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[[File:Eric Longworth.jpg|Eric Longworth in character|frame]]
{{Infobox person
'''Eric Longworth''' (20 July 1918 – 20 August 2008) was an [[England|English]] actor, best known for his semi-regular role in the [[BBC]] comedy ''[[Dad's Army]]'' as Mr. Gordon, the town clerk of [[Walmington-on-Sea]].
| image        = Eric Longworth actor.jpg<!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] -->
| alt          = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption      =
| birth_name    = Eric Groves Longworth
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1918|07|20|df=y}}
| birth_place  = [[w:Shaw and Crompton|Shaw and Crompton]], [[w:Lancashire|Lancashire]]
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|2008|08|20|1918|07|20|df=y}}
| death_place  = [[w:Peterborough|Peterborough]], [[w:Cambridgeshire|Cambridgeshire]]
| other_names  =
| occupation    =
| years_active  = 1939-2008
| known_for    = [[Dad's Army]]
| notable_works =
}}
'''Eric Longworth''' (20 July 1918 &ndash; 20 August 2008) was an [[w:England|English]] actor, best known for his semi-regular role in the [[w:BBC|BBC]] comedy ''[[Dad's Army]]'' as Mr. Gordon, the town clerk of [[w:Walmington-on-Sea|Walmington-on-Sea]].


Eric Groves Longworth was born in [[Shaw and Crompton]], [[Lancashire]].<ref name="Complete A-Z">{{cite book|title=The Complete A-Z of Dad’s Army|author1=Croft, David |author2=Perry, Jimmy |author3=Webber, Richard |year=2000|publisher=Orion|isbn= 0-7528-4637-X|pages=126}}</ref><ref name="Oldham">{{Cite news|title=Dad's Army Death|page=8|newspaper=[[Oldham Advertiser]]|date=2008-10-02|last=Greer|first=Stuart}}</ref> He had decided from an early age to become an actor, but had his hopes dashed when his father died and he had to help support the family. He was 17 at the time. Up to his call-up in 1939 at the outbreak of [[World War II]], which included a spell in [[Bombay]], he had joined the Crompton Stage Society, a local amateur company, playing character parts to stall his ambitions.
Eric Groves Longworth was born in [[w:Shaw and Crompton|Shaw and Crompton]], [[w:Lancashire|Lancashire]].<ref name="Complete A-Z">{{cite book|title=The Complete A-Z of Dad’s Army|author1=Croft, David |author2=Perry, Jimmy |author3=Webber, Richard |year=2000|publisher=Orion|isbn= 0-7528-4637-X|pages=126}}</ref><ref name="Oldham">{{Cite news|title=Dad's Army Death|page=8|newspaper=[[w:Oldham Advertiser|Oldham Advertiser]]|date=2008-10-02|last=Greer|first=Stuart}}</ref> He had decided from an early age to become an actor, but had his hopes dashed when his father died and he had to help support the family. He was 17 at the time. Up to his call-up in 1939 at the outbreak of [[w:World War II|World War II]], which included a spell in [[w:Bombay|Bombay]], he had joined the Crompton Stage Society, a local amateur company, playing character parts to stall his ambitions.


After being [[Demobilization|demobbed]] he decided to turn professional, joining the [[Oldham Coliseum Theatre]], and staying with them for 11 years.<ref name="Oldham"/> He rose to become theatre manager at Oldham, and later became the manager of the old [[Guildford]] Theatre until 1963; at both theatres he continued to act, and occasionally direct, as well as [[Actor-manager|managing]]. His first television appearance was in 1963, and he was usually cast as civil servants or retired colonels.
After being [[w:Demobilization|demobbed]] he decided to turn professional, joining the [[w:Oldham Coliseum Theatre|Oldham Coliseum Theatre]], and staying with them for 11 years.<ref name="Oldham"/> He rose to become theatre manager at Oldham, and later became the manager of the old [[w:Guildford|Guildford]] Theatre until 1963; at both theatres he continued to act, and occasionally direct, as well as [[w:Actor-manager|managing]]. His first television appearance was in 1963, and he was usually cast as civil servants or retired colonels.


Longworth appeared in a 1972 episode of ''Lollipop'' written by [[Jimmy Perry]], which could have led to his being chosen for the part of the Walmington-on-Sea Town Clerk. During the [[Dad's Army (stage show)|''Dad's Army'' Stage Show]], Longworth understudied (but, as he states, was thankfully never used for) [[Arthur Lowe]]. He also made a few films, and spent time flying around the globe visiting family, mixed in with the occasional [[voice over]] work, and appearances for the [[Dad's Army Appreciation Society|DAAS]]. He also appeared in another Jimmy Perry and [[David Croft (TV producer)|David Croft]] sitcom ''[[Hi-de-Hi!]]'' as a Head Waiter. He was active from 1963 to 1996.
Longworth appeared in a 1972 episode of ''Lollipop'' written by [[Jimmy Perry]], which could have led to his being chosen for the part of the Walmington-on-Sea Town Clerk. During the [[w:Dad's Army (stage show)|''Dad's Army'' Stage Show]], Longworth understudied (but, as he states, was thankfully never used for) [[Arthur Lowe]]. He also made a few films, and spent time flying around the globe visiting family, mixed in with the occasional [[w:voice over|voice over]] work, and appearances for the [[Dad's Army Appreciation Society|DAAS]]. He also appeared in another Jimmy Perry and [[David Croft (TV producer)|David Croft]] sitcom ''[[Hi-de-Hi!]]'' as a Head Waiter. He was active from 1963 to 1996.


He had been a regular at ''Dad's Army'' events over the years. His most recent public appearance was at the ''Dad's Army'' 40th Birthday celebrations at the [[Imperial War Museum]] in [[London]] shortly before his death.
He had been a regular at ''Dad's Army'' events over the years. His most recent public appearance was at the ''Dad's Army'' 40th Birthday celebrations at the [[w:Imperial War Museum|Imperial War Museum]] in [[w:London|London]] shortly before his death.


He died on 20 August 2008 in [[Peterborough]], [[Cambridgeshire]], one month after his 90th birthday. His funeral was held on 5 September.<ref>[http://www.dadsarmy.co.uk/latestnews.html Eric Longworth's obituary at the Dad's Army Appreciation Society]</ref>
He died on 20 August 2008 in [[w:Peterborough|Peterborough]], [[w:Cambridgeshire|Cambridgeshire]], one month after his 90th birthday. His funeral was held on 5 September.<ref>[http://www.dadsarmy.co.uk/latestnews.html Eric Longworth's obituary at the Dad's Army Appreciation Society]</ref>


==Film roles==
==Film roles==

Revision as of 21:11, 23 October 2022

Eric Longworth
Eric Longworth actor.jpg
Born
Eric Groves Longworth

(1918-07-20)20 July 1918
Shaw and Crompton, Lancashire
Died20 August 2008(2008-08-20) (aged 90)
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Years active1939-2008
Known forDad's Army

Eric Longworth (20 July 1918 – 20 August 2008) was an English actor, best known for his semi-regular role in the BBC comedy Dad's Army as Mr. Gordon, the town clerk of Walmington-on-Sea.

Eric Groves Longworth was born in Shaw and Crompton, Lancashire.[1][2] He had decided from an early age to become an actor, but had his hopes dashed when his father died and he had to help support the family. He was 17 at the time. Up to his call-up in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II, which included a spell in Bombay, he had joined the Crompton Stage Society, a local amateur company, playing character parts to stall his ambitions.

After being demobbed he decided to turn professional, joining the Oldham Coliseum Theatre, and staying with them for 11 years.[2] He rose to become theatre manager at Oldham, and later became the manager of the old Guildford Theatre until 1963; at both theatres he continued to act, and occasionally direct, as well as managing. His first television appearance was in 1963, and he was usually cast as civil servants or retired colonels.

Longworth appeared in a 1972 episode of Lollipop written by Jimmy Perry, which could have led to his being chosen for the part of the Walmington-on-Sea Town Clerk. During the Dad's Army Stage Show, Longworth understudied (but, as he states, was thankfully never used for) Arthur Lowe. He also made a few films, and spent time flying around the globe visiting family, mixed in with the occasional voice over work, and appearances for the DAAS. He also appeared in another Jimmy Perry and David Croft sitcom Hi-de-Hi! as a Head Waiter. He was active from 1963 to 1996.

He had been a regular at Dad's Army events over the years. His most recent public appearance was at the Dad's Army 40th Birthday celebrations at the Imperial War Museum in London shortly before his death.

He died on 20 August 2008 in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, one month after his 90th birthday. His funeral was held on 5 September.[3]

Film roles

Television roles

References

  1. ^ Croft, David; Perry, Jimmy; Webber, Richard (2000). The Complete A-Z of Dad’s Army. Orion. p. 126. ISBN 0-7528-4637-X.
  2. ^ a b Greer, Stuart (2 October 2008). "Dad's Army Death". Oldham Advertiser. p. 8.
  3. ^ Eric Longworth's obituary at the Dad's Army Appreciation Society

External links

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