Dave King

Birthday: Jun 23, 1929
Birthplace: Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK

Bio: Few British comedians were as successful in the 1950s and early 60s as DaveKing. A hit recording singer he was one of the few British comics to top thebill at the London Palladium as well as having top rating TV shows in bothBritain and America. Although his success was relatively short as a comedianhe later became a respected TV and film actor.After doing National… More Bio: Few British comedians were as successful in the 1950s and early 60s as DaveKing. A hit recording singer he was one of the few British comics to top thebill at the London Palladium as well as having top rating TV shows in bothBritain and America. Although his success was relatively short as a comedianhe later became a respected TV and film actor.After doing National Service in the RAF, King joined Morton Fraser and hisHarmonica Gang, an eccentric variety act based on America's BorrahMinevitch's Harmonica Rascals.By the mid 50s King had turned solo and with his laid back style and PerryComo-like singing voice he began making appearances on TV variety shows. In1955 he was given his own show by the BBC. An innovative comedian withbrilliant timing, his show was scripted by top writers and was consideredgroundbreaking in its day.He recording hits included Memories Are Made of This (1956) and he followedthis with numerous cover versions of Dean Martin and Perry Como songs.In 1958 he was poached from the BBC by ITV who gave him his own show and ayear later he hosted the famous Kraft Music Hall Show in America replacingMilton Berle. In 1961 he appeared on the Bing Crosby Show in Britain and ayear later made a cameo appearance as himself in the film The Road To HongKong.King's fame in America was short-lived and by the late 60s he returned toBritain where he began an acting career. Throughout the 1970s he gave aseries of highly polished and gritty performances in several TV dramas wherehe was usually cast as a villain. In 1978 he was cast against type in DennisPotter's "Pennies from Heaven" (1978) (mini).Date of Death: 15 April 2002, London, England, UK.