Charles Hawtrey

George Frederick Joffre Hartree (30 November 1914 – 27 October 1988), better known as Charles Hawtrey, was an English comedy actor. Beginning at a young age as a boy soprano, he made several records before moving onto the wireless. His later career encompassed the theatre (as both actor and director), the cinema (where he regularly appeared supporting Will Hay in the 1930s and 40s in films such as The Ghost of St Michaels through the Carry On fil... more

George Frederick Joffre Hartree (30 November 1914 – 27 October 1988), better known as Charles Hawtrey, was an English comedy actor. Beginning at a young age as a boy soprano, he made several records before moving onto the wireless. His later career encompassed the theatre (as both actor and director), the cinema (where he regularly appeared supporting Will Hay in the 1930s and 40s in films such as The Ghost of St Michaels through the Carry On films), and to the television screen. Born in Hounslow, Middlesex, England in 1914, as George Frederick Joffre Hartree. He took his stage name from the theatrical knight, Sir Charles Hawtrey, and encouraged the suggestion that he was his son. However, his father was actually a London car mechanic. Hawtrey made an early start to a career that was to span a period of almost 60 years, and broke through in all the major entertainment media of the time. Following study at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London, he embarked on a career in... less