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Michael Ward, originally named George William Everard Yeo, was born on April 9, 1909, in the village of Carmenellis, Cornwall. As the son of a clergyman, his family frequently relocated between parishes during his childhood. Disliking this unsettled way of life and being an only child, it wasn’t until 1930, when his family settled in Caddington near Luton, that he had the opportunity to form friendships and gain independence.
From 1930 to 1945, Michael worked first as a private tutor and later as an ambulance driver during World War II.
By March 1946, he had decided to pursue acting, abandoning his initial ambition to become a concert pianist, after winning a scholarship to the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.
Upon completing his studies, he began auditioning and in 1946 secured the role of understudy to comedian Vic Oliver in The Night and the Music at the Coliseum, now the home of English National Opera.
This marked the start of a lengthy career in supporting roles, encompassing nearly seventy films, twenty West End productions, and over two hundred television appearances.
In 1947, Michael landed his first film role in An Ideal Husband, directed by Alexander Korda and starring Paulette Goddard. Released in June, the film was well-received and helped launch Michael’s screen career. Between 1947 and 1960, he appeared in at least thirty films, becoming one of the nation’s busiest and most recognized character actors.
In 1961, Michael gained wider recognition playing the photographer in Carry On Regardless. He later appeared in several other Carry On films, including Carry On Cabbie as the 'Man in Tweeds', Carry On Cleo as 'Archimedes', Carry On Screaming as 'Vivian the Window Dresser', and Carry On Don't Lose Your Head as 'Andre the Wigmaker'.
The British Film Institute praised Michael for delivering one of the funniest one-liners in British film history as the refined gentleman in tweeds stepping out of Kenneth Connors’ black cab. If you recall that scene, it’s worth watching again to appreciate his comedic timing.
Besides the Carry On series, Michael featured in four Norman Wisdom comedies and numerous other films, but television eventually became the mainstay of his later career.
From the early 1960s to the mid-1970s, during the golden age of British television comedy, his credits included Hancock’s Half Hour, The Jack Benny Show, Steptoe and Son, Sykes, and Rising Damp. He also appeared on The Avengers, The Two Ronnies, and The Dick Emery Show. Perhaps his most memorable TV role was as Adrian, the highly camp next-door neighbour in Morecambe and Wise.
Michael’s final screen appearance was in 1978’s Revenge of the Pink Panther. Following a stroke, he was forced to retire and later passed away on November 8, 1997, at St Mary’s Hospital, Ladbroke Grove, London, aged eighty-eight.
