Jack Warner

Jack Warner (born Horace John Waters; 24 October 1895 – 24 May 1981) was a British actor. He is closely associated with the role of PC George Dixon, which he played in the 1950 film The Blue Lamp and later in the television series Dixon of Dock Green from 1955 until 1976, but he was also for some years one of Britain's most popular film stars. He also periodically released novelty records—comic songs or collections related to his Dixon role—for example his 1958 release "An Ordinary Copper" which was released by Oriole Records—and reissued twice afterward.

Early life Warner was born Horace John Waters in Bromley-by-Bow, Poplar, London, the third child of Edward William Waters, master fulling maker and undertaker's warehouseman, and Maud Mary Best.

Warner attended the Coopers' Company's Grammar School for Boys in Mile End, while his sisters both attended the nearby sister school, Coborn School for Girls in Bow. The three children were choristers at St. Leonard's Church in Bromley-by-Bow, and for a time, Warner was the choir's soloist. Frederick William Berwick became a partner in the Anglo-French automobile manufacturing company Sizaire-Berwick and, in August 1913, Warner was sent to work as a mechanic in Paris. He drove completed chassis to the coast from where they were shipped to England, road-testing them en route. He acquired a working knowledge of French which stood him in good stead throughout his life; an imitation of Maurice Chevalier became a part of his repertoire. He was over thirty before he became a professional entertainer. One observer predicted, "This film will make Jack the most famous policeman in Britain."

Personal life In 1933, Warner married company secretary Muriel Winifred ("Mollie"), daughter of independently wealthy Roberts Peters. The couple had no children.

Warner was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1965. In 1973, he was made a Freeman of the City of London. Warner commented in his autobiography that the honour "entitles me to a set of 18th century rules for the conduct of life urging me to be sober and temperate". Warner added, "Not too difficult with Dixon to keep an eye on me!"

He died, aged 85, of pneumonia in the Royal Masonic Hospital, Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith, London, in 1981.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1943 The Dummy Talks Jack 1946 The Captive Heart Cpl. Horsfall 1947 Hue and Cry Nightingale Dear Murderer Insp. Penbury Holiday Camp Joe Huggett It Always Rains on Sunday Detective Sergeant Fothergill 1948 Easy Money Philip Stafford Against the Wind Max Cronk My Brother's Keeper George Martin Here Come the Huggetts Joe Huggett 1949 Vote for Huggett The Huggetts Abroad Train of Events Jim Hardcastle (segment: "The Engine Driver") Boys in Brown Governor 1950 The Services Show TV series The Blue Lamp PC George Dixon 1951 Talk of a Million Bartley Murnahan Valley of Eagles Inspector Peterson Scrooge Mr. Jorkin 1952 The Monster of Killoon Bill Anderson TV movie Emergency Call Inspector Lane Meet Me Tonight Murdoch: Ways and Means 1953 Those People Next Door Sam Twigg The Square Ring Danny Felton The Final Test Sam Palmer Albert R.N. Capt. Maddox 1954 Bang! You're Dead Bonsell Forbidden Cargo Maj. Alec White 1955 The Quatermass Xperiment Insp. Lomax The Ladykillers The Superintendent Dixon of Dock Green P.C. (later Sgt) George Dixon TV series (432 episodes: 1955–1976) 1956 Now and Forever Mr. J. Pritchard Home and Away George Knowles 1957 The Big Gamble (from BBC series 'Eye to Eye') Commentary One 1/2 hour narration within the short series. 1958 Carve Her Name with Pride Mr. Bushell 1960 Upgreen – And at 'Em 1962 Jigsaw Det. Insp. Fred Fellows 1979 Dominique George (final film role)

Box-office ranking For a number of years, British film exhibitors voted him among the top ten British stars at the box office via an annual poll in the Motion Picture Herald. 1948 – 7th-most popular British star 1949 – 10th-most popular British star 1950 – 3rd (5th-most popular overall) 1952 – 8th-most popular British star 1953 – 7th-most popular British star