British actor, comedian, and writer, born on December 17, 1926 in Poplar, London, England. He worked at different jobs before turning to acting. He made his West End debut in Brendan Behan's The Hostage (1958). In 1960, he wrote "Sparrers Can't Sing", a play that relied heavily on actors' improvisations and was made into the film Sparrows Can't Sing (1963). It was the first English-language film to be released in the US with subtitles. He appeared in numerous stage, TV, and film roles. His notable works include Last of the Summer Wine (1988-2007), On the Buses (1969-1973), and On the Buses (1971). He died on August 12, 2015, at the age of 88, in Wanstead, London, England.