Biography
John Le Mesurier (born John Elton Le Mesurier Halliley) was an English actor. He trained at the Fay Compton Studio of Dramatic Art and made his professional stage debut in 1934. During the Second World War he served as a captain in the Royal Tank Regiment in India before returning to acting.
Le Mesurier appeared in more than 120 films, usually in supporting roles, as well as numerous television and radio productions. He is best known for playing Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the BBC sitcom Dad's Army (1968–1977). Other credits include Father Mowbray in the 1981 television adaptation of Brideshead Revisited, and small parts in films such as Ben-Hur (1959), The Pink Panther (1963) and The Italian Job (1969).
In 1971 he received a BAFTA award for Best Television Actor for his performance in the Dennis Potter play Traitor.
