Trivia

Served in the Royal Marines during the Second World War.

He wore a hairpiece to cover his bald spot from the second season of Steptoe and Son (1962). By the end of the series he wore a full wig.

He suffered a heart attack in September 1979 and was involved in a serious car crash shortly afterwards. Corbett had smoked 60 cigarettes a day for years, but cut down to 20 a day after the heart attack.

He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1976 Queen's New Year Honours List for his services to drama. Prime Minister Harold Wilson intended the award to go to him partly because he was a Labour Party supporter but the "H" got missed out of the name and the offer initially went to Sooty and Sweep entertainer Harry Corbett instead. Both were eventually included in the same honours list.

The middle initial 'H' was just to avoid confusion with the other Harry Corbett (who operated the glove puppet "Sooty"). He said it stood for "Hanyfink" (anything).

He deserted from the army after being posted to Tonga, but later handed himself in to the military police.

Got the part of Detective Sergeant Sidney Bung in Carry on Screaming! (1966) after Sidney James became unavailable due to a theatre commitment. His fee of £12,000 was the highest paid to a Carry On actor at that time.

He could do a very accurate impression of British prime minister Harold Wilson and used it in the film Percy's Progress (1974).

Contrary to popular belief, Corbett didn't begin wearing a wig in "Steptoe and Son" until 1972, although he was already losing his hair when the series began in January 1962. When the series was revived in 1970 after a five year absence he wore a piece at the front.

Although he claimed to have handled the fame of "Steptoe and Son" fairly well, the actor was privately harboring feelings of disappointment at the idea of being typecast.

His military service left him with a damaged bladder following an infection, and a red mark on his eye caused by a thorn, which was not treated until late in his life.

A memorial service was held for him at St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden on 29th April 1982.

He may have killed two Japanese soldiers during hand-to-hand fighting in New Guinea in 1945, although this is unconfirmed.

He used his real accent to play Harold Steptoe, but sometimes affected a more upper-class accent in interviews.

He declined to convert to Judaism to marry his first wife in 1958.

He kept a high profile in British cinema, courtesy of the serious films he appeared in, a few being crime films.

Corbett was a Labour Party campaigner, a personal friend of Prime Minister Harold Wilson, and recorded a party political broadcast.

Auditioned for the role of Harry Palmer in The Ipcress File (1965) but ultimately lost out to Sir Michael Caine.

Father of Jonathan Corbett and actress Susannah Corbett.

Used to be a plumber's mate.

Was a stage manager in a repertory theatre.

Worked as a car sprayer before acting.

Had been a member of Joan Littlewood's workshop company.

Says that his first stage part was playing the front legs of a cow in panto cow.