played Inspector Clouseau’s manservant Cato in seven Pink Panther films, has died aged 85.

He also appeared in Harry Hill’s comedy series in the 1990s, the  BBC One sitcom Last of the Summer Wine from 2002 to 2010 and hosted Channel 4’s mad gambling show Banzai from 2001 to 2004.

But it is as the servant who forever attacked Peter Sellers’s hapless detective, allegedly to keep him alert, for which he will be best known.

A statement issued by the actor’s agent said: ‘Beloved actor Burt Kwouk has sadly passed peacefully away. The family will be having a private funeral but there will be a memorial at a later date.’

Al Murray was among those tweeting about Kwouk’s death today, saying: ‘I was very lucky to have worked with Burt Kwouk on the Harry Hill show way back when. "Hey Little Hen, when when when?"’

He was born in Manchester but raised in Shanghai, and was awarded an OBE in the 2011 New Year Honour List.

Outside  comedy, he played  Major Yamauchi in PoW drama Tenko and had roles in The Avengers, Doctor Who and the Bond films Goldfinger and You Only Live Twice.
 

Published: 24 May 2016