Friday 8 June 2018

Carry On Originals: Charles Hawtrey


This is part of a new series of blogs looking back at the stars of the original Carry On film, Carry On Sergeant. 2018 marks 60 years since Sergeant was made and released so what better time to turn the focus on all those brilliant actors who brought our favourite series of comedy films to life? 

I'm continuing today with an actor who is probably the most individual performer the Carry Ons ever featured, the one and only Charles Hawtrey.

Role in Carry On Sergeant: Peter Golightly 

Other Carry On roles: Yes - Charles became one of the most prolific of all the Carry On actors, appearing in a total of 23 films between 1958 and 1972. 

Other notable film performances: The Ghost of St Michaels (1941) and The Goose Steps Out (1942) - both with WIll Hay; A Canterbury Tale (1944); Passport to Pimlico (1949); I Only Arsked (1958); Inn for Trouble (1960); What a Whopper (1961); Dentist On The Job (1961) and Zeta One (1968).



Best remembered for: Aside from the Carry Ons, which came to dominate his screen career, Hawtrey is probably best remembered for his regular role as Private "Professor" Hatchett in the Granada Television national service comedy series, The Army Game. 

Did you know?: Hawtrey was actually born George Frederick Joffre Hartree, in Hounslow in 1914. He took his stage name from the theatrical knight Sir Charles Hawtrey and encouraged people to believe they were related.

Charles' career spanned six decades with his earliest stage appearance dating back to 1925. He even appeared in a couple of silent films in the early 1920s. 

What happened to him?: Sadly Charles left the series under a cloud after Carry On Abroad in 1972. He continued to act in pantomimes and the occasional television appearance into the 1980s before ill health took its toll. He died at the age of 73 in October 1988.

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

1 comment:

  1. Always say it their will neva b another like the carry on team and they were 20years ahead of their time way back then with their enuendos 😁 God bless em all and thank u4 all those belly laughs ova the years ov which wen I'm low I watch a carry on film to boost myself up😘😁👍

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