Clive Dunn
Biography
Clive Dunn was an English actor known for playing men far older than himself. Born in Brixton, south London, to actor parents, he began acting in 1935 and had small film roles in the 1930s, including appearances with Will Hay in Boys Will Be Boys (1935) and Good Morning, Boys (1937). After wartime service in the 4th Queen's Own Hussars and detention in Austria, he returned to repertory theater and, under the name Clive Dunn, moved into television. He appeared on The Tony Hancock Show across its two series and became known for old-man characters such as Mr. Johnson in Bootsie and Snudge. At 48 he took the role of Lance Corporal Jones in Dad's Army, playing him in nine series between 1968 and 1977. Later he led the children's series Grandad, from 1979 to 1984, and had a number one single with Grandad in 1971. He died in 2012.
92years old at death
- Born Brixton
- Died Faro
- Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
- Clive Robert Benjamin Dunn (birth name)Also credited as Robert Bertram Dunn and Robert Dunn
Movie Career
- Films
- 3
- Career span
- 8 years1963 to 1971
Every film, newest first
- 1971Dad's ArmyIMDb rating 6.9
- 1969The Magic ChristianIMDb rating 5.8
- 1963The Mouse on the MoonIMDb rating 6.3
Genres
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A first
Dunn was 48 when he played the elderly butcher in Dad's Army, making him one of the cast's younger members. Because he was younger than most of the others, he got much of the show's physical comedy.
A first
Dunn's single "Grandad" reached number one on his 51st birthday in January 1971, with a children's choir backing him. He sang it four times on Top of the Pops.
About the name
Dunn went back to acting in repertory theater and took the name Clive Dunn when he became a member of Equity.
A change of course
In 1939 Dunn was stage manager for a touring production of The Unseen Menace, which failed because billed star Terence De Marney never appeared on stage and his dialogue came from a gramophone recording.
Beyond film
In 1979, Dunn took the role of Frosch in Die Fledermaus for the English National Opera at the London Coliseum. His tipsy walk and talk, in the music-hall tradition, helped make Act 3's opening as funny as it ought to be.
Clive Dunn movies on Netflix
Worked with
Clive Dunn shares three films with John Le Mesurier, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
John Le Mesurier's page
Christopher Lee's page
John Cleese's page
Ringo Starr's page
Peter Sellers's page
Wilfrid Hyde-White's page
Joseph McGrathDirector, 1 film, 1969
All films by Joseph McGrath
Norman CohenDirector, 1 film, 1971
All films by Norman Cohen
All films by Richard Lester
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Officer of the Order of the British Empire | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.