Dave King

Dave King (born David Albert Kingshott; 23 June 1929 – 15 April 2002) was an English comedian, actor and vocalist of popular songs. He is remembered for screen roles such as the corrupt policeman Parky in the British gangster film The Long Good Friday He did his National Service in the RAF and was in the unit's repertory company. On being demobilised, he returned to variety and later became a solo act as a comedy impressionist in 1952. A television appearance on Easter Music Hall occurred in April 1954. Prior to his TV appearances he had a regular weekly radio show. It was for this radio show that Sid Green and Dick Hills first became his scriptwriters. At the time Hills was still a Form Master at Haberdashers Aske's, and when King got his regular TV show they both gave up their jobs to become full time scriptwriters. led to his compering the monthly BBC-TV series Showcase beginning on January 24, 1955 He was given a monthly series on the BBC starting on 15 October 1955. The next year he turned to singing, while continuing to perform on television. During the seaside summer season of 1956 he performed at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. He starred in The Dave King Show. During the 1950s he also starred in the same show alongside Shani Wallis. In 1958, King moved to ITV with The Dave King Show He appeared on Decca Records' All Star Hit Parade charity record in 1956 along with other major Decca artists Dickie Valentine, Joan Regan, Winifred Atwell, Lita Roza and David Whitfield. That record charted at No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart.

In 1959, he went to the United States and hosted the country's high-profile In Target, episode "A Good And Faithful Woman (1978)," King appeared as Raymond Blake, a career criminal who returns to the UK in order to recoup the proceeds of a robbery. Whilst in The Professionals he appeared in the role of organised crime lord Harry Walter, the mastermind of a silver bullion robbery in the episode "Hijack" (1980).

Further television appearances included the Rumpole of the Bailey episode "Rumpole and the Blind Tasting" (1987) and as Aidensfield Station Master Roy Hutton in Heartbeat (episode: "Unfinished Business", 1995). The closing scene of the episode features King's character standing on the platform of Aidensfield Station while "Memories Are Made of This" plays in the background.

In the theatre, he appeared in Arsenic and Old Lace, playing Mortimer Brewster, and in Teeth 'n' Smiles (1975/6).

He married Jean Hart in 1955, and they had two daughters, Cheyenne and Kiowa. They lived in South Cerney in Gloucestershire. His hobbies included model railways and American folklore.

King died in Swindon, Wiltshire, on 15 April 2002, aged 72.

Filmography