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Leonard Lowe (born Leonard Alfred Smoothey; 17 December 1916 – 21 August 1999)[1] was an English comedian, actor, scriptwriter and musician.

Key Information

Biography

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He was born in Fulham, London, and studied at the Italia Conti School. As a child, he featured in several West End pantomimes and shows, including the original production of Noël Coward's Cavalcade in 1931. He also acted in Shakespeare plays at the Open Air Theatre in Regents Park, and in the musical comedy The White Horse Inn at the Coliseum Theatre.[2][3]

In 1935, the bandleader Jack Hylton invited Lowe to join his orchestra as a singer and guitarist. He played in Hylton's hit revue Life Begins at Oxford Circus at the London Palladium, and then in the film She Shall Have Music. He also toured the United States with Hylton's orchestra.[2][4]

In 1938 Lowe teamed up with his brother, Bill Lowe, to form a comic double act. They broke with British convention by both comedians being smartly and fashionably dressed, in the style of American comic pairings and later adopted by Morecambe and Wise. They toured together, and after being called up to join the military in the Second World War, headlined in one of Ralph Reader's Gang Shows. Len and Bill Lowe appeared in Ann Dvorak's 1943 propaganda film There's a Future in It, and toured American bases with Dvorak. After the end of the war, they appeared regularly on BBC radio, and continued to appear in British comedy films, such as A Date with a Dream (1948) and Melody Club (1949), both starring Terry-Thomas.[2][4]

The pairing ended in 1950, when Bill Lowe married actress Jeannie Carson, and moved to the United States. After appearing on television as a foil to Charlie Chester, Len Lowe then linked up with another brother, Don Smoothey, who used the stage name Chester Ladd. As Lowe and Ladd, they performed in theatre shows and pantomimes, and toured together nationally and internationally, especially in Australia and New Zealand, before splitting up in 1956.[2]

In 1958, Lowe featured again on television, as partner to Anthea Askey in the series The Dickie Henderson Half Hour, produced by Jack Hylton for the Associated-Rediffusion network on ITV. He returned to Australia, where he featured in variety shows, and wrote, produced, and appeared in his own television series there.[4] After returning to Britain, he continued to appear regularly on television as a comic actor in the 1960s, in shows such as those fronted by Al Read, Arthur Haynes, Benny Hill, and Dick Emery, as well as on It's a Square World and The Basil Brush Show. In films, he appeared in Charlie Chaplin's A Countess from Hong Kong (1966), and Carry On Loving (1970).[2] He also appeared as a straight actor in the television series Colditz (1974).[4]

Lowe was active in the show business charity, the Grand Order of Water Rats, holding the honorary position of King Rat in 1983.[3]

He died of prostate cancer in 1999, aged 82.[2]

References

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Len Lowe

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Len Lowe is an English comedian, actor, scriptwriter, and musician known for his extensive career in British variety theatre, radio, television, and film that spanned from the 1930s to the 1990s. [1] [2] He gained prominence through double acts with his brothers, regular appearances in popular television comedies, and his involvement in the entertainment charity the Grand Order of Water Rats, where he served as King Rat in 1983. [1] Born in Fulham, London on 17 December 1915, Lowe trained at the Italia Conti School and began performing as a child in West End productions including Peter Pan and Noël Coward's Cavalcade. [1] He later worked as a guitarist and singer with Jack Hylton's orchestra before forming a successful variety double act with his brother Bill Lowe in the late 1930s, which featured in wartime RAF Gang Shows, radio programmes such as Variety Bandbox, and early British films including Date with a Dream (1948) and Melody Club (1949). [1] After the partnership ended in 1950, he continued performing in variety and summer shows, often with another brother, and transitioned into television work, serving as a straight man to Cheerful Charlie Chester and appearing regularly in The Dickie Henderson Half Hour. [1] From the 1950s onward, Lowe became a recognisable supporting player in British television comedy, with guest roles in series including Keeping Up Appearances, One Foot in the Grave, Last of the Summer Wine, The Basil Brush Show, and Are You Being Served? Again!, as well as contributions as a scriptwriter for programmes such as The Dick Emery Show and Kindly Leave the Stage. [2] [1] His film credits include small parts in A Countess from Hong Kong (1967) and Carry On Loving (1970). [1] He remained active in the industry until the 1990s and was a respected member of the Grand Order of Water Rats. [1] Lowe died on 21 August 1999. [2]

Early life

Birth and family background

Leonard Alfred Smoothey, professionally known as Len Lowe, was born on 17 December 1915 in Fulham, London, England. [2] [3] [4] He was born into a theatrical family in London, where his parents encouraged all three brothers toward stage careers with an emphasis on performance. [1] The brothers—Len, Bill Lowe, and Don Smoothey—grew up in an environment shaped by these early expectations for a life in entertainment. [1]

Education and early career

Lowe trained at the Italia Conti School and began performing as a child actor in West End productions, including roles in Peter Pan and Noël Coward's Cavalcade. [1] He later worked as a guitarist and singer with Jack Hylton's orchestra. [1] Note: Some sources list the birth year as 1916, but 1915 is prioritized based on consistent metadata from industry records. [1]

Variety career

Partnership with Bill Lowe

Len Lowe and his brother Bill Lowe formed a highly popular double act known as Len and Bill Lowe, which became a mainstay of British variety theatre in the mid-20th century. [5] The partnership emphasized polished comedy routines with witty banter and cross-talk, often incorporating musical numbers that drew on Len's skills as a singer and guitarist from his earlier orchestral work. [1] Their smartly dressed, sophisticated style broke from the more traditional rough-and-ready British double acts of the era, appealing to broad variety audiences through tight timing and entertaining material. [1] The act was active from 1938 to 1950, including performances during World War II in Gang Shows and related tours, helping establish Len Lowe's reputation before his transition to screen work. [5]

Stage performances and popularity

Len Lowe and his brother Bill Lowe developed a popular comedy double act in British variety theatre, distinguished by their smartly dressed appearance that contrasted with the traditional clownish attire of many contemporaries. Their routines emphasized witty banter and a polished stage presence, which appealed to post-war audiences seeking more sophisticated entertainment in music halls and variety bills. [5] The act achieved considerable popularity during the 1940s and until 1950, touring various UK theatres and occasionally extending to international venues, where their brotherly dynamic and timing earned them strong audience reception. This peak period reflected the broader appeal of their style in the variety circuit before the rise of television prompted a career shift. [1]

Partnership with Chester Ladd

After the end of his act with Bill Lowe in 1950, Len Lowe formed another double act with his third brother, who performed under the stage name Chester Ladd (later known as Don Smoothey). This partnership toured successfully in Australia and New Zealand before returning to British summer shows and variety dates, lasting until around 1956. [5]

Transition to screen work

Move from variety to acting and writing

Len Lowe transitioned from his long-standing career in variety theatre to working in screen acting, scriptwriting, and additional crew roles as the entertainment industry evolved in the post-war era.[1] His IMDb profile credits him across these departments, reflecting a broadening of his contributions beyond live stage performances.[1] Early signs of this shift appeared in his film roles during the late 1940s, including appearances alongside his brother and variety partner Bill Lowe in Date with a Dream (1948) and Melody Club (1949), which incorporated elements of variety entertainment.[1] By the late 1950s, Lowe had moved more decisively into television acting, with credits in programmes such as Mostly Maynard (1957) and multiple episodes of It's a Square World (1962–1963), marking his adaptation to the growing medium of broadcast comedy.[2] In addition to acting, Lowe took on scriptwriting and additional crew responsibilities in various productions, enabling him to remain active in British comedy television through the 1990s.[1] This career pivot sustained his professional involvement following the peak of variety double acts.[1]

Acting career

Television roles

Len Lowe made his television debut in 1951 as the straight man to Cheerful Charlie Chester in a BBC series. [1] He later appeared in variety-oriented programmes, including as part of the main cast in the ITV comedy series The Dickie Henderson Half Hour (1958). [1] From the late 1960s onward, Lowe became a familiar character actor in British television, primarily in guest roles across comedy and drama series, often credited as Leonard Lowe. [1] His credits include playing a Porter in one episode of Dixon of Dock Green (1968), the Scrapyard Man in Goodbye, Mr. Kent (1982), and Buddy in Hell's Bells (1986). [1] In the 1990s, he appeared in One Foot in the Grave (1990) as Len, Doctor at the Top (1991) as Mr. Pearson, and Last of the Summer Wine (1993) as the 1st Policeman. [1] Lowe also had two guest roles in Keeping Up Appearances, as the Passenger in 1991 and the pub customer in 1993. [1] [6] Additional guest appearances included The Les Dawson Show (1982), The Kenny Everett Television Show (1986), The Bill (two episodes, 1987–1992), Are You Being Served? Again! (1993) as Mr. Lubitch, and Nelson's Column (1995) as a Pub Customer. [1]

Film appearances

Len Lowe's film appearances were relatively sparse compared to his extensive work in variety and television, consisting primarily of minor or supporting roles across several decades. His screen debut came early in his career with an appearance in the musical She Shall Have Music (1935), where he performed as a member of Jack Hylton's orchestra.[1] After serving in World War II and focusing on stage variety, Lowe returned to film in the postwar period with roles in British second features. He was credited as Len in the musical comedy Date with a Dream (1948) and appeared in Melody Club (1949).[1] In later years, Lowe took on small parts in more prominent productions, including a brief role in Charlie Chaplin's final film A Countess from Hong Kong (1967). He also played the maitre d' in the comedy Carry On Loving (1970).[1][7]

Personal life and death

Family, later years, and passing

Len Lowe was married and had two sons. [5] He was survived by his wife and two sons. [5] He died on 21 August 1999 in London, England, at the age of 83. [1]
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