CHARLES HAWTREYEccentric, camp and archetypal English comedian, Charles Hawtrey died on 27 October 1988, at the age of 73.After a career as a child actor, Mr Hawtrey found his niche as a comic actor. In a career that spanned 60 years he found success in all major media – from music, to radio, to stage and film.But it was through his work in film that Mr Hawtrey became best known. His seemingly endless list of credits including Good Morning Boys (1937), The Ghost of St Michael's (1941), A Canterbury Tale (1948), The Galloping Major (1950), Brandy for the Parson (1952) and You’re Only Young Twice (1953).?He found mainstream fame through his roles in the “Carry On Films”. With parts such as Red Indian Chief, Big Heap in ‘Carry On Cowboy’ and Private Widdle in ‘Carry On Up the Khyber’ propelling him to cult status.Charles Hawtrey was born George Frederick Joffre Hartree on 30th November 1914 in Hounslow, Middlesex, England.His family was theatrical and he started acting at an early age. As a child he attended the famous Italia Conti acting school for three years, and initially enjoyed a musical career as a boy-soprano.His studies afforded him some success as a child actor, in roles such as an street Arab in "The Windmill Man" in Boscombe. But it was his appearance in "Bluebell In Fairyland", on Boxing Day 1927, at London's Scala Theatre that really initiated his acting career.In 1925, he adopted the stage name Charles Hawtrey. Although this was three years after the death of the Edwardian actor Sir Charles Hawtrey, the two were unrelated.In 1929, he began working in radio, securing performances alongside some of the biggest names of the day, including roles in the Will Hay series, the Norman and Henry Bones children's hour comedy and Just William.Mr Hawtrey first attracted major attention in a stage role when, in 1931 he portrayed Slightly in "Peter Pan" at the Palladium. His performance was so well received it moved W A Darlington, the Daily Telegraph's drama critic, to describe him as having "a comedy sense not unworthy of his famous name."During the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, Mr Hawtrey took on a wide range of theatrical roles. Amongst the most impressive were his performance as Gremio in The Taming of the Shrew at the Old Vic in 1939 and roles in shows including “Scoop”, “Old Chelsea”, “Merry England”, and “Husbands Don’t Count”. During this time he also occasionally dabbled in directing.In 1957 he appeared in the TV series "The Army Game" with Bernard Bresslaw and William Hartnell, a role that led to him be cast, in 1958, in Carry On Sergeant. It was a role that was to change his life.As the Carry on Films gained momentum and ever-wider popularity, so did Mr Hawtrey's profile. In the next two decades he appeared in a total of 23 Carry On films.As he grew older his arthritis became ever more severe. When, in September 1988 it became severe enough for doctors to suggest his legs would have to be amputated to save his life, he refused the operation and died just one month later.But as his fame grew he kept his feet firmly on the ground, living in an old smuggler’s cottage in Deal. Later in his life he retreated here becoming something of a recluse.Charles Hawtrey’s naturally camp character made him naturally suited to the camp, comedy roles in which he was cast for Carry On. It also led to the questioning of his sexuality, and, although he never hid his homosexuality he remained officially single throughout his life.
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