John Le Mesurier

John Le Mesurier (/lə ˈmɛʒərər/, born John Elton Le Mesurier Halliley; 5 April 1912 – 15 November 1983) was an English actor. He is perhaps best remembered for his comedic role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the BBC television situation comedy Dad's Army (1968–77). A self-confessed "jobbing actor", Le Mesurier appeared in more than 120 films across a range of genres, normally in smaller supporting parts.

Le Mesurier became interested in the stage as a young adult and enrolled at the Fay Compton Studio of Dramatic Art in 1933. From there he took a position in repertory theatre and made his stage debut in September 1934 at the Palladium Theatre in Edinburgh in the J. B. Priestley play Dangerous Corner. He later accepted an offer to work with Alec Guinness in a John Gielgud production of Hamlet. He first appeared on television in 1938 as Seigneur de Miolans in the BBC broadcast of The Marvellous History of St Bernard. During the Second World War Le Mesurier was posted to British India, as a captain with the Royal Tank Regiment. He returned to acting and made his film debut in 1948, starring in the second feature comedy short Death in the Hand, opposite Esme Percy and Ernest Jay. He undertook a number of roles on television in 1951 including Educating Archie alongside Tony Hancock.

John Le Mesurier on stage, radio, screen and record

John Le Mesurier (born John Elton Le Mesurier Halliley; 5 April 1912 – 15 November 1983) was an English actor who performed in many mediums of light entertainment, including film, radio and theatre. Le Mesurier's career spanned from 1934 until his death in 1983. He is best remembered for his role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the BBC situation comedy Dad's Army, between 1968 and 1977.

Le Mesurier made his professional stage debut in September 1934 in Dangerous Corner at the Palladium Theatre in Edinburgh under his birth name, and appeared on television for the first time four years later as Seigneur de Miolans in the BBC Television broadcast of "The Marvellous History of St Bernard". The broadcast was adapted from a 15th-century manuscript by Henri Ghéon. After wartime service as a captain in the Royal Tank Regiment, Le Mesurier returned to acting and made his radio debut on the BBC Home Service in a March 1947 broadcast of Escape or Die. He continued working in television roles throughout his career, but it was his portrayal in the BBC television play Traitor, of a character loosely based on Kim Philby, which earned him the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor in 1972.

John Le Mesurier (British Army officer)

Lieutenant General John Le Mesurier (1834-1903) was a senior British Army officer.

Biography

Descended from the Hereditary Governors of Alderney and the Rt. Hon. Paul Le Mesurier MP, Lord Mayor of London between 1793 and 1794, John Le Mesurier was the son of Revd Henry Le Mesurier, Usher at Bedford School. He was born on 1 November 1834, and educated at Bedford School between 1843 and 1850. He received his first commission in the Royal Engineers on 9 December 1853, and was sent to India in November 1855, serving in Sind as an Assistant Engineer and as an Executive Engineer. He served during the Anglo-Persian War, between 1856 and 1857, and fought in the Battle of Bushire and in the Battle of Khushab. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1861, to the rank of Major in 1872, to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1874, and to the rank of Colonel on 1 April 1879. He was appointed as Joint Secretary to the Public Works Department of the Government of Bombay in 1884, and Superintending Engineer in Sind in 1886. He retired from the Royal Engineers as a Lieutenant General on 24 March 1887.