John Comer

John Comer

From Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Comer

(1 March 1924 – 11 February 1984) was a British actor best known for his comedy roles in the television series I Didn't Know You Cared, Last of the Summer Wine and All Our Saturdays.

Early life

The son of Mary and Thomas Comer, he was born at 104 King Street, Stretford, one of five children. He was baptised into the Roman Catholic Church at St Ann's, Stretford, and educated at the Parish School between 1928 and 1939. Comer began his working career as a Bevin Boy working in the pits. He later gained an engineering apprenticeship at Metropolitan-Vickers, Trafford Park.[1]

Early career

Comer began his career performing a comedy routine around local social clubs and pubs in the 1930s and 40s. In 1952, with his younger brother Tony, he performed in a children's theatre production for local schools in Stretford and the siblings then formed a double act named 'The Comer Brothers'. In 1957, the brothers began a regular slot at the Manchester Apollo performing a variety act entitled Comer's Cottage

In 1958, The Comer Brothers partook in an ITV talent show called Bid For Fame and also began working for Butlins and in 1959 won first prize in the Butlins National Talent Contest, winning £1,000 and a film contract with The Boulting Brothers.[1]

Success

In 1959 the Boulting Brothers cast John and Tony Comer in the film I'm All Right Jack where they starred alongside Peter Sellers and Richard Attenborough as trade union Shop stewards. Their next film roles were in 1961 when they featured alongside Rita Tushingham in A Taste of Honey. However shortly afterwards Tony decided to leave showbusiness and returned to full time work at Metropolitan-Vickers, while John decided to continue pursuing his film career. He appeared in the Boulting Brothers' 1967 film The Family Way as a father-of-the-bride to Hayley Mills' character, whose father John Mills portrayed her father-in-law.

He gained a recurring role in 1973 as the primary supporting role of Sid in the new BBC sitcom Last of the Summer Wine. He also starred in a long-running advertising campaign for Home Brew Beer.[1] 1977 saw him appear as Bill Malley in the BBC series "Murder Most English".

Death

On 11 February 1984 Comer died of throat cancer at the age of 59. The disease had so affected his voice that in his final television appearance, as cafe owner Sid, in the Last of the Summer Wine Christmas film Getting Sam Home, his lines had to be dubbed by another actor, Tony Melody. His funeral was held at Carleton Crematorium, Blackpool, where he is commemorated at rose-bed no. 18.

Film roles

Year Title Role

1959 I'm Alright Jack Union Shop Steward 1960 Hell Is a City Police Driver 1961 A Taste of Honey 1963 Heavens Above! Butcher 1964 Allez France! 1965 Rotten to the Core Police Sergeant 1966 The Family Way Leslie Piper 1968 Happy Deathday Briggs 1969 Battle of Britain Policeman 1970 Wuthering Heights 1970 There's a Girl in My Soup John 1971 Mr. Forbush and the Penguins Police Sergeant 1971 Villain Waiter 1973 The Lovers! Geoffrey's Dad

'''Television roles'''

Year Title Role

1973 Bless This House The Landlord 1972 to 1974 Play For Today Various 1973 All Our Saturdays Wilf 1973 to 1983 Last of the Summer Wine Sid 1975 The Life of Riley George Pollitt 1975 to 1979 I Didn't Know You Cared Les Brandon

'''References'''

1.^ a b c St Ann's Stretford Parish Magazine, Christmas 2007, Pg14, The Comer Brothers [edit] External linksJohn Comer at the Internet Movie Database John Comer at the BBC Comedy Guide