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Graham Stark

 
Actor: Graham Stark
  • Born: 1922 in England
  • Occupation: Actor, Director, Writer
  • Active: '60s-'80s
  • Major Genres: Comedy
  • Career Highlights: A Shot in the Dark, The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins, The Plank
  • First Major Screen Credit: A Shot in the Dark (1964)

Biography

British comic actor Graham Stark has contributed innumerable cameo roles to both films and television. His busiest era was the '60s, during which time he appeared in such class-A productions as Becket (1964) and Alfie (1966). Seldom arising above the "also in the cast" ranks, Graham Stark was memorable in a role for which he had his back to the camera for the most part and said little more than "Oui, monsieur." Stark was Hercule Lajoy, Inspector Clouseau's stonefaced assistant, in A Shot in the Dark (1964), and as such he sat in passive obesciance as Clouseau (Peter Sellers) toted up the clues in a murder case and barked "Facts, Hercule! Facts!" -- just before falling on his face or pinching his fingers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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Graham Stark
Born 20 January 1922 (1922-01-20) (age 87)
Wallasey, Cheshire, England
Nationality British
Occupation Comedian, actor, writer, director

Graham Stark (born 20 January 1922) is an English comedian, actor, writer and director.

Stark was born in Wallasey, England. He first came to prominence on BBC Radio, making his debut in Happy Go Lucky and going on to Ray's A Laugh, Educating Archie and The Goon Show.[1] [2] Stark was a regular supporting player on TV - notably with his good friend Peter Sellers in A Show Called Fred and Son of Fred, and with Benny Hill - before getting his own sketch series. All the editions were scripted by Johnny Speight and each one featured a different group of supporting actors, including Deryck Guyler, Arthur Mullard, Derek Nimmo, Patricia Hayes and Warren Mitchell. Stark worked and socialised quite a bit with Spike Milligan and Sellers, and is mentioned throughout biographies of them, such as Pauline Scudamore's (1985) biography of Milligan,[1] and especially in Roger Lewis' comprehensive (1995) biography of Sellers.[2]

He appeared in the Pink Panther film series. Other than Herbert Lom and Burt Kwouk, he has appeared in more Pink Panther films than any other person. For the most part Stark plays a different character in each Pink Panther film. He first appears as Hercule Lajoy, Inspector Clouseau's stonefaced assistant, in A Shot in the Dark (1964). He also played the role of Lord Fortnum's doctor, Captain Pontius Kak, in the original stage play of The Bed-Sitting Room, which opened at the Mermaid Theatre on 31 January 1963[1] [3] [4]

Following the death of James Beck, Graham took over the role of Private Joe Walker in the radio adaptation of Dad's Army.

Stark is also an accomplished still photographer.[5]

Filmography as actor

References

  1. ^ a b c Scudamore, Pauline (1985). Spike Milligan: A Biography.. London: Granada. ISBN 0-246-12275-7.  (a)pp.159-160, (c)pp.203-204
  2. ^ a b Lewis, Roger (1995). The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.. London: Arrow Books. ISBN 0-09-974700-6. 
  3. ^ Milligan, Spike, & Antrobus, John (1973) The Bedsitting Room. Tandem: London. First published in Great Britain by Margaret & Jack Hobbs, 1970. Published by Universal-Tandem, 1972. © 1970 Spike Milligan and John Antrobus
  4. ^ McCann, Graham (2006). Spike & Co.. London: Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 0-340-89809-7.  p.158. McCann cites the doctor's name as Captain Martin. This is possible. There appears to have been variation in names used, certainly between the play and the film, and possibly during the life of the play
  5. ^ http://movies.nytimes.com/person/67683/Graham-Stark/biography

External links


 
 
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A Ghost of a Chance (1968 Children's/Family Film)
The Great Detective (1953 TV Series)
Six of the Best (1965 TV Series)

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Actor. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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