Since 1958 the Carry On films have been entertaining Brits with their slapstick gags, saucy innuendos and cheeky
A total of 31 films were made between, often featuring the same principle cast.
The likes of Sid James, Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jacques became household names thanks to the cheeky series that started with Carry on Sergeant in 1958 and finished 34 years later with Carry On Columbus.
Many of the famous regular cast have now passed away, and last night Dame Barbara Windsor – who often played cheeky young blondes in revealing costumes – died at the age of 83.
Her death has left means there is just one of the regular cast members still alive 62 years after the series started.
Jim Dale
Barbara Windsor and Jim Dale in the Carry On movies (Image: AG)
The final surviving regular actor who had a lead role in the films is Jim Dale.
Now aged 85, Dale – who is also a singer, comedian, narrator, author and lyricist – made his first appearance in 1963’s Carry on Cabby.
Initially playing supporting characters, he soon progressed to taking on younger male lead roles.
Dale appeared in nine consecutive films between 1963 and 1967’s Carry On Doctor, before returning in 1969 for Carry On Again Doctor and the final film in 1992.
While being a regular on stage between the 1980s and early 2000s, starring in productions such as the Broadway musical Barnum, Me and My Girl and as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, he’s found new fame in recent years thanks to Harry Potter.
Dale has narrated the audiobook versions of all seven of JK Rowling’s fantasy novels, winning multiple awards and world records along the way.
In 2003 he was made an MBE.
Other cast members
Leslie Phillips became famous for saying ‘ding dong’ in Carry On films
Other actors who appeared in fewer films or had less prominent roles are also still alive.
Leslie Phillips starred in three of the early films, specialising in playing foolish upper-class womanisers.
In one of those films – 1959’s Carry On Nurse – fans heard him utter the now-famous ‘ding dong’ line for the first time.
In a 2007 interview with The Oldie, the now 96-year-old said: “Even today, I am regularly ding-donged as I walk around London.”
Since the 1980s he’s moved away from the lotharios, and like Dale has found fame in Harry Potter, lending his voice to the role of the sorting hat in three films.
He was made an OBE in 1996 and CBE in 2008.
In 2014 he suffered a stroke, but vowed to bounce back, saying: “I’m too young to pop off (die) just yet. I’ve got everything to live for.”
Other recurring cast members still alive include Julian Holloway, Hugh Futcher and Valerie Leon.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
