Dick Emery Movies and Career Information

Richard Gilbert "Dick" Emery (19 February 1915 – 2 January 1983) was an English comedian and actor , 'a light entertainment icon' who began on radio in the 1950s. After transition to television his popularity grew through the 1960s and 1970s. He was the brother of Ann Emery. Richard Gilbert Emery was born in University College Hospital, Bloomsbury, London in 1915. His parents were the comedy double act Callan and Emery. They took him on tour when he was only 3 weeks old and gave him the occasional turn on the stage throughout his childhood, which was always on the move and disrupted, creating problems for the future, but at least setting the scene for eventually going into show business. His parents split up when he was 8 years old and he chose to stay with his mother, who gave up 'showbiz'. He tried a variety of jobs before the stage: office boy, farm hand, and driving instructor. During World War II he was called up to the RAF, but joined the chorus line of The Merry Widow at the Majestic Theatre, London, instead, for which he was imprisoned for desertion. Once released he joined the Gang Show ("I was better in drag than combat gear") and created Vera Thin ('the Forces'