Melvyn Hayes

Melvyn Hayes (born 11 January 1935) is an English actor.

He is probably best known for playing the effeminate Gunner (later Bombardier) 'Gloria' Beaumont in the BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum,

Hayes attended Sir Walter St John's Grammar School, Battersea. He was also in a well known theatrical troupe called Terry's Juveniles and his acting career stretches back to 1950 when he was "disappearing twice daily for £4 per week" performing the Indian Rope Trick in Maskelyne's Mysteries at the Comedy Theatre in London. He also appeared in Repertory Theatres in Surrey, Derbyshire and the Midlands.

Notable film roles include the young Victor Frankenstein in The Curse of Frankenstein 1957, 'Jimmy' in The Young Ones with Cliff Richard (1961), 'Cyril' in Summer Holiday, again with Cliff Richard (1963), and 'Brother Willy' in Crooks in Cloisters (1964). As well as roles in popular films, Hayes has appeared in numerous TV shows and series throughout his long career and is still performing regularly.

He also did voices on children's cartoons such as SuperTed, The Dreamstone, Little Dracula, Alfred J. Quack and Budgie the Little Helicopter.

Hayes is also well known for his performances as a traditional Pantomime Dame in British Christmas Pantomimes - his most recent roles being Nanny Nellie in Sleeping Beauty in Worthing, West Sussex, UK (2006) and Widow Twankey in Aladdin in Chatham (2005).

Other roles include parts in EastEnders as the character Michael Rawlins. Carry On England, Love Thy Neighbour, The Thin Blue Line, Here Come the Double Deckers, Potter's Picture Palace and the final series of Drop the Dead Donkey. He also provided the voice to several characters in the English translation of the cartoon Alfred J Kwak.

He was previously married to actress and agent Wendy Padbury and now lives in Sandown on the Isle of Wight.

External links

• Melvyn Hayes at the Internet Movie Database

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