| Graham Stark | |
|---|---|
| Born | Graham William Stark 20 January 1922 Wallasey, Cheshire, England |
| Occupation | Comedian, actor, writer, director |
| Years active | 1939–1999 |
Graham Stark (born 20 January 1922) is an English comedian, actor, writer and director.
Stark was born in Wallasey on the Wirral in Cheshire, England. He first came to prominence on BBC Radio, making his debut in Happy Go Lucky and going on to Ray's A Laugh, Educating Archie and substitute on The Goon Show.[1][2] Stark was a regular supporting player on TV - notably with his good friend Peter Sellers in A Show Called Fred and Son of Fred, and with Benny Hill - before getting his own sketch series, The Graham Stark Show (BBC 1964). All the editions were scripted by Johnny Speight and each one featured a different group of supporting actors, including Deryck Guyler, Arthur Mullard, Derek Nimmo, Patricia Hayes and Warren Mitchell. Stark worked and socialised quite a bit with Spike Milligan and Sellers, and is mentioned throughout biographies of them, such as Pauline Scudamore's (1985) biography of Milligan,[1] and especially in Roger Lewis's comprehensive (1995) biography of Sellers.[2]
He appeared in the Pink Panther film series. Other than Herbert Lom and Burt Kwouk, he has appeared in more Pink Panther films than any other person. For the most part Stark plays a different character in each Pink Panther film. He first appears as Hercule Lajoy, Inspector Clouseau's stonefaced assistant, in A Shot in the Dark (1964). He also played the role of Lord Fortnum's doctor, Captain Pontius Kak, in the original stage play of The Bed-Sitting Room, which opened at the Mermaid Theatre on 31 January 1963[1][3][4]
Following the death of James Beck, Graham took over the role of Private Joe Walker in the radio adaptation of Dad's Army.
In 1982, Graham appeared in a cameo role as a butler, alongside Dandy Nichols, in the music video for Adam Ant's UK No. 1 hit "Goody Two Shoes".
Stark is also an accomplished stills photographer.[5]
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