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Life and career: Further detail advising arrest and imprisonment

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{{Short description|English comedian and actor}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Dick Emery
| image =File:Dick Emery and Susie Silvey.jpg
| caption = Emery with actress and dancer [[Susie Silvey]], filming in the 1980s
| birth_date = {{birth date|1915|2|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Bloomsbury]], [[London]], [[England]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1983|1|2|1915|2|19|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Denmark Hill]], London, England
| resting_place = [[Mortlake Crematorium]], [[Mortlake]], London, England
| birth_name = Richard Gilbert Emery
| spouse = {{plainlist|
*{{marriage|Joan Salisbury|1940|1943|
end=divorced}}
*{{marriage|Irene Ansell|1946|1947|end=divorced}}
*{{marriage|Iris Tully|1955|1964|end=divorced}}
*{{marriage|Victoria Chambers|1964|1968|end=divorced}}
*{{marriage|Josephine Blake|1969}}
}}
| children = 4
| years_active = 1946{{ndash}}1983
}}
'''Richard Gilbert Emery''' (19 February 1915{{spaced ndash}}2 January 1983) was an English [[comedian]] and actor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b9f42bd11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722235512/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b9f42bd11|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-22|title=Dick Emery|work=BFI}}</ref> His broadcasting career began on radio in the 1950s, and his self-titled television series ran from 1963 to 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8647567/Archie-Andrews-the-dummy-loved-by-millions-is-back-on-stage.html|title=Archie Andrews, the dummy loved by millions, is back on stage|date=19 July 2011|work=Telegraph.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10590018/Dick-Emery-the-neglected-superstar-of-TV-comedy.html|title=Dick Emery: the neglected superstar of TV comedy|date=25 January 2014|work=Telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>

==Life and career==
Richard Gilbert Emery was born in [[University College Hospital]], Bloomsbury, London.<ref>GRO Register of Births: MAR 1915 1b 88 PANCRAS – Richard G Emery, mmn = Callan</ref> His parents were the comedy double act Callan and Emery. They took him on tour when he was only three weeks old and gave him the occasional turn on the stage during his childhood, which was always on the move and disrupted, creating problems for the future but setting the scene for eventually going into showbusiness himself. His parents split up when he was 8 and he chose to stay with his mother, who gave up showbusiness.<ref>''Dick Emery: the Comedy of Errors?'' BBC Radio 2 29 September 2009</ref> He tried a variety of jobs before the stage: mechanic, office boy, farm hand and driving instructor.

During the [[Second World War]] he was called up to the [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] and rose to the rank of corporal. However, because of family problems, he returned to London, joining the chorus line of ''The Merry Widow'' at the Majestic Theatre, although he was subsequently recognised, arrested and imprisoned. He was recruited by [[Ralph Reader]] into the [[Stars in Battledress|RAF Gang Show]] to entertain air and ground crew at bases in [[Great Britain]].

At this time he created Vera Thin (the Forces' Sweetheart), loosely based on [[Vera Lynn]], later saying, "I was better in drag than combat gear".<ref>{{cite web |author=Graham Rinaldi|access-date=27 April 2014|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/588635/|title=Emery, Dick (1917–83)|publisher=BFI Screenonline}}</ref> After D-Day, his unit toured forward airbases.

On leaving the RAF, he returned to the theatre as a comedian. He worked at the [[Windmill Theatre]], though his name does not appear on the plaque commemorating the acts that played there. He toured his fledgling act around the United Kingdom.

He also auditioned for various parts and in 1952 he starred in a role in a 15-minute [[Radio Luxembourg (English)|Radio Luxembourg]] series on Saturdays at 7.00pm called ''Chance of a Lifetime''. This was a quiz sponsored by Marshall Ward in which merchandise to the value of £30 was awarded to contestants. Other radio work around this time included several appearances on ''[[Workers' Playtime (radio programme)|Workers' Playtime]]'' on the BBC, a morale-boosting show that had started during the war to entertain factory workers in their canteens. Emery also made a guest appearance on the popular BBC radio programme ''[[The Goon Show]]'', replacing regular cast member [[Harry Secombe]] for one episode in 1957.

During 1953 he briefly formed a double act with [[Charlie Drake]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1537814/Charlie-Drake.html |title=Charlie Drake |publisher=Telegraph |date=26 December 2006 |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> His television debut came in 1950 on ''The Centre Show'' on the [[BBC]]. He appeared on TV programmes including ''Round the Bend'' (BBC, 1955–56) and ''[[Educating Archie]]'' (ITV, 1958–59) and appeared with his friend [[Tony Hancock]] in several episodes of ''[[The Tony Hancock Show]]'' (ITV, 1956) and ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]'' (BBC, 1957).

He enhanced his reputation on two series with former [[The Goon Show|Goon]] [[Michael Bentine]]: ''[[After Hours (1958 British TV series)|After Hours]]'' (ITV, 1958–59) and ''[[It's a Square World]]'' (BBC, 1960–64). His role as Private Chubby Catchpole in the final series of ''[[The Army Game]]'' (ITV 1960) led to an exclusive BBC contract, and the long-running ''[[The Dick Emery Show]]'' (BBC, 1963–81) began. The show involved Emery dressing up as various characters.

In a sporadic film career he made his debut in the [[The Goons|Goons]]' ''[[The Case of the Mukkinese Battle Horn]]'' (directed by Joseph Sterling, 1954). He also played bungling bank robber Booky Binns in ''[[The Big Job (film)|The Big Job]]'' (directed by [[Gerald Thomas]], 1965) and was known for vocal talents as an array of characters including "The Nowhere Man" [[Jeremy Hillary Boob]], the Mayor of Pepperland and Max, one of the [[Blue Meanies (Yellow Submarine)|Blue Meanies]] in the [[Beatles]]' ''[[Yellow Submarine (film)|Yellow Submarine]]'' (directed by [[George Dunning]], 1968)

Emery appeared in films as Shingler in ''[[The Fast Lady]]'' (1962), as [[Peter Sellers]]'s neighbour in ''[[The Wrong Arm Of The Law]]'', as Harry in ''[[Baby Love (1968 film)|Baby Love]]'' (1968), as Mr Bateman in ''[[Loot (1970 film)|Loot]]'' (1970) and ''[[Ooh… You Are Awful]]'' (1972), in which he played many of the characters he had portrayed in his TV series. The plot of this comedy centred on Emery hunting down a bank account number. The digits of the number are tattooed on the bottoms of four young women. Emery has to see the girls naked, which requires disguises. One of the women is played by [[Liza Goddard]].

Emery also recorded several novelty records, most notably "If You Love Her", which reached number 32 in 1969, and "You Are Awful", which just missed the top 40 in 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ |title=Official Charts Company – Dick Emery |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |date=7 May 2012 |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> Other singles included "A Cockney Christmas" (1962), "You're The Only One" (1974) and "Rocking Horse Cowboy" (1979). In 1979, Emery moved to [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] for three specials before returning to the BBC in 1980 and resuming ''The Dick Emery Show''.

By 1982, Emery was tiring of the format for his BBC series and wanted to do something different. Using a new format and character, Jewish private detective Bernie Weinstock, Emery had a new outlet – two series of comedy thrillers under the banner ''Emery Presents'' (BBC, 1982–83), ''Legacy of Murder''<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286367/ ''Legacy of Murder''], IMDb page</ref> and ''Jack of Diamonds''.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286363/ ''Jack of Diamonds''], IMDb page</ref>

==Personal life==
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2021}}
Emery had a very difficult childhood initially, but things settled down following the departure of his father, Laurie Howe. He was devoted to his mother for most of his life and helped support her once he was able to work. This devotion caused problems in his marriages.

He was in six long-term relationships, marrying five times, and also had numerous affairs. He often appeared in tabloid newspapers with beautiful women.

At the beginning of the [[Second World War]] he married Joan (sometimes known as Zelda) Sainsbury and had one son, Gilbert Richard. After the failure of that marriage, he married Irene (Pip) Ansell but the marriage barely lasted six months. While working in summer season in 1950, at the Winter Gardens in [[Ventnor]] on the [[Isle of Wight]], he met Iris Margaret Tully, who was also in the show. At the end of the season, they returned to London and set up home together in Iris' flat in [[Shaftesbury Avenue]]. Iris changed her name to Emery by [[deed poll]] until 1955, a year after she had given birth to his second son, Nicholas William. She and Emery married in 1955.

The marriage was a rocky one because Emery had several affairs while away on tour. He met the woman who became his fourth wife, Victoria Chambers, in the mid-1950s. He was torn between the two women, but in late 1958 he left Iris and moved to [[Thames Ditton]] in [[Surrey]] to set up home.

In 1960, however, he returned to Iris and his son and moved them to Thames Ditton, but he could never settle, and in 1962 he left Iris for Victoria. Iris divorced him in 1964. By this time, he had set up home in [[Esher]]. Vickie bore him a son Michael and a daughter Eliza. His last wife was Josephine Blake<ref>''Dick Emery: the Comedy of Errors?'', BBC Radio 2, 29 September 2009</ref> to whom he was still married at the time of his death, although he had left her to live with Fay Hillier, an actress 30 years his junior.

Outside showbusiness, he enjoyed flying, and held a [[pilot licensing in the United Kingdom|pilot's licence]] from 1961 onwards. He also liked fast cars and motorcycles. He was a keen maker of scale models, and was president of the [[Airfix]] Modellers' Club. He also wrote a review feature for ''[[Meccano Magazine]]'' during 1971.

While the public took him to heart, voting him BBC TV Personality of the Year in 1972, Emery suffered from severe [[stage fright]] and [[low self-esteem]]. He underwent psychoanalysis and [[hypnosis]], and took sedatives to try to cure the problems.<ref name=imdb>{{cite web|title=Dick Emery Biography|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0256289/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm|website=IMDb|access-date=2017-04-14}}</ref>

He had four children, Gilbert, Nicholas, Michael and Eliza,<ref name=imdb/> and was the half-brother of actress [[Ann Emery]].

==Death==
In December 1982, Emery was taken to a London hospital with severe chest pains. He died at the hospital from [[cardiorespiratory failure]] on 2 January 1983 at the age of 67.<ref>GRO Register of Deaths: MAR 1983 14 0006 LAMBETH – Richard Gilbert Emery, DoB = 19 February 1915</ref>

==Selected filmography==
'''Film'''
* ''[[The Case of the Mukkinese Battle Horn]]'' (short) (1956) – Mr. Nodule / Mr.Crimp / Maurice Ponke
* ''[[Follow a Star]]'' (1959) – Inebriated Party Guest (uncredited)
* ''[[Light Up the Sky! (film)|Light Up the Sky!]]'' (1960) – Harry
* ''[[A Taste of Money]]'' (1960) – Morrissey
* ''[[Mrs. Gibbons' Boys]]'' (1962) – Woodrow
* ''[[Crooks Anonymous]]'' (1962) – Reginald Cundell
* ''[[The Fast Lady]]'' (1962) – Shingler
* ''[[Just for Fun (film)|Just for Fun]]'' (1963) – Juke Box Jury Members
* ''[[The Wrong Arm of the Law]]'' (1963) – Man in Flat 307 (uncredited)
* ''[[The Big Job (film)|The Big Job]]'' (1965) – Frederick 'Booky' Binns
* ''[[Yellow Submarine (film)|Yellow Submarine]]'' (1968) – Jeremy Hilary Boob, Ph.D. – Nowhere Man / Lord Mayor / Max (voice)
* ''[[Baby Love (1968 film)|Baby Love]]'' (1969) – Harry Pearson
* ''[[Loot (1970 film)|Loot]]'' (1970) – Mr. Bateman
* ''[[Ooh… You Are Awful]]'' (1972) – Charlie Tully
* ''[[Find the Lady (1976 film)|Find the Lady]]'' (1976) – Leo

'''Television'''
* ''[[The Dick Emery Show]]'' (1963–1981) 19 series – 162 episodes <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056749/|title=The Dick Emery Show (TV Series 1963–1981)|author=hotspur95|work=IMDb}}</ref> – Various Characters
* ''The Dick Emery Hour'' (1979) 3 episodes <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0345133/ |title=Dick Emery's Comedy Hour (TV Movie 1979) |author=ShadeGrenade |date=6 June 1979 |work=IMDb}}</ref> – Himself / Various Characters
* ''[[Legacy of Murder]]'' (1982) – Bernie Weinstock / Lord Algrave / Joe Galleano / Monica Danvers-Crichton
* ''Jack of Diamonds'' (1983) – Bernie Weinstock / Cyril Blackman / Det. Insp. Dearlove / Lady Holtye / Gen. von Klaus (Last appearance)

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* {{IMDb name|0256289}}
* {{screenonline name|id=588635}}
* [http://www.classictelly.com/programme.php?Programme=Dick_Emery ClassicTelly.com Tributes to Dick Emery]
* [http://www.comedy.org.uk/guide/tv/emery_presents/ British Comedy Guide entry for ''Emery Presents''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125033920/http://comedy.org.uk/guide/tv/emery_presents/ |date=25 January 2009 }}
* {{British Comedy Guide|people|dick_emery}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Emery, Dick}}
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:1983 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from respiratory failure]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male radio actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English male voice actors]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]
[[Category:British male comedy actors]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force airmen]]

Dick Emery - Revision history

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