Jack Haig (actor)

2022-09-23T19:46:53Z

75.118.14.168: De-capitalized common noun, spelled abbreviation, added comma, removed quotes from character name

{{short description|British actor}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jack Haig
| image = Jack haig.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Jack Haig as Monsieur Roger LeClerc in [['Allo 'Allo]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1913|1|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Streatham]], [[London]], England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1989|07|04|1913|1|5|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Hampstead]], London, England
| birth_name = John Cecil Coppin
| spouse = {{marriage|Sybil Dunn|1938|1988|end=her death}}
| children = 1
| years_active = 1959–1989
}}
'''Jack Haig''' (born '''John Cecil Coppin'''; 5 January 1913 – 4 July 1989) was an English actor who specialised in supporting roles, mainly in [[television comedy]]. He was best known for playing [[Monsieur Roger Leclerc]] in the British sitcom ''[['Allo 'Allo!]]'' between 1982 and 1989.

==Biography==
Haig was the son of [[music hall]] actors Bertha Baker and Charles Coppin, whose act went under the name "Haig and Esco." He was seen in a long list of British television favourites including: ''[[Hugh and I]]'', ''[[Are You Being Served?]]'', ''[[Terry and June]]'' and ''[[Dad's Army]]'' (although he turned down the role of Corporal Jones which then went to [[Clive Dunn]]) . He was in the ''[[Crossroads (British TV series)|Crossroads]]'' soap opera as occasional character Archie Gibbs from 1967 to 1982 and a couple of cinema films. He achieved his greatest success as Monsieur Roger Leclerc in [[BBC]]'s '''Allo 'Allo!'', a role he played until his death. His last appearance was in the final episode of series 5, where he impersonated a Spanish guitarist, alongside [[Kenneth Connor]] ([[Monsieur Alfonse]]), who had an [[Enigma machine]] hidden in his [[accordion]]. He is remembered for his signature line, "It is I, Leclerc!"

He appeared in pantomime at Wimbledon in ''Babes in the Wood'' in 1965 and again in 1967 as the Emperor of China in ''Aladdin'' alongside [[Bruce Forsyth]] and [[Tommy Trinder]].

His earlier television work included a regular spot as a comic on ''The One O'clock Show'' and ''Happy Go Lucky'', a children's television show during the 1960s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/history-newcastle-north-east/remember-when/2008/05/27/small-man-with-a-big-personality-72703-20982389/ |title=Small man with a big personality
|first=Ray |last=Marshall |publisher=Newcastle Chronicle |date=27 May 2008 |accessdate=6 June 2009}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=July 2017}} ''The One O'Clock Show'' was shown every weekday in the [[ITV Tyne Tees|Tyne Tees Television]] area of [[ITV Network|ITV]]. He usually appeared in sketches as Wacky Jackie, generally playing the fool in a music hall comedy style.

In 1989, Haig became too ill to work and later died of [[stomach cancer]]. His wife was revue actress Sybil Dunn, who had died the previous year, just two days before their [[golden wedding]] anniversary. They had one daughter.

== TV and filmography ==
* ''[['Allo 'Allo!]]'' .... [[Monsieur Roger Leclerc]] (51 episodes) (1982–1989)
* ''[[Sorry! (TV series)|Sorry!]]'' .... Gravedigger (1 episode) (1982)
* ''[[Are You Being Served?]]'' .... Old Gentleman (2 episodes) (1981)
* ''[[Yesterday's Hero]]'' .... Sam's Crony (1979)
* ''[[Emily (1976 film)|Emily]]'' .... Taxi Driver (1976)
* ''[[Adventures of a Taxi Driver]]'' .... Vicar (1976)
* ''[[Crossroads (British TV series)|Crossroads]]'' .... Archie Gibbs (19 episodes) (1967–1982)
* ''[[Dad's Army]]'' (2 episodes) (1969–1975)
* ''[[Go for a Take]]'' .... Security Man (1972)
* ''[[Keep It in the Family (1971 TV series)|Keep It in the Family]]'' .... Des (6 episodes) (1971)
* ''[[Here Come the Double Deckers]]'' (2 episodes) (1970)
* ''The Intrepid Mr. Twigg'' .... Garage Owner (1968)
* ''[[No Strings]]'' (1967)
* ''[[The Ghost Goes Gear]]'' .... Old Edwards (1966)
* ''[[United!]]'' .... Chas Coggan (unknown episodes) (1965)
* ''[[Hugh and I]]'' .... Arthur Wormold (4 episodes) (1963–1966)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0354076}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Haig, Jack}}
[[Category:1913 births]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:British male comedy actors]]

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Jack Haig (actor)