Anecdotes

Kept falling asleep while filming Un thermomètre pour le colonel (1959), due to the combination of warm studio lights and acting on a bed. When director Gerald Thomas woke him up, Kenny would swear blind that he wasn't asleep. So the next time it happened, Thomas put a sign around his neck, and took a photograph. When Kenny tried to wriggle his way out of it again with protestations of not being asleep, Gerald showed him the photograph - apparently Kenny's language became very colorful.

He had a famously antagonistic relationship with 'Carry On' co-star Sidney James. Williams was particularly scathing and personal about James's acting ability (as revealed in his posthumously published diaries), while James found Williams's loud and attention-seeking behaviour annoying.

Williams publicly insisted that he was celibate, but in private found his homosexuality difficult for him to deal with. Was good friends with gay playwright Joe Orton and his companion Kenneth Halliwell, and performed in Orton's play "Loot" in 1965. Halliwell later murdered Orton in 1967 in a fit of rage with a hammer.

Despite being best known for the Carry On films, he disliked them, as he and his fellow cast members were poorly paid. In his diaries, Williams wrote that he earned more in a St Ivel advert than for any Carry On film. He often privately criticised and "dripped vitriol" upon the films, considering them beneath him. This became the case with many of the films and shows in which he appeared. He was quick to find fault with his own work, and that of others. Despite this, he spoke fondly of the Carry Ons in interviews. Peter Rogers, producer of the series, recollected, "Kenneth was worth taking care of because, while he cost very little - £5,000 a film, he made a great deal of money for the franchise.".

He turned down work with Orson Welles in America because he disliked the country.

Upon his sudden death, the coroner recorded an open verdict, saying it was possible (but unlikely) that Williams had taken an overdose of sleeping pills in addition to his regular pain killers that caused a lethal cocktail. To this day, views are still divided as to whether it was deliberate or not. On one hand, he mentioned many times in his diaries that suicide was the only option, but he always seemed to bounce back from his bouts of depression. Many seem to think that suicide is unlikely simply because he would never have entertained such ideas while his mother was alive (she was left nothing in his will, presumably because Ken was expecting to outlive her).

Was in the Royal Engineers in 1945.

The only actor in the "Carry On..." films to appear, along with Kenneth Connor and Eric Barker in the first (Allez-y sergent! (1958)) and last authentic "Carry On... films (Carry on Emmannuelle (1978)). This does not include the heavily criticised Carry on Columbus (1992).

A self-confessed hypochondriac, he was plagued by ill health, including ulcers, toward the end of his life. His death from an overdose of sleeping pills and painkillers remains a mystery as to whether it was accidental or deliberate.

Was a trained engraver. Worked as a map-maker during the war.

Was supposed to play Professor Inigo Tinkle in Les cinglés partent en safari (1970), but was unavailable. The role went to Frankie Howerd.

Williams was a regular on the BBC radio panel game Just a Minute from its second season in 1968 until his death. He usually got into arguments with Nicholas Parsons the host and other members of the show. He was also remembered for such phrases as "I've come all the way from Great Portland Street" and "They shouldn't have women on the show!" (Directed at Sheila Hancock, Aimi MacDonald and others). On this show, he once talked for almost a minute about a supposed Austrian psychiatrist called Heinrich Swartzberg, correctly guessing that the show's creator, Ian Messiter, had just made the name up.

Was originally trained as a draftsman.

He and his family accompanied Barbara Windsor and her first husband Ronnie Knight on their honeymoon in Madeira.

His big break came about while playing a serious role on stage -- as the Dauphin in a production of "Saint Joan."

Wasn't very keen on being approached by the general public and was known for being a bit waspish with them.

Was supposed to play Cecil Gaybody in Carry on Girls (1973), but turned it down due to theatrical commitments. The production team were desperate to have him in the movie, but his commitments wouldn't allow an appearance either way. The role went to Jimmy Logan.

Although appearing regularly on stage and in cabaret, it was radio shows such as 'Round the Horne' and 'Beyond Our Ken' and later 'Hancock's Half Hour' that his inimitable voice became instantly recognizable particularly his catch phrase 'Stop Messing About'.

He and fellow radio performer Tony Hancock didn't get along as Williams felt Hancock was threatened by him, regarding overall acting ability.

Son of a hairdresser.

Became more of a recluse during the final years of his life, until his mother was the only person whom Kenneth Williams communicated.

In WWII he served in with the Royal Engineers in the South East Asia Command in India then toured Malaya and Burma as part of the Combined Entertainment Unit and it was this experience that prompted him to his hand in show business.

Was supposed to play The Brigadier in Carry on England (1976), but turned it down due to theatrical commitments. The role went to Peter Jones.

A memorial service was held for him at St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden on 29th September 1988.

Rarely signed autographs.

His parents were Welsh with his father from Port Talbot.

He served in the army as a draughtsman in the Royal Engineers in Burma and Singapore.

Following the success of the "Carry On" films, he was dismayed about finding himself typecast, and that it compromised his chances of ever working in theatre again.

Was the subject of a feature-length documentary: "The Kenneth Williams Story.".