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Bill Pertwee, star of Dad's Army, dies aged 86 Bill Pertwee, star of Dad's Army, dies aged 86
(about 2 hours later)
Dad's Army star Bill Pertwee has died at the age of 86, his agent said on Monday. Dad's Army star Bill Pertwee died on Monday at the age of 86.
The actor, who was best known for his role as the air raid warden Hodges in the classic 1970s comedy, died peacefully in his sleep, said Meg Poole of Richard Stone Partnership. The actor, who was best known for his role as the air raid warden Hodges in the classic 1970s comedy, died peacefully in his sleep, according to his agent Meg Poole. The actor had been ill over Christmas and was at a home in Cornwall at the time of his death.
"He was a really, really nice man. Very bright, very intelligent," she said. Pertwee's argumentative character was well known for his frequent wartime cry of "Put that light out!"
"He came from a big theatrical family, a big show business family, and like all of them it was his life and it was very important to him and he was a hugely professional, very clever man." Poole said: "Anybody who was in Dad's Army was very well known. If you're in Dad's Army, which has never been off the television in one way or another, they've been repeated endlessly by the BBC, they're repeated endlessly on digital channels and people watch it and it's still getting incredibly good ratings."
Pertwee's wife died several years ago. He is survived by a son, Jonathan. In 1989 Pertwee wrote a book about the making of the series called Dad's Army: The Making of a Television Legend, which was republished in 2009 for the show's 40th anniversary celebrations.
He also wrote an autobiography, A Funny Way to Make a Living, and Promenades and Pierrots: One Hundred Years of Seaside Entertainment. Pertwee received an MBE for charitable services in 2007.
Several other Dad's Army stars have died recently, including Clive Dunn last November and Philip Madoc last March.
As well as starring in Dad's Army, Pertwee appeared in three Carry On films, Carry on Loving (1970), Carry on at Your Convenience (1971) and Carry On Girls (1973).
Pertwee's son Jonathan said: "He would give everything a go. He was very dedicated to the people around him and he was very dedicated to his charity work.
"But also he was very humble about the whole thing … He'd say 'marvellous, isn't it, to be in this business', because he said 'I'm not really a proper actor', but he was extraordinarily versatile."
Jonathan said Dad's Army was very important to his father. He loved it. He loved the people in it, it was a big part of his life and he used to have a lot of fun with Clive and John Le Mesurier and Frank Williams and all of them. They just had a great bond."
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