Kenneth Williams

The British comic actor Kenneth Williams was born in 1926 in a working class section of London, England, where he and his older sister Pat were raised by their parents Louisa and Charlie, who ran a hairdressing shop. At the age of 14, Williams began training as a lithographic draftsman and was later apprenticed to a cartographer. At this time, he also began to pursue his interest in acting by joining an amateur drama group. While serving in the army during World War II, Williams worked as a Royal Engineer in the Survey Section and later became an entertainer for the troops in the Combined Services Entertainments. After his release from military service in 1948, he worked in repertory theater around Britain, eventually ending up in London theater. During the 1950s, he made his name in popular revues, such as 'Share My Lettuce', 'Pieces of Eight' and 'One Over the Eight'. He also appeared with Maggie Smith in 'The Private Eye/Public Ear', Edith Evans in 'Gentle Jack' and Ingrid Bergman in 'Captain Brassbound's Conversion'. He was a good friend of the playwright Joe Orton and performed in his 'Loot' in 1967. Williams became a household name in Britain through his numerous performances in radio and television, even having his own television series The Kenneth Williams Show (1970), for a short time. Known for his snooty characterizations, his chief claim to fame is his many appearances in the British "Carry On" films, an extensive series of low-budget but immensely popular comedy films produced from the late 1950s through the late 1970s.