Trivia

British character comic who played a number of archetypal Cockney working class roles.

As a one-time cabinet maker (like his Ukrainian-born father), he began his career building sets at the Unity Theatre, in London, before becoming an actor there in the late 1930s. He made his acting debut performing alongside Paul Robeson in the play "Plant in the Sun." During the 1950s he continued to direct shows at Unity, and on one occasion appeared in court charged with putting on a play without a license. He appeared in a number of Shakespearean roles on stage.

Born to Russian parents who had fled persecution in Russia.

Appeared in the landmark 1950s BBC Radio SF series "Journey Into Space" as Lemuel 'Lemmy' Barnet.

Began acting before the camera in wartime British documentaries.

He was in 153 episodes of The Army Game comedy series from 1957, then 100 episodes of Bootsie and Snudge with Bill Fraser.