Arthur Lowe

Arthur Lowe (22nd September, 1915 - 15th April, 1982) was a BAFTA Award-winning British actor most famous for his role as the pompous Captain George Mainwaring in the hugely successful BBC situation comedy Dad's Army from 1968 to 1977. After much of his early career was spent in theatre and films, he made a successful transition to television in 1960, where he played the role of draper/lay preacher Leonard Swindley in Coronation Street. Debuting in the third episode of the programme, Arthur remained on the Street until 1965. So popular was the character Swindley that he was granted two spin-off situation comedies, Pardon The Expression in 1966 and it's sequel Turn Out The Lights in 1967.

Arthur enjoyed his greatest success after finally leaving Swindley behind to play the similar role of bumbling, self-important Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army for nine years. But he achieved major success in many other TV and film roles, most notably winning a BAFTA Film Award for Best Supporting Actor in O Lucky Man! in 1974. He also appeared in 5 episodes of Doctor At Large, and narrated the childrens' animated series Mr. Men.

Arthur passed away of a stroke in his dressing room at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham before he was due to perform in Home At Seven on 15th April, 1982, just one day after he had given a live television interview on BBC afternoon magazine show Pebble Mill At One. His final sitcom, A.J. Wentworth, BA was broadcast posthumously from July to August 1982.