--- name: "Clive Dunn" canonical: "https://film.one/person/clive-dunn" roles: ["Actor"] born: "9 January 1920" died: "6 November 2012" reviewed_on_fi1m: 1 average_as: "actor" average_over: 1 updated: "2026-09-18T08:03:44.767755+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Clive Dunn Actor. Born 9 January 1920 in Covent Garden, London, England, UK. Died 6 November 2012. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 9 January 1920, Covent Garden, London, England, UK - **Died:** 6 November 2012 - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Dunn, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46053, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0242533/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/85531 ## Fi1m on Clive Dunn > Clive Dunn's comic old men are flustered, physically restless and hard to dislike. His Jones in *Dad's Army* works because that broad playing has somewhere to go: into an ensemble whose quieter actors know how to answer it. As Lance-Corporal Jack Jones in *Dad's Army* (1968), Clive Dunn makes his presence felt through the body as much as the voice. His insistence prevents the exchanges from settling into comfortable politeness. We laughed at Jones's fluster because Dunn makes it so physical: the agitation gives the quieter performers something to react to. There is warmth in the dithering, too, which matters when the joke depends on an older man's ineffectiveness. Dunn lets us enjoy the foolishness without asking us to despise him. The old-man act was established before Jones. *Bootsie and Snudge* (1960) had him playing Henry 'Old' Johnson, a part that helped establish his reputation for elderly characters. Broad comedy, slapstick and bandy-legged dance routines were his tools, often used to play men much older than himself. *Dad's Army* gave him the defining role, and the children's series *Grandad* (1979) followed rather than broke with that speciality. There is a cost to such recognisability: he became typecast, with fewer opportunities to try other parts. Jones benefits from having other actors who do not play at his speed. Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier help the familiar routines bear repeating, while Dunn supplies a more urgent comic rhythm. John Laurie's severity and Arnold Ridley's gentleness make the differences within the group clearer. These are broad characterisations, and we would not pretend Dunn is working by tiny, barely visible adjustments. His skill lies in judging how much fuss the exchange can take, while staying alert to the other actors. Familiarity is also the weakness. Some episodes of *Dad's Army* lean too heavily on established behaviour, and Jones cannot make every repeated routine feel necessary. Still, the physical comedy takes timing, and Dunn's responsiveness to the others keeps it from being merely a succession of recognisable habits. Start with Jones, and watch the quieter men around him as closely as the man making the fuss. ## Biography Clive Dunn was an English actor best known for playing Lance-Corporal Jack Jones in the BBC sitcom *Dad's Army* (1968–1977). He appeared in all 80 episodes of the series and the 1971 film adaptation. Dunn trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts and began his career in the 1930s. His early work included appearances with Will Hay and roles in variety and revue. During the Second World War he served as a trooper in the 4th Queen's Own Hussars and was a prisoner of war for four years. After the war he became noted for playing elderly characters, including Old Johnson in *Bootsie and Snudge* (1960–1963). He later starred in the children's series *Grandad* (1979–1984) and had a UK number-one hit with the song "Grandad" in 1971. Dunn was appointed OBE in 1975 and retired to Portugal, where he painted until his death. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, theguardian.com, bbc.com.* ## On Fi1m (1) - *Dad's Army* (1968), Fi1m 86, as Lance-Corporal Jack Jones — [page](https://film.one/tv/dads-army.md) ## Complete filmography (43) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Dad's Army at the BBC* (2025), series, as Lcpl. Jack Jones - *John Le Mesurier: It's All Been Rather Lovely* (2012), Acting - *Hitler: The Comedy Years* (2007), as Jack Jones (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Missing Presumed Wiped* (2001), Acting - *Wendy Richard: A Life on the Box* (2001), as Lance Corporal Jack Jones (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Don't Panic: The Dad's Army Story* (2000), Acting - *Daytime Live* (1987), series, Acting - *Much Ado About Nothing* (1984), as Verges - *The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu* (1980), as Keeper of the Keys - London Tower - *Grandad* (1979), series, Acting - *My Old Man* (1974), series, as Sam - *Dad's Army* (1971), as Lance Corporal Jack Jones - *From a Bird's Eye View* (1970), series, as Fred Arnott - *The Magic Christian* (1969), as Sommelier - *Crooks and Coronets* (1969), as Basil - *The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom* (1968), as Dr. Zimmerman - *Dad's Army* (1968), series, as Lance-Corporal Jack Jones — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/dads-army.md) - *Ooh La La!* (1968), series, as Bidonneau - *30 Is a Dangerous Age, Cynthia!* (1968), as Doctor - *Just Like a Woman* (1967), as Graff von Fischer - *The Mini-Affair* (1967), as Tyson - *You Must Be Joking* (1965), as Television studio Doorman, Kelly (Studio doorman) (uncredited) - *HMS Paradise* (1964), series, as Tugboat Captain - *The Mouse on the Moon* (1963), as Bandleader - *The Fast Lady* (1962), as Old Gentleman in Burning House - *She'll Have to Go* (1962), as Chemist - *What a Whopper* (1961), as Mr. Slate - *It's a Square World* (1961), series, Acting - *The Avengers* (1961), series, as Martin — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-avengers-1961.md) - *Bootsie and Snudge* (1960), series, as Henry Beerbohm 'Old' Johnson - *No Hiding Place* (1959), series, Acting - *The Treasure of San Teresa* (1959), as Cemetery Keeper - *Idol on Parade* (1959), as Reporter - *After Hours* (1958), series, Acting - *The Adventures Of Charlie Quick* (1957), series, Acting - *Hancock's Half Hour* (1956), series, Acting - *The Tony Hancock Show* (1956), series, Acting - *Boys in Brown* (1949), as Holdup Man, Man - *The Hasty Heart* (1949), as MacDougall (uncredited) - *Goodbye, Mr. Chips* (1939), as Youth (uncredited) - *A Yank at Oxford* (1938), as Minor Role (uncredited) - *Good Morning, Boys!* (1937), as Minor Role (uncredited) - *Boys Will Be Boys* (1935), as Schoolboy watching rugby (uncredited) ## Gallery - ![Clive Dunn](https://film.one/media/person/60402/gallery-fba19c39b708.png) Clive Dunn — Crown Film Unit, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Clive_Dunn_in_Surprise_Attack_%281951%29_film.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Clive Dunn](https://film.one/media/person/60402/gallery-2799cd7a6eb5.jpg) Clive Dunn — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/clive-dunn