
Person
Charlie Drake
Acting · 1925–2006 · South East London - England - UK
Biography
Charlie Drake, was an English comedian, actor, writer and singer best known for his catchphrase "Hello. My darlings!". With his small stature (5 ft 1 in or 155 cm tall), curly red hair and liking for slapstick, he was a popular comedian with children in his early years, performing with Jack Edwardes in the double act Mick and Montmorency on children's TV. He subsequently made the break into primetime TV and critical and commercial acclaim with his solo show Drake's Progress (1955-1957). He was best known for his series The Worker (1965–70) in which he played a perpetually unemployed labourer who, in every episode, was dispatched to a new job by the ever-frustrated clerk at the local labour exchange. In the sixties, Drake made the transition to cinema, making several comedy films. By the 1980s, Drake reinvented himself as a straight actor, including a memorable performance as Smallweed in the 1985 BBC adaptation of Bleak House and playing Nagg in Samuel Beckett's Endgame in 1989. He suffered a series of strokes in 1995 and retired, passing away in 2006 at the age of 81.
Known for

Screen One
Lionel

The Modern World: Ten Great Writers
Marmeladov

99-1
Freddie Windsor

Bleak House
Smallweed
The Worker
1965
The Bob Monkhouse Show
1983

Sinderella Live
Baron Hardon
Charlie Drake In...
1958

Royal Variety Performance 1984
1984

Christmas Night with the Stars
1958
Filmography
- 2004Sinderella Comes Again - BackstageBaron Von Hard-on
- 2001Charlie Drake: Drake's ProgressSelf
- 1995Sinderella LiveBaron Hardon
- 199499-1Freddie Windsor
- 1991Filipina DreamgirlsLionel
- 1989Screen OneLionel
- 1989EndgameNagg
- 1988Mr. H Is Late
- 1988The Modern World: Ten Great WritersMarmeladov
- 1985Bleak HouseSmallweed
- 1984Royal Variety Performance 1984
- 1984Professor Popper's ProblemsProfessor Popper
- 1983The Bob Monkhouse Show
- 1980Rhubarb Rhubarb
- 1979The PlankDelivery man with cake
- 1977To See Such Fun
- 1974Professor Popper's Problems
- 1974Magic Powder
- 1974Follow That Skate
- 1974Descent to Danger
- 1974Monster
- 1974Pursued
- 1974Into the Unknown
- 1967Mister Ten Per CentPercy Pointer
- 1965The Worker
- 1963The CracksmanErnest Wright
- 1961Petticoat PiratesCharlie
- 1960Sands of the DesertCharlie Sands
- 1958Christmas Night with the Stars
- 1958Charlie Drake In...
- 1954Charlie Drake And Jack Edwardes
- 1954The Golden LinkJoe
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