Edward Sinclair
Encyclopedia
Edward "Teddy" Sinclair was a British
actor most famous for his role as the verger
Maurice Yeatman in Dad's Army
. He also made appearances in Z Cars and Danger Man
.
Edward's father was the son of a stage actor who died when he was 14. Drama school was too expensive so he worked for amateur theatre companies. He served in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
in the Second World War, and was a salesman before deciding to become a professional actor in his late forties. Although born into a theatrical family, Edward was to resist the temptation to turn professional until he had safely brought up his family. In the meantime, he continued to perform with amateur dramatics societies, enjoying the experience while continuing to earn a living from being a salesman.
He turned professional in his late forties, starting off on radio before being noticed and offered small parts on TV. His first appearance in Dad's Army
was in the fifth episode (before audiences had seen the Vicar) as the caretaker, but it wasn't until the fifth series that he became a regular. He also appeared in several films and theatre productions, and was being offered work in panto
just as the series finished, but died soon after from a heart attack. This came as a shock to all the cast members, and it was Arthur Lowe
, who stated at his funeral service, "With the loss of Teddy, it is now quite clear that there will be no more 'Dad's Army'."
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actor most famous for his role as the verger
Verger
A verger is a person, usually a layman, who assists in the ordering of religious services, particularly in Anglican churches.-History:...
Maurice Yeatman in Dad's Army
Dad's Army
Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show...
. He also made appearances in Z Cars and Danger Man
Danger Man
Danger Man is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again between 1964 and 1968. The series featured Patrick McGoohan as secret agent John Drake. Ralph Smart created the program and wrote many of the scripts...
.
Edward's father was the son of a stage actor who died when he was 14. Drama school was too expensive so he worked for amateur theatre companies. He served in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army.The regiment was formed as a consequence of Childers reforms, a continuation of the Cardwell reforms, by the amalgamation of the 43rd Regiment of Foot and the 52nd Regiment of Foot , forming the 1st...
in the Second World War, and was a salesman before deciding to become a professional actor in his late forties. Although born into a theatrical family, Edward was to resist the temptation to turn professional until he had safely brought up his family. In the meantime, he continued to perform with amateur dramatics societies, enjoying the experience while continuing to earn a living from being a salesman.
He turned professional in his late forties, starting off on radio before being noticed and offered small parts on TV. His first appearance in Dad's Army
Dad's Army
Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show...
was in the fifth episode (before audiences had seen the Vicar) as the caretaker, but it wasn't until the fifth series that he became a regular. He also appeared in several films and theatre productions, and was being offered work in panto
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
just as the series finished, but died soon after from a heart attack. This came as a shock to all the cast members, and it was Arthur Lowe
Arthur Lowe
Arthur Lowe was a BAFTA Award winning English actor. He was best known for playing Captain George Mainwaring in the popular British sitcom Dad's Army from 1968 until 1977.-Early life:...
, who stated at his funeral service, "With the loss of Teddy, it is now quite clear that there will be no more 'Dad's Army'."
Selected filmography
- The BellsThe Bells (1931 film)The Bells is a 1931 British drama film directed by Harcourt Templeman and Oscar Werndorff and starring Donald Calthrop, Jane Welsh and Edward Sinclair. It was based on the play Le Juif Polonais by Alexandre Chatrian and Emile Erckmann.-Cast:...
(1931) - Saraband for Dead LoversSaraband for Dead LoversSaraband for Dead Lovers is a 1948 British historical drama film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Stewart Granger and Joan Greenwood. It is based on the novel by Helen Simpson...
(1948) - Dad's ArmyDad's Army (film)Dad's Army is a 1971 feature film based on the BBC television sitcom Dad's Army. Directed by Norman Cohen, it was filmed between series three and four and was based upon material from the early episodes of the television series...
(1971) - No Sex Please, We're BritishNo Sex Please, We're British (film)No Sex Please, We're British is a 1973 British comedy film directed by Cliff Owen and starring Ronnie Corbett, Ian Ogilvy, Susan Penhaligon and Arthur Lowe...
(1973)