- Born
- Died
- Birth nameArthur Ernest Mullard
- Height6′ 2″ (1.88 m)
- An enigmatic and much loved comedy actor Arthur Mullard carved a unique niche for himself in a host of British comedy films and tv shows. The sterotype Cockney he was born in Islington, North London where he was known by locals as 'The Dook of Islington'.
He left school at 14 to work as a butcher's boy. At 18 he joined the Army and became his regiment's boxing champion. After leaving the Forces he became a professional boxer for a brief period.
After World War Two he took up acting, mainly as a stuntman working at Pinewood and Ealing Studios in their heyday. He then graduated to small parts in classic comedy films and on television he began to be in great demand as a straight man to a range of comics including Frankie Howerd, Spike Milligan, Tony Hancock, Tommy Cooper and Arthur Askey. In 1962 he scored a critical success in Sparrows Can't Sing with Barbara Windsor.
He achieved stardom on television in the series Romany Jones (1973). Mullard and Queenie Watts played Wally and Lily Briggs, a colourful couple who lived in a caravan and were experts at swindling the social services. The series was followed by Yus, My Dear (1976) which attracted more than 8 million viewers. He was regularly cast as a guest star on many other tv shows and once quipped "If the tv bosses are stuck they'll say 'Let's put Arfur on, but not too much or he'll steal the bleedin' show!'"- IMDb Mini Biography By: Patrick Newley
- SpouseFlo(? - 1961) (her death)
- In 1996, "The Sunday Mirror" reported that a "This Is Your Life" special about Mullard was planned, until producers contacted his eldest son and discovered Mullard's history of extreme domestic violence, and years of sexual abuse against his daughter, starting when she was 13.
- His wife Flo committed suicide by a sleeping pill overdose.
- Left £250,000 to a children's home.
- He rejoined the army during the Second World War, becoming a Warrant Officer, (sergeant major) in the Royal Artillery. Following the end of the war in 1945, he worked as a stuntman at Pinewood and Ealing Film Studios.
- He began boxing in the British Army, becoming champion of his regiment. After he left the army, he had a stint as a professional, having 20 fights over the next three years.
- The tragedy of my life is, I was born 20 years too early.
- Drilling troops and just being in the Army was like acting to me. It was all an act.
- I never think of my childhood with nostalgia. Anyone of my age who says he does is deceiving himself. They weren't good old days at all. Whatever else change has brought, it means people aren't so poor any more.
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