Subject

Actor. Born John Elton Halliley in Bedford. Adopting his mother's surname, he was a supporting actor in many films of the 1950s and 1960s, but was projected to national fame as Sergeant Wilson in the television series 'Dad's Army'. When his marriage to actress Hattie Jacques broke up because of her infidelity, he made it known that he was the guilty party in order to save her career. He died in Ramsgate Hospital, having written his own death announcement for The Times: 'John Le Mesurier wishes it to be known that he conked out on November 15th. He sadly misses family and friends'.