Person    | Male  Born 8/9/1921  Died 11/4/2001

Harry Secombe

Actor, comedian and singer. Born Harry Donald Secombe in St Thomas, Swansea where he grew up. In WW2 he served in the Royal Artillery, and whilst in North Africa he first met Spike Milligan. After the war, he joined the cast of the Windmill Theatre, where he met Michael Bentine and Peter Sellers. The Goon Show was the result of these meetings and Secombe played Neddie Seagoon until the show ended in 1972. He appeared in several films, including 'Oliver!' in which he played Mr Bumble the Beadle, and on stage, he created the title role in the musical 'Pickwick'.
He had his own television show for several years, and was a presenter of the religious programmes, 'Songs of Praise' and 'Stars on Sunday'. When Milligan heard of Secombe's death, he jokingly said that he was glad he had died first because he didn't want him singing at his funeral. Secombe however had the last laugh, as one of his recordings was played at Spike's memorial service. 

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Harry Secombe

Commemorated ati

Last Goon Show

The Camden Palace was home to the Goon Show through the 1950s.

Read More

Spike's statue - Goons

This little group shows Secombe, Milligan and Sellers, holding "Goons" script...

Read More

The Goon Show

{Caricatures of the four comedians, followed by:} The Goon Show, 1951-1960, f...

Read More

Other Subjects

Driving Miss Daisy

Driving Miss Daisy

Film starring Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman. The plot centres around an elderly Jewish woman and her African-American chauffeur. It explores racism, and anti-semitism in the American south. It w...

Media, Cinema

1 memorial
Lady Diana Cooper

Lady Diana Cooper

Renowned beauty, actress, aristocrat, socialite and political wife. Diana Cooper, Viscountess Norwich was born at 23A Bruton Street, as Lady Diana Olivia Winifred Maud Manners. Officially daughter...

Person, Cinema, Theatre

1 memorial
Spotlight

Spotlight

Publishes casting directories.

Group, Cinema, Journalism / Publishing, Theatre, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Robert William Paul

Robert William Paul

British cinema pioneer, inventor, manufacturer, producer, exhibitor and cinematographer.

Person, Cinema

1 memorial
Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin

Born Charles Spencer Chaplin in East Street, Walworth (possibly, see Londonist). Comic actor, composer, director and producer.  Born into a music hall family. He joined a troupe of child dancers, '...

Person, Cinema, Seriously Famous, Switzerland, USA

12 memorials