Honest vulgarity is the central tradition of English humour!
Kenneth Charles Williams (22 February 1926 - 15 April 1988) was an English actor, best known for his comedy roles and in later life as a raconteur and diarist. He was one of the main ensemble in 26 of the 31 Carry On films, and appeared in many British television programmes and radio comedies, including series with Tony Hancock and Kenneth Horne.[2][3]
Williams grew up in Central London to a working class family. He served in the Royal Engineers during World War II, where he first became interested in becoming an entertainer. After a short spell in repertory theatre as a serious actor, he turned to comedy and achieved national fame in Hancock's Half Hour, appearing throughout the radio series' run. He sustained continued success throughout the 1960s and '70s with his regular appearances in Carry On films, and subsequently kept himself in the public eye with chat shows and other television work.
Though Williams was fondly regarded in the entertainment industry, he suffered from depression and found it hard to come to terms with his homosexuality, leading to his death in 1988 after an overdose. He kept a series of diaries throughout his life that achieved posthumous acclaim.[4]
In the Carry Ons[]
- Carry On Sergeant (1958) as James Bailey
- Carry On Nurse (1958) as Oliver Reckitt
- Carry On Teacher (1959) as Edwin Milton
- Carry On Constable (1960) as Constable Stanley Benson
- Carry On Regardless (1961) as Francis Courtenay
- Carry On Cruising (1962) as First Officer Leonard Marjoribanks
- Carry On Jack (1963) as Captain Fearless
- Carry On Spying (1964) as Desmond Simpkins
- Carry On Cleo (1964) as Julius Caesar
- Carry On Cowboy (1965) as Judge Burke
- Carry On Screaming! (1966) as Dr Watt
- Don't Lose Your Head (1966) as Citizen Camemburt
- Follow That Camel (1967) as Cmmandent Burger
- Carry On Doctor (1967) as Dr Kenneth Tinkle
- Carry On Up The Khyber (1968) as Khasi of Khalabar
- Carry On Camping (1969) as Dr Kenneth Soaper
- Carry On Again Doctor (1969) as Frederick Carver
- Carry On Loving (1970) as Percival Snooper
- Carry On Henry (1971) as Thomas Cromwell
- Carry On At Your Convenience (1971) as WC Boggs
- Carry On Matron (1972) as Sir Bernard Cutting
- Carry On Abroad (1972) as Stuart Farquhar
- Carry On Dick (1974) as Captain Desmond Fancey
- Carry On Behind (1975) as Professor Roland Crump
- That's Carry On! (1977) as Presenter
- Carry On Emmannuelle (1978) as Emile Prevert