"Kenneth Williams Kenneth Charles Williams (22 February 1926 – 15 April 1988) was an English actor, best known for his comedy roles and in later life as a raconteur and diarist. He was one of the main ensemble in 26 of the 31 ""Carry On"" films, and appeared in many British television programmes and radio comedies, including series with Tony Hancock and Kenneth Horne. Williams grew up in Central London in a working class family. He served in the Royal Engineers during World War II, where he first became interested in becoming an entertainer. After a short spell in repertory"
"James commented: ""To hear him talking just before he's about to die.. there's something hugely moving about that"". Sue James called the interview ""lovely and sympathetic"". Sid James Sid James (born Solomon Joel Cohen; 8 May 1913 – 26 April 1976) was a South African-born British character and comic actor. Appearing in British films from 1947, he was cast in numerous small and supporting roles into the 1950s. His profile was raised as Tony Hancock's co-star in ""Hancock's Half Hour"", first in the radio series and later when it was adapted for television and ran from 1954 to 1961. Afterwards,"
"regular Sid James. His wife was the film producer Betty Box, responsible for the ""Doctor"" series of films. They did not have any children, but their godson was actor and theatre producer Marc Sinden (who appeared in ""Carry On Columbus""), the son of Sir Donald Sinden, who starred for Betty Box in, amongst other films, ""Doctor in the House"", ""Doctor at Large"" and ""Mad About Men"". Peter and Betty lived for many years at a large home in Beaconsfield, ""Drummers Yard"", that had been purchased from the actor Dirk Bogarde. An authorized biography, ""Mr Carry On: The Life and Work"
"as director, and a different more modern cast list involving Paul O'Grady (as the acidic Kenneth Williamsesque character), Jynine James, Lenny Henry, Justin Lee Collins, Jennifer Ellison (as the saucy Barbara Windsor type), Liza Tarbuck (Hattie Jacques), Meera Syal, James Dreyfus, and Frank Skinner (filling in the Sid James role). Despite new media interest and sets being constructed at Pinewood film studios, the film once again was put on hold, and the project was shelved after the death of Peter Rogers in April 2009. In May 2016, producer Jonathan Sothcott of Hereford Films announced plans for a new series of"
"Chadwick Williams (Damian Toofek Raven), an aspiring journalist, as he pursues research while authoring a book about men who have sex with men (MSM). The series was created by filmmakers Quincy LeNear and Deondray Gossett who also serve as the producers and directors of the series. The series has won numerous awards, including the GLAAD Media Award for Best Anthology Series in 2008. It has the added distinction of being both the first African American themed show and the first show produced by a cable network to win the award. Wes Thomas (Darren Schnase), an upwardly mobile real-estate banker, soon"
"lieutenant in an entertainment unit of the South African Army, and subsequently took up acting as a career. He moved to Britain immediately after the war, financed by his service gratuity. According to rumour, Sid had an affair with the daughter of an important member of Johannesburg society; his decision to move away from South Africa was partly because he was ""advised"" to leave due to the possible controversy. Initially, he worked in repertory before being spotted for the nascent British post-war film industry. James made his first credited film appearances in ""Night Beat"" and ""Black Memory"" (1947), both crime"
"Citizen James Citizen James is a BBC sitcom that ran for three series between 24 November 1960 and 23 November 1962. The show featured comedian and actor Sid James and Sydney Tafler with Bill Kerr and Liz Fraser appearing in early episodes. It was initially written by the comedy writing team of Galton and Simpson, who based the characters very much on the ""Sidney Balmoral James"" and ""Bill Kerr, the dim-witted Australian"" roles that they had played in ""Hancock's Half Hour"". The first series was set around 'Charlie's Nosh Bar', a cafe in Soho, and centred on Sid's get-rich-quick schemes."
"that Williams used a variety of handwriting styles and colours in his journals, switching between different hands on the page. Williams has been portrayed in two made-for-television films. In 2000, Adam Godley played him in the story of Sid James and Barbara Windsor's love affair, ""Cor, Blimey!"" (Godley had originated the role in the 1998 National Theatre play ""Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick"" on which ""Cor Blimey!"" was based). Subsequently, in 2006, Michael Sheen played him in the BBC Four drama """". David Benson's 1996 Edinburgh Fringe show, ""Think No Evil of Us: My Life with Kenneth Williams"", saw Benson"
"followed by several minutes. Success continued the following year in the original London run of ""The Pajama Game"" at the Coliseum. Later stage work included Kenneth Branagh's production of ""Uncle Vanya"" at the Lyric, Hammersmith in 1991, and as part of Peter Hall's company at the Old Vic in 1997. Olga Lowe was a childhood friend of actor Sid James. Lowe and her first husband, John Tore, were considered to be instrumental in launching James's film career after he moved to Britain in 1947. In 1976, she was performing opposite James in ""The Mating Season"" at the Sunderland Empire Theatre"
"wrote it in Spain in twenty days at a chapter a day, and it became a best seller on its publication in 1957. Film rights were bought by MGM who hired Cleary to adapt his own novel. Although most of the movie was set in Italy, it was shot in Wales. Sid James was cast as an Australian. According to MGM records the film earned $375,000 in the US and $575,000 internationally, making a profit of $124,000. The Green Helmet The Green Helmet is a 1961 British film starring Bill Travers, Ed Begley and Sid James. The film is centred"
"World War saw him enlist in the Royal Air Force, where he became a navigator stationed at RAF North Killingholme, Lincolnshire. He had ambitions of becoming a farmer—making money from cattle breeding, whilst working as a manager at London Airport. The farming business, once begun, failed and almost made him bankrupt, so at the age of 42 he found himself looking for a new career. Meeting scriptwriters Ray Galton and Alan Simpson in a pub, he bluffed them into believing that he was in fact an actor and ended up with the part of a policeman in the Sid James"
"broadcast during the autumn season. Only Sid James transferred from the radio series, although Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jacques each made a couple of appearances. The television version drew on a stock company of actors, who played different supporting characters in each episode. Semi-regulars included Liz Fraser, John Le Mesurier, Hugh Lloyd, Arthur Mullard and John Vyvyan. The final television series, broadcast in 1961, was retitled ""Hancock"", as it was shortened from a half-hour to 25 minutes. For this final series Sid James was no longer in the cast, as Hancock had become frustrated with the format. Some of the"
"Ed James (writer) Ed James (June 8, 1908 – March 6, 1995) was an American television writer and television producer during the 1950s and 1960s. Among his credits are contributions to the long-running television sitcoms ""Father Knows Best"" (based on the characters created by Ed James) and ""F Troop"". He also produced the 1959 film ""No Place Like Home"" James' career as a comedy writer spanned four decades, and encompassed work in both radio and television. After working as a freelance writer, it was in 1949 that he had the idea for the sitcom ""Father Knows Best"". He wrote the"
"and workshops have starred Tony winner Norbert Leo Butz, Tony nominee Tovah Feldshuh, and film and TV star Matthew Lillard. Williams is currently a writer and producer of the National Geographic Channel’s hit TV series ""Brain Games"". His first novel, ""Personal Statement"", published by In This Together Media in August 2013, was optioned for a three-picture deal, and books two and three in the series are in development. Williams lives in Manhattan with his wife, Charlotte Cohn, and their daughter, Imogen. Jason Williams (actor) Jason Odell Williams is an American actor and writer. He is from Columbia, Maryland. Jason received"
"many notable films from the early 1940s through to the mid-1960s, including ""High Sierra"", ""Champion"", ""They Died with Their Boots On"", ""The Glass Menagerie"", ""Lawrence of Arabia"", ""Peyton Place"", ""Some Came Running"", ""Elmer Gantry"", ""The Man from Laramie"" and ""Fantastic Voyage"". Of Kennedy's film work, he is perhaps best-remembered for his collaborations with director Anthony Mann and co-star James Stewart on ""Bend of the River"" (1952) and ""The Man from Laramie"" (1955). In both films he played sympathetic villains. He also enjoyed a distinguished stage career over the same period, receiving a Tony Award for the role of Biff Loman"
"fellow ""Carry On"" stars Sid James and Esma Cannon in the comedy film ""What a Carve Up!"" In fact, in the 1959 – 1961 period, he was one of the most prominent leading men in British comedy films. As well as ""What a Carve Up!"" and the ""Carry On"" films, other films he starred in during this period included ""Watch Your Stern"" (1960), ""Nearly a Nasty Accident"" (1961) and the ""Dentist"" films. In 1960, he appeared as various characters in the ""Four Feather Falls"" puppet series. Connor had a good tenor voice, which he occasionally used to good effect, such"
"Black Memory Black Memory is a 1947 British crime film starring Michael Atkinson, Myra O'Connell and Michael Medwin and directed by Oswald Mitchell. It is most notable for the first screen appearance of Sid James, who would later go on to find fame in Ealing Comedies and the Carry on films. Also making her film acting debut in Black Memory was the Welsh-born actor, playwright, screenwriter and film director Jane Arden. When his father is wrongly convicted and hanged for murder, son Danny poses as a juvenile delinquent, and ten years later manages to clear his father's name. ""TV Guide"""
"Michael K. Williams Michael Kenneth Williams (born November 22, 1966) is an American actor. He played Omar Little on the HBO drama series ""The Wire"" and Albert ""Chalky"" White on the HBO series ""Boardwalk Empire"". He was also acclaimed for his role as Jack Gee, husband of Bessie Smith, in the HBO telefilm biopic ""Bessie"". He has acted in supporting roles in a number of films and television series, including ""The Road"", ""Inherent Vice"", ""The Night Of"", ""Gone Baby Gone"", and ""12 Years a Slave"". Williams received two Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or"
"sole producer and director respectively. They mostly employed the same crew and a regular group of actors. The main cast predominantly featured Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Kenneth Connor, Peter Butterworth, Hattie Jacques, Terry Scott, Bernard Bresslaw, Barbara Windsor, Jack Douglas and Jim Dale. The ""Carry On""s comprise the largest number of films of any British series and, next to the ""James Bond"" films, are the second-longest continually-running UK film series (with a fourteen-year hiatus between 1978 and 1992). Between 1958 and 1992, there were seven writers, principally Norman Hudis (1958–62) and Talbot Rothwell (1963–74). The films"
"Bill Williams (actor) William Herman Katt (born Herman August Wilhelm Katt; May 15, 1915 – September 21, 1992), known as Bill Williams, was an American television and film actor. He is best known for his starring role in the early television series ""The Adventures of Kit Carson"", which aired in syndication from 1951 to 1955. Williams was born in Brooklyn, New York to German immigrant parents. He attended the Pratt Institute, and became a professional swimmer, performing in underwater shows. He landed a walk-on role as a theater usher in ""King Kong"" (1933). He enlisted in the United States Army"
"Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards on March 27, 2010, and was a nominee into the Arm Fart Hall of Fames of the next year's show as Kevin ""Not-Quite-As-Good-As-Me"" James; but lost to Josh Duhamel. James most recently starred in the sitcom ""Kevin Can Wait"", which premiered on September 19, 2016. The series was renewed for a second season, before being canceled at the season's end. James made his film debut in the 2005 romantic comedy ""Hitch"", alongside Will Smith and Eva Mendes. In 2006, he co-starred with his ""Everybody Loves Raymond"" colleague Ray Romano in the comedy ""Grilled"", and provided voice"
"Kelley. Ed and Louise were married until his death in 1995, nearly 40 years. Louise died December 31, 2011. Ed James (writer) Ed James (June 8, 1908 – March 6, 1995) was an American television writer and television producer during the 1950s and 1960s. Among his credits are contributions to the long-running television sitcoms ""Father Knows Best"" (based on the characters created by Ed James) and ""F Troop"". He also produced the 1959 film ""No Place Like Home"" James' career as a comedy writer spanned four decades, and encompassed work in both radio and television. After working as a freelance"
"Filmways Filmways, Inc. (also known as Filmways Pictures and Filmways Television) was a television and film production company founded by American film executive Martin Ransohoff, and Edwin Kasper in 1952. It is probably best remembered as the production company of CBS’ “rural comedies” of the 1960s, including ""Mister Ed"", ""The Beverly Hillbillies"", ""Petticoat Junction"", and ""Green Acres"", as well as the comedy-drama ""The Trials of O'Brien"", the western ""Dundee and the Culhane"", the adventure show ""Bearcats!"", the police drama ""Cagney & Lacey"", and ""The Addams Family"". Notable films the company produced include ""The Sandpiper"", ""The Cincinnati Kid"", ""The Fearless Vampire"
"Carry On Dick Carry On Dick is the 26th in the series of ""Carry On"" films to be made. The story is based on the Dick Turpin legend and features Turpin (James) as an antihero, attempting to evade capture by the authorities. ""Carry On Dick"" was released in July 1974 and marked the end of an era for the series. It features the last appearances of Sid James (after nineteen appearances in the series), Hattie Jacques (fourteen appearances) and Barbara Windsor (nine appearances), although all three would appear in the ""Carry On Laughing"" TV series and Windsor would co-present a"
"and ""Prisoner"". He was later a television chef for over 10 years, known for his regular appearance on ""Good Morning Australia"" then involved in the marketing of Ecopot, a cooking aid. James has two adult children from his first marriage, and since 2003 has been engaged to marry for a second time. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2009. Ken James (Australian actor) Ken James (born 16 November 1948 in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian actor known for regular roles in several popular television series. He was probably best known to Australian (and international) audiences as Sonny's"
"carrying on the tradition of going against the grain of traditional double acts, when the partnership dissolved in the late 1970s, it was Cook whose career stalled due to boredom, alcoholism and lack of ambition, while Moore went on to become one of Hollywood's most unlikely leading men. The double act has also become a popular theme in British sitcoms. One of the earliest examples of this was the relationship between Tony Hancock and Sid James in the Galton and Simpson series ""Hancock's Half Hour"". James played a down-to-earth character while Hancock was pompous and had delusions of grandeur, and"
"theme music written by Geoff Love. A comic strip version was also produced, written by Angus Allan and printed in TV comic ""Look-in"". The first seven episodes were made in black-and-white due to the ITV colour strike. The series came to an abrupt end in 1976, when just four days after broadcast of the final episode of the sixth series, Sid James collapsed on stage at the Sunderland Empire during a performance of ""The Mating Season"" after failing to respond to a cue. James had suffered a heart attack and died later on the way to the hospital. Plans were"
"Spencer Williams (actor) Spencer Williams (July 14, 1893 – December 13, 1969) was an American actor and filmmaker. He was best known for playing Andy on TV's ""The Amos 'n' Andy Show"" and for directing the 1941 race film ""The Blood of Jesus."" Williams was a pioneer African-American film producer and director. Williams (who was sometimes billed as Spencer Williams Jr.) was born in Vidalia, Louisiana, where the family lived on Magnolia Street. As a youngster, he attended Wards Academy in Natchez, Mississippi. He moved to New York City when he was a teenager and secured work as call boy"
"series was seen on UK television on March 30, 1958. It features African-American actor Kenneth Spencer, and was directed by the Canadian director Ted Kotcheff and adapted by the American ""beat"" novelist Terry Southern in his first screenwriting job. Unlike other British television versions, it still exists, and has been released on DVD. An experimental video by Christopher Kondek and Elizabeth LeCompte showcases the production of the play by the New York-based performance troupe The Wooster Group, starring Kate Valk and Willem Dafoe. The Emperor Jones The Emperor Jones is a 1920 play by American dramatist Eugene O'Neill that tells"
"which - by contrast - are broadcast regularly on British television. It is also considered much less successful at transferring the established formula to the small screen than the ""Carry On Christmas specials"". The series was conceived after the departures of two long-serving ""Carry On"" contributors: writer Talbot Rothwell and actor Charles Hawtrey. Furthermore, Kenneth Williams declined to appear in the series. Other ""Carry On"" regulars only appeared in a minority of episodes: Sid James in only the first four, Hattie Jacques in only one; and Bernard Bresslaw appeared only in the second series. In the absence of Rothwell, other"
"Ken James (Australian actor) Ken James (born 16 November 1948 in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian actor known for regular roles in several popular television series. He was probably best known to Australian (and international) audiences as Sonny's older brother Mark Hammond in the 1960s children's TV show, ""Skippy"". He later played television actor Tony Wild in ""The Box"" from 1974 to 1977, Tom in Glenview High (1977), air traffic controller Simon Young in ""Skyways"" from 1979 to 1981, and later was Mike O'Brien in ""Sons and Daughters"" from 1983 to 1985. Other appearances include ""Matlock Police"", ""Pugwall"""
"Kent Williams (actor) Kent Williams (born December 27, 1950) is an American actor. Williams was born in Harlem, Manhattan, New York. He studied music and theatre at the State University of New York at Oswego, where he graduated in the class of 1973. He is known for his role as an Assistant District Attorney and, later, Special Prosecutor Lawrence D. Barrington in the television programs ""Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer"", and ""The New Mike Hammer"". Williams reunited with Stacy Keach in 1997 when a new Mike Hammer syndicated television show was released under the title ""Mike Hammer, Private Eye"". This time"
"brother, ""It was the biggest mistake he ever made. I think it all started from that really. ...Self-analysis - that was his killer."" Cited as evidence is his gradual ostracism of those who contributed to his success, such as Sidney James and his scriptwriters, Galton and Simpson. His reasoning was that, to refine his craft, he had to ditch catch-phrases and become realistic. He argued, for example, that whenever an ad-hoc character was needed, such as a policeman, it would be played by someone like Kenneth Williams, who would appear with his well-known oily catchphrase 'Good evening'. Hancock believed the"