---
name: "Colin Bean"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/colin-bean"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "15 April 1926"
died: "20 June 2009"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 79
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-18T09:25:21.772790+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."
---

# Colin Bean

Actor. Born 15 April 1926 in Wigan, Lancashire, England, UK. Died 20 June 2009.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 15 April 1926, Wigan, Lancashire, England, UK
- **Died:** 20 June 2009
- **Active:** 1968–1972
- **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 86 (1), 1970s 72 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Bean, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2588575, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0063772/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1214088

## Biography

Colin Bean (15 April 1926 – 20 June 2009) was an English actor best known for playing Private Sponge in the BBC sitcom *Dad's Army* (1968–1977). He appeared in 76 episodes of the series and the 1971 feature film adaptation, initially as a background platoon member before taking a more prominent position in later seasons.

Born in Wigan, Lancashire, Bean attended Wigan Grammar School and trained at drama school, graduating in 1952. He began his career in theatre, working as assistant stage manager at Sheffield Rep and later at Watford Palace Theatre under Jimmy Perry, co-creator of *Dad's Army*. His television work included appearances in *The Gnomes of Dulwich* (1969), *Are You Being Served?* (1973) and *Hi-de-Hi!* (1988).

Arthritis limited his later stage and screen work, though he continued with radio and published his autobiography, *Who Do You Think You Are Kidding!*, in 1998.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, theguardian.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *Are You Being Served?* (1972), Fi1m 72, as The Leatherette Gloves — [page](https://film.one/tv/are-you-being-served.md)
- *Dad's Army* (1968), Fi1m 86, as Private Sponge — [page](https://film.one/tv/dads-army.md)

## Complete filmography (9)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Good As Gold* (1986), as Mayor
- *Lady Killers* (1980), series, as Clerk of Court
- *Cribb* (1980), series, as Police Constable
- *Are You Being Served?* (1972), series, as The Leatherette Gloves — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/are-you-being-served.md)
- *Dad's Army* (1971), as Private Sponge
- *Up Pompeii!* (1969), series, as Centurion
- *Dad's Army* (1968), series, as Private Sponge — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/dads-army.md)
- *Z-Cars* (1962), series, Acting
- *No Hiding Place* (1959), series, Acting

---
© 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/colin-bean