John Le Mesurier


Born:
5th April 1912, Chaucer Road, Bedford, England, as John Charles Elton Le Mesurier de Somerys Halliley

Died: 15 November 1983, in Ramsgate Hospital, after a long fight with liver disease

Parents: Son of Charles Elton Halliley and Anne Michelle Halliley (nee Le Mesurier)

Married: John had three wives:
- June Melville, an actress/director/producer, born 1915, died 1970 (married 1939-47, divorced)
- Hattie Jacques, an actress, born as Josephine Edwina Jacques on 7 Feb 1924, died 6 Oct 1980 (1952 - 65, divorced)
- Joan Malin, a circus performer (married 2 March 1966 till his death, now widow Joan Le Mesurier)

Children: Robin and Kim Le Mesurier, sons from marriage to Hattie Jacques. Kim (known as Jake) died in 1990, aged 35.

Biographies and Books of Interest:
A Jobbing Actor - by John Le Mesurier (autobiography)
Lady Don't Fall Backwards - by Joan Le Mesurier (the autobiography of John's wife, with much about him)
Dear John - by Joan Le Mesurier (biography)

Acknowledgements: SFTA award for Best Television Actor 1971, for dramatic lead role in Dennis Potter’s television play Traitor

Professional Debut: The Palladium Theatre, Edinburgh, in repertory, 1935

 
 
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The following information has been compiled over many years by Dave Homewood and has been presented here for your interest and for reference. Please do not copy the information without express permission of the compiler. Though this listing is comprehensive there are still gaps and undoubtedly a few errors. If you can help with further information please contact Dave Homewood by clicking HERE

__________________________________________________________

All material published on this site, unless otherwise credited, has been written by and is copyrighted to Dave Homewood. ©2008. We hope that you will use this site as a resource to further your knowledge of the series.

TV Credits_____Radio Credits______Film Credits______Stage Credits______Other Work

 

John Le Mesurier's Television Career

Television Show    Role Notes Maker  Date


John Le Mesurier made his television debut in 1938, in the BBC's Alexandra Palace days.

1930's______1950's______1960's______1970's______1980's

The Marvellous History of St
__ Bernard
Richard of Bordeaux
Gaslight
They Flew Through Sand
They Flew Through Sand
The Railway Children
The Railway Children
The Railway Children
The Railway Children
The Railway Children
The Railway Children
Show Me A Spy!  
Show Me A Spy!  
Show Me A Spy!  
Show Me A Spy!
Sherlock Holmes 
A Time To Be Born
Happy Holidays  
_______________
Flight One-Zero-One
Twenty Minutes South
The Grenville Melodramas
The Grenville Melodramas
_
The Grenville Melodramas_
Deadline in Vienna
The Way Home
Assignment Foreign Legion
Mademoiselle Fifi
The Ludlow Affair’
The Gay Cavalier 
The Vise
Hancock’s Half Hour
_
The Trial of Marie Lafarge
The Macropulos Secret
Sword of Freedom
The Winslow Boy  
The Vise
Hancock’s Half Hour 
The Education of Mr Surrage
Hancock’s Half Hour  
Adventures Of William Tell  
Hancock’s Half Hour  
Hancock’s Half Hour      
Interpol Calling  
Hancock’s Half Hour  

Signour de Miolans
_
Sir John Montague
Policeman
RAF Press Oficer
RAF Press Officer
The Doctor
The Doctor
The Doctor
The Doctor
The Doctor
The Doctor
Sir Alexander Blythe
Sir Alexander Blythe 
Sir Alexander Blythe 
Sir Alexander Blythe 
Eduardo Lucas  
Joseph
Mr Mulberry
________
Doctor Garside
Arthur Harris
Sir William Ralston__
Sir John
_

Mr Rencleaw _
Geoffrey Warren
Dr Lloyd  
Leblond
Curè
Inspector Burroughs
Sir Richard 
Wilson
Lord Chief Justice
__Williams
Prosecuting Consel
Doctor Kolenaty
_
_
Sir Robert Quinlan
Dr. Worthington
Bindloss
The Colonel 
Duke of Burgundy 
Colonel Winthrop
National Trust man
Monsieur Iamprou
The Captain

adaptation of book
_
_
_
_
repeat performance of above
episode 3 'An Illness and a Birthday'
episode 4 'Prisoners and Captives'
episode 5 'Saviours of the Train'
episode 7 'The Hound in the Red Jersey'
episode 10 'The Old Gentleman'
episode 12 'The End of Things'
two part comedy thriller for children, live, Part 1
Part One ‘Number Unknown’ re-performed
Part Two ‘Address Unknown’
Part Two ‘Address Unknown’ re-performed
episode 6 ‘The Second Stain’ as a villain
play
six episodes of this children’s sitcom, which
also starred Hattie Jacques and Clive Dunn 
in Douglas Fairbanks Presents anthology

ep. 'The Unwanted Child; or The Babe in the Wood'
episode 'Clara The Maid of Durham, or Home Sweet Home'
episode 'The Drunkard; or The Fallen Saved'
in Douglas Fairbanks Presents anthology
in Douglas Fairbanks Presents anthology
episode 4 'The Search'
in Errol Flynn Theatre anthology
in Douglas Fairbanks Presents anthology
episode ‘The Sealed Knot’ 
episode 5 'The Baby-Sitter'
episode ‘The Lawyer: The Crown vs James S.’
___________________________________
Sunday Night Theatre play
Television Playhouse play
episode 'Portrait in Emerald Green'
not confirmed  
episode 'Silence For Sale'
episode ‘The New Nose’  
Play of the Week
episode ‘The Horror Serial’
episode ‘The Avenger’ 
episode ‘The Servants’ 
episode ‘Lord Byron Lived Here’
episode 5 ‘The Long Weekend’
episode ‘The Cruise’ 
BBC
_
BBC
BBC
BBC
BBC
BBC
BBC
BBC
BBC
BBC
BBC
BBC 
BBC
BBC
BBC
BBC 
BBC
BBC 
_
ITV
BBC
BBC
BBC
_
BBC
ITV
NBC
CBS

NBC
AR
ABC (US)
BBC 
_______
BBC
ITV
_
BBC  
ABC (US)
BBC
ITV
BBC
ITC
BBC
BBC
ITC 
BBC
17 Apr 1938
_
18 Dec 1938
19 Mar 1939
14 June 1946
17 June 1946
20 Feb 1951
27 Feb 1951
6 Mar 1951
20 Mar 1951
17 July 1951
31 July 1951
1 Nov 1951
4 Nov 1951
8 Nov 1951
11 Nov 1951  
1 Dec 1951
24 Dec 1951
10 July 1954 -
18 Sept 1954
27 June 1955
8 Aug 1955
30 Nov 1955
6 Dec 1955
_
13 Dec 1955 _
21 Jan 1956
9 July 1956
12 Oct 1956
24 Nov 1956
28 Jan 1957
21 Aug 1957
8 Nov 1957
2 Dec 1957
______________
15 Dec 1957
7 Mar 1958
14 Mar 1958
2 Oct 1958
1959
16 Jan 1959
20 Jan 1959
30 Jan 1959
8 Feb 1959
27 Mar 1959
9 Oct 1959
11 Oct 1959
30 Oct 1959
Man From Interpol
Hancock’s Half Hour   
Saber of London
Danger Man
The Third Man
The Pursuers
Hancock
Anna Karenina
Ghost Squad
A Tune On The Old Tax
__Fiddle     
Dial RIX
Mr. Justice Duncannon
This Is Your Life Hattie Jacques
Mr. Justice Duncannon
Hancock 
A Clerical Error  
The Brimstone Butterfly  
Long Past Glory 
The Bone
The Avengers
The Lady Of The Camellias
The Master Of Santiago 
_
The Blackmailing of Mr. S
Thorndyke
The Bachelors
_
Tea Party  
Barnaby Spoot and the
_Exploding Whoopee Cushion 
Memoirs Of A Chaise Longue
Riviera Police
Doctor Knock 
The Avengers
Macready’s Gala
Frankie Howerd
Pardon The Expression
Pardon The Expression
Pardon The Expression
Pardon The Expression
Comedy Half Hour
The Caramel Crisis
Adam Adamant Lives
George And The Dragon
_
Hugh And I
All Gas And Gaiters
An Absolute Treasure
Mr Rose 
The Troubleshooters
The Further Adventures of
__Lucky Jim
To Lucifer - A Son  
Call My Bluff 
Two in Clover
Dad’s Army
_
Harry Worth
The Creative Impulse
The Mind Of Mr  JG Reeder
The Last Train Through
__ Harecastle Tunnel
The Coward Revue 
Count Salon
The Doctor 
Franz
Alvarado
Prime Minister
Joe Raker
Air Marshal  
??
Volgu
Toby Dixon  
_
George Frampton 
Mr. Justice Hoop
himself
Mr. Justice Hoop
Ambrose Butterfield
Caleb Bullrush
Mr Slade 
Harry
Superintendant Melchior
Doctor Macombie
de Giray 
Don Bernal de la
__Encina
Mr Sparrow
Pembury
Octave de
__ Coetquidan
Disley
Mr Bostock
_
Creature Of Habit 
Jeremiah Canlon
Dr. Parpalaid
Benson  
Canon Dunwoodie
guest
Sir Charles Dobson
Sir Charles Dobson   
Sir Charles Dobson
Sir Charles Dobson
??
Lame
Velmer 
Colonel Maynard
_
??
Timothy Post
Brian Turner
Purser  
Kemp
??
_
Lucifer 
contestant 
The Chairman
Sgt Arthur Wilson  
_
??
Mr. Albert Forester 
Joseph Bracher 
Judge Grayson
_
Sgt Wilson   
episode 'Odds On Murder'
episode ‘The Cold’
episode 'The Diplomatic Affair'
episode 1.10 ‘An Affair Of State’  
episode 'Harry Lime and the King'
episode 2 'The Husband'
episode ‘The Lift’ 
not confirmed
crime adventure, episode 'Death From a Distance'
one hour play by Ronald Hardy, in Armchair __
__
Theatre series 
topical farce, episode 'What A Drag'
episode 'Brief to Counsel', comedy
tribute show to his then wife actress
episode 'A Case of Whisky'
episode ‘The Politician’ 
one-off Galton & Simpson Comedy Playhouse
Victorian period drama, 80 minutes
one-off comedy drama by Len Deighton
Wednesday Play, untransmitted version
episode 'Mandrake'
drama, with Billie Whitelaw, in Festival genre
one-off 90 minute drama in the Festival series set in 1519 in Spain.Now lost
Armchair Theatre play
episode 'A Case of Premeditation'
ITV Play of the Week
_
The Largest Theatre In The World genre 
one-off sitcom, as a joke shop proprietor
_
comedy by Marty Feldman & Barry Took
episode 2 ‘That Kind of Girl’ 
Theatre 625 play, with Leonard Rossitter
episode “What The Butler Saw”
Wednesday Play
comedy show
episode 23 'The Take-Over Bid'
episode 32 ‘Thunderfinger Part 1’
episode 33 ‘Thunderfinger Part 2'
episode 34 'The Switched On Scene'
with Warren Mitchell. Recorded 3 March 1966
Thirty Minute Theatre, short drama 
episode “The Terribly Happy Embalmers” 
26 episodes, starring John, Sid James and Peggy Mount
episode 'Chinese Crackers'
episode 'The Bishop Gets The Sack'
Thirty Minute Theatre, short drama   
episode ‘The Jolly Swagman’, crime drama
episode 'Some Days You Just Can't Win'
episode 'Home James'
_
one-off Comedy Playhouse
with Patrick Campbell and Jocasta Innes
episode 2
regular starring role for 80 episodes   
_  
episode ‘Private Pimpernel’, with James Beck
W. Somerset Maugham play
episode ‘The Investors’, crime drama
in the Wednesday Play genre
_
‘Dad’s Army’ skit with Arthur Lowe, Clive Dunn
NBC
BBC
ITV
ITV
BBC
ITV
BBC
BBC 
ATV
ABC
_
BBC
BBC
ITV
BBC
ATV
BBC
AR
ABC
Not T/X
AR
BBC 
BBC
_
AR
BBC
ITV
_
BBC
BBC   
_
BBC 
AR 
BBC
ATV 
BBC
BBC
Granada
Granada
Granada
Granada
Granada
BBC
BBC 
ATV
_
BBC
BBC
BBC
Granada
BBC
BBC
_
BBC
BBC2
Thames
BBC
_
BBC
BBC
Thames
BBC
_
BBC
1960
4 Mar 1960
29 Aug 1960
13 Nov 1960
3 Dec 1960
1961
16 Jun 1961
3 Nov 1961
4 Nov 1961
17 Dec 1961
_
5 Oct 1962
25 Jan 1963
12 Feb 1963
15 Feb 1963
7 Mar 1963
5 Apr 1963
16 Apr 1963
17 Nov 1963
1964
24 Jan 1964
12 Feb 1964
26 Feb 1964
_
26 July 1964
16 Oct 1964
23 Nov 1964
_
25 Mar 1965
28 May 1965
_
2 July 1965
9 Aug 1965
2 Jan 1966
26 Feb 1966
2 Mar 1966
8 Mar 1966
28 Mar 1966
30 May 1966
6 June 1966
13 June 1966
1966
25 Apr 1966
4 Aug 1966
19 Nov 1966
- 31 Oct 1968
3 Jan 1967
31 Jan 1967
22 Feb 1967
17 Mar 1967
20 Mar 1967
30 May 1967
_
29 June 1967
25 Feb 1968
25 Feb 1968
31 July 1968
- 13 Nov 1977
21 Oct 1968
17 Jun 1969
11 June 1969
1 Oct 1969
_
26 Dec 1969
Suffer Little Children
Bird’s Eye View    
Haven Of Rest   
The Des O’Connor Show
British Screen Awards 
_
Dear Mother...Love Albert
This Is Your Life: Clive Dunn
Morecambe And Wise Show
Paul Temple
Joker’s Wild 
Joker's Wild   
Misleading Cases
Doctor At Large 
Traitor
Jason King  
Appeal
The Goodies  
Out Of The Box  
British Screen Awards
Jackanory 
Jackanory  
_
Jackanory
_
A Class By Himself 
_
Jackanory 

Jackanory   
_
Sykes
Anywhere But England Old Boy
Marry The Girls  
Blue Peter
Between The Wars   
Thriller   
The Sergeant From Sandhurst
Rust
Great Mysteries 
Crown Court
Storyteller
Francis Howerd In Concert
Silver Wedding
Brief Counter
Bod
Village Hall
The Flight Fund 
The Root Of All Evil     
This Is Your Life: Arnold Ridley
Multi Coloured Swap Shop  
A Christmas Carol 
Morecambe And Wise Show
Flint
An Honourable Retirement  
Ripping Yarns 
Henderson
Guide
Mr Prentice  
himself
himself 
_

himself
Sailor Sgt Wilson 
West  
himself   
himself 
Maurice Sason
Mr Stanley Moon
Adrian Harris
Doctor Litz  
himself 
Uncle Tom
??
himself
himself
himself
_
himself
_
Lord Bleasham   
_
himself
_
himself  
_
Lord Hetherington

Freddie
Luke Elms  
Sgt Wilson

Mr Stubbs  
himself
Sir Henry  
Sidney Goldsmith
Reginald Standish
himself? 
himself 
Geoffrey
Stephen
Narrator 
Harold Garfield
Uncle Edward
Schmidt   
himself and Sgt Wilson
himself/ Wilson?  
Jacob Marley
Sgt Wilson
The Rev. Ossian Flint  
???
Colonel Runcim
an
Saturday Night Theatre
episode “What A Lovely Day!”, documentary
one-off old folk’s home sitcom
guest on this variety show 
supporting Jimmy Perry and David Croft who won an award for best television script for Dad’s Army    
episode 'Lost Weekend"
guest on tribute show to Clive Dunn
guest cameo, Arthur Lowe was main guest
episode 'Paper Chase', crime series
contestant on gameshow, also with Clive Dunn
contestant on gameshow, with Clive Dunn
episode ‘What Is A Snail?’, courtroom  comedy 
episode ‘Mr Moon’
Play For Today genre
episode 17, ‘If It’s Got To Go - It’s Got To Go’ 
made appeal for the Simon Community Trust
episode “Farm Fresh Food”, aka ‘Health Farm’ 
??
won Best Actor for the play Traitor
read ‘Andy The Dandy Lion’, part 1 ‘The Red Trunk’   
reading ‘Andy The Dandy Lion’, part 2 ‘Ten Million People’ 
reading ‘The 27th Annual African Hippopotamus Race’, part one ‘Six Days To Go’ 
starring role in six part aristocracy comedy   
_
reading ‘The 27th Annual African Hippopotamus Race’, part two ‘The Mighty Zamboots’
reading ‘The 27th Annual African Hippopotamus Race’ part three ‘On Your Marks’
episode 'Uncle', with ex-wife Hattie Jacques
‘Armchair Theatre’ play set in the Mediterranean
Comedy Playhouse, starring role
appearance with Arthur Lowe as Mainwaring
'Mr Loveday's Little Outing' play with Ronald Fraser
episode ‘File It Under Fear’, UK/US-made
On Camera documentary about John Le Mesurier
comedy playlet in the series ‘Black And Blue’
episode ‘Death of an Old Fashioned Girl’
episode 'Murder Most Foul'
probably children’s story       
with Frankie Howerd in a one-off stand-up show
in the Late Night Theatre series
US film for TV
15 five minute cartoons for Watch With Mother
episode 'Pie in the Sky', anthology series
'Centre Play' drama, with Harold Bennett
play in series ‘Shades Of Greene” 
guest on tribute show to friend Arnold Ridley 
Children’s show, with Clive Dunn
hour long Dickens adaptation
Dad’s Army cameo with  Lowe and Laurie
drama in "Play of the Month" series  
???
episode “Roger Of The Raj”
ITV
BBC
BBC
ATV 
BBC
_
YTV
Thames  
BBC
BBC
YTV 
YTV
BBC
LWT  
BBC
ITC
BBC1
BBC  
BBC
ITV
BBC
BBC 
  
BBC
_
HTV
_
BBC
_
BBC
_
BBC 
Thames
BBC
BBC 
LWT
ATV 
BBC
BBC
Fox/Anglia
Granada
BBC
YTV 
ITV
ITC
BBC
Granada
BBC
Thames
Thames
BBC
BBC 
BBC
BBC
???
BBC

3 Jan 1970
22 Mar 1970
1 Apr 1970
31 Jul 1970
4 Mar 1971
_
8 Mar 1971
24 Mar 1971
22 Apr 1971
9 June 1971
7 July 1971
28 July 1971
6 Aug 1971
22 Aug 1971
14 Oct 1971
16 Feb 1972
12 Nov 1972
10 Dec 1971
1972
1972
11 Sep 1972
12 Sep 1972
_
13 Sep 1972
_
13 Sep 1972
- 18 Oct 1972
14 Sep 1972
_
15 Sep 1972
_
29 Sep 1972
31 Oct 1972
1 Feb 1973
22 Feb 1973
1 June 1973
2 June 1973
31 July 1973
4 Sept 1973
28 Nov 1973
27 Dec 1973
1974
18 Sept 1974
25 Sept 1974
12 Nov 1974
1975
18 May 1975
14 Jul 1975
7 Oct 1975
10 Mar 1976
15 Oct 1977
24 Dec 1977
25 Dec 1977
15 Jan 1978
1979
25 Oct 1979

The Dick Emery Show
The Shillingbury Blowers
Worzel Gummidge
Night of 100 Stars
Brideshead Revisited
Dead Ernest
Bognor
Bognor
Bognor
_
Hi-De-Hi
A Married Man
_
The Passionate Pilgrim  
Late Flowering Love
The Unforgettable John Le
__Mesurier

guest
Council Chairman
Baines 
Sgt Arthur Wilson
Father Mulberry
???
Bright-Purley
Bright-Purley
Bright-Purley
_
Hugo Buston
Eustace Lough
_
Narrator
Colonel Hunter Dunn
himself and clips
_
comedy sketch show
one off drama
kid’s series, episode ‘Very Good Worzel’ 
variety celebration of British acting
episode 6 ‘Julia’ of epic mini-series
comedy
episode 'Just Desserts Part One - Scoff Not"
ep. 'Just Desserts Part Two - A Health Warning"
episode 'Just Desserts Part Three - The Fastest Cork In The West" (comedy-drama)
episode 'Carnival Time'
last TV role, aired posthumously, 4-part drama
_
short film, aired posthumously
dramatising Sir John Betjeman poem, made July 81
documentary series profiling famous stars
_
BBC
ITV
Southern
ITV
BBC 
ITV
Thames
Thames
Thames
_
BBC
LWT
_
Anglia
C4
ITV
_
5 Jan 1980
6 Jan 1980
3 Feb 1980
21 Dec 1980
17 Nov 1981
15 Feb 1982
9 Mar 1982
16 Mar 1982
23 Mar 1982
_
7 Nov 1982
10 July 1984
- 31 July 1984
1984
3 Mar 1985
9 Sep 2001
_

 


 

TV Credits_____Radio Credits______Film Credits______Stage Credits______Other Work

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