Dave King(1929-2002)

Few British comedians were as successful in the 1950s and early 60s as Dave King. A hit recording singer, he was one of the few British comics to top the bill at the London Palladium as well as having top rating TV shows in both Britain and America. Although his success was relatively short as a comedian, he later became a respected TV and film actor.

After doing National Service in the RAF, King joined "Morton Fraser and his Harmonica Gang", an eccentric variety act based on America's Borrah Minevitch and His Harmonica Rascals.

By the mid-50s, King had turned solo and, with his laid-back style and Perry Como-like singing voice, he began making appearances on TV variety shows. In 1955, he was given his own show by the BBC. An innovative comedian with brilliant timing, his show was scripted by top writers and was considered groundbreaking in its day.

He recording hits included "Memories Are Made of This" (1956) and he followed this with numerous cover versions of Dean Martin and Perry Como songs.

In 1958, he was poached from the BBC by ITV who gave him his own show and, a year later, he hosted the famous Kraft Music Hall Show in America, replacing Milton Berle. In 1961, he appeared on The Bing Crosby Show (1961) in Britain and, a year later, made a cameo appearance as himself in the film, The Road to Hong Kong (1962).

King's fame in America was short-lived and, by the late 60s, he returned to Britain where he began an acting career. Throughout the 1970s, he gave a series of highly-polished and gritty performances in several TV dramas, where he was usually cast as a villain. In 1978, he was cast against type in Dennis Potter's Pennies from Heaven (1978).