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  • 8 November 2012, 7:01

Dad's Army Star Clive Dunn Dies Aged 92

Clive Dunn, best known for playing the rambling veteran-turned-butcher Lance Corporal Jones in Dad's Army, has died at the age of 92.

Dunn died on Tuesday in Portugal, where he had lived for decades, following a short illness.

Dunn was a versatile artist who performed in theatres and music halls, and even had a No 1 hit song with Grandad.

But it was the character of L/Corporal Jones, with his catchphrase "Don't Panic", that turned Dunn into a much-loved TV personality.

"He will be a real loss to the acting profession," said his agent, Peter Charlesworth.

He added that Dunn would be "sorely missed".

Dunn was born into a showbusiness family in London on January 9, 1920.

He started his acting career in the 1930s, but when World War Two broke out, he went to serve in the Army.

He served in Greece before being captured and spending four years as a prisoner of war.

After the conflict, Dunn's acting career resumed, and in 1968, the actor landed his trademark role of Jones in Dad's Army, a sitcom about life on the home front.

The character, a veteran of the Sudan wars and other colonial conflicts, was notorious for his often rambling recollections of his time in the Army, as well as for his enthusiasm for the bayonet, which gave rise to his often repeated cry of "They don't like it up 'em!".

Dunn entitled his 1986 autobiography Permission To Speak after another one of his Dad's Army catchphrases.

He also played the lead character in the TV series Grandad in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Dunn is survived by his wife and two daughters. He spent his last years in Portugal where he painted portraits and landscapes until his sight failed.

what do you think?

19 comments

ian sadler

4:46pm on 7/11/2012

Goodbye Clive you will be missed

Score: 7

Jasmin Louise

5:07pm on 7/11/2012

Bless him. I still love watching Dad's Army. R.I.P Clive X

Score: 9

ffreem200

5:18pm on 7/11/2012

I am 24 n was brought up watching these as repeats on bbc 2 n ended up buying boxset. He was amazing as jones the butcher. Rip Clive u will be hugy missed in the profession.

Score: 9
1 reply

ian sadler

8:55pm on 7/11/2012

I'm 57 and fondly remember watching dads army with my mum . Happy memories which has brought a few tears to my eyes. Thanks Clive

Score: 2

TIM x

5:27pm on 7/11/2012

God bless you Clive. I will never forget the film clip where you saluted the general as your out of control steam roller destroyed all the platoon tents. I laughed until I cried. RIP

Score: 11
2 replies

ffreem200

6:38pm on 7/11/2012

That was a brilliant clip. Or the one where he pulls the clip for the oil and gets covered in it an salutes covered in oil. (Think that was the fil if am not mistaken)

Score: 6

ffreem200

8:02pm on 7/11/2012

Why has this been marked down? Hope it was an error

Score: 5

jane cumming

5:27pm on 7/11/2012

Rip clive ( grandad) we all love you.

Score: 8

Bazil Brush

5:27pm on 7/11/2012

what a ledg. dont panic!

Score: 9

Robinson56Chris

5:29pm on 7/11/2012

Remember it from the first episode. Old style radio comedy brought to our screens, loads of catch phrases - 'They don't like it up 'em'. Great fun. Great theme tune. Great ensemble of comedy actors.

Score: 9
1 reply

ffreem200

6:40pm on 7/11/2012

Have to agree 100% with you. Having a laugh to myself reading the posts with all the catch phrases listed. He was one of the best.

Score: 6

Thomas Cat

5:52pm on 7/11/2012

I agree with all the posts here. As a great fan of Dad's Army, I had the pleasure of meeting Clive some years ago. The amount of time he spent with each of the fans was amazing, a real gentleman the likes of whom we shall be unlikely tosee again. RIP Clive.

Score: 7

Fred Spoons

6:17pm on 7/11/2012

'Bye Jones'ey: see you!

Score: 7

Dorothy Haynes

6:25pm on 7/11/2012

RIP Clive (Grandad Jones) Dunn x

Score: 7

Diane Rogers

6:27pm on 7/11/2012

R.I.P Clive they didn't like it up em did they,i remember watching it first time one of the best comedys on tv

Score: 7
4 replies

Diane Rogers

8:11pm on 7/11/2012

Now who on earth would put a thumbs down for these tributes

Score: 5

Gillian Silcox

8:25pm on 7/11/2012

its got to be some idiot trying to wind people up, ignore them. R.I.P Clive Dunn

Score: 5

stephen

8:42pm on 7/11/2012

it will be grant

Score: 4

ffreem200

8:57pm on 7/11/2012

I agree sum is doing it to intentionallly annoy others ignore whoever is doing this it makes no difference to the fond memories we all have of Clive

Score: 6

ffreem200

6:41pm on 7/11/2012

Just reading the posts and with all the wonderful phrases he used cant stop laughing. I think people should list their favourites. Defo the "don't like it up'em" and don't panic are up there with the best.

Score: 10

Robbie369P .

8:53pm on 7/11/2012

Don't panic, don't panic, RIP Clive, a truely one off xx

Score: 5

Name witheld

9:32pm on 7/11/2012

This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.

Lorgar Aurelian

9:38pm on 7/11/2012

Such a shame. But he'd be the first to say he had a good innings. I don't know anyone who doesn't like Dad's Army.

Score: 4

Sharon Houghton

10:13pm on 7/11/2012

R.I.P Clive, thanx for the fantastic childhood memories, still watch the repeats and dvds another comic gentleman, gone but never forgotten, even nick named my dad after Jones don't panic, god bless x

Score: 3

Name witheld

10:24pm on 7/11/2012

This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.

Score: 5
2 replies

Sharon Houghton

10:44pm on 7/11/2012

Erm don't think Clive will be any where near that disgusting man

Score: 4

Lorgar Aurelian

6:34am on 8/11/2012

Irrelevant.

Score: 3

wendy harbut

7:22am on 8/11/2012

Another door closes on my childhood , I must be getting old !

Score: 1
1 reply

Raymond Castle

2:47pm on 8/11/2012

You and me both Wendy. My childhood memories are getting very distant and Clive's death proves it!

Robinson56Chris

2:49pm on 8/11/2012

'Don't tell him, Pike.'

Score: 1
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