The Resume

(February 21, 1929-August 6, 1973)
Born in Islington, London, United Kingdom
Stanley James Carroll Beck
Private Joe Walker on Dad’s Army (1971 film and TV / radio series; last episode: ‘Things That Go Bump in the Night’)
Appeared in ‘Carry On Loving’ and ‘Love Thy Neighbour’
Guest appearances include Coronation Street and ‘Romany Jones’
Died of heart / renal / pancreatic failure at age 44
5 ft 11 in (1,8 m)

Why he might be annoying:

With his father frequently unemployed, his mother was the primary breadwinner.
Perhaps not surprisingly, he would leave home at 17.
On impulse, he observed a man reading a script on a bus and decided he wanted to be an actor.
He was a lifelong (very heavy!) smoker… and no slouch on the booze, either.
In the first Dad’s Army episode following his death (‘The Recruit’), his Private Walker is noted only as going to do a deal ‘up the Smoke’ (a reference to the smogged East End of London).

Why he might not be annoying:

While never in the British Army itself, he fulfilled his conscription duties as a physical training instructor.
He took an assortment of roles out of fear of type casting (which made co-star John LeMesurier’s words of wisdom that much more important).
He was able to record two more radio episodes of Dad’s Army the day before his fatal illness.
His sketch artwork included a self-portrait – in character – and a cast portrait.
LeMesurier told him point blank, ‘Why worry? If you’re lucky enough to have a success, stay with it.’

Credit: Cool It All Right?

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• British Soap Stars
• Carry On [Series]
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [February] (Ranked: 2211929)
• Cool It All Right?'s Profiles [Series 17]
• Dad's Army
• Horse Faces
• I Died in 1973 (Ranked: 44)
• I Have Pancreatic Cancer
• I Portrayed Shylock
• Known By a Middle Name
• Profiles 58251-58500 (Ranked: 58319)
• We Died on the Same Day (Ranked: 19730806)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying