My father never knew how many films he'd made. I remember watching a film on TV one Sunday afternoon with him called "The Magnet" and I asked him if he was in it. "Not this one" he replied, only to see him appear cycling over a hill in the opening shot. He was the postman! He entered the Post Office, delivered several lines in a Yorkshire accent, and never appeared again!

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His career started in the Thirties as an MC for various big bands like the Oscar Rabin Band. (His day job was in the bedding department in Whiteley's Department store in Bayswater in London! Then he worked for Alvis cars.) He would tell jokes, do a few impresions, tap dance a bit (he even gave tap lessons in his mother's house in Chiswick, West London. He had his own board. That's all you needed apparently!) and introduce the singers and guest artistes etc. And possibly croon a tune himself. He also entered Talent contests. He told me, if you were any good and went on sixth (out of a showcase of nine people) you'd probably win! There was a cash prize. There was a sort of circuit. You'd see the same people over and over again. I suppose it was a bit like being a stand up comedian going from hall to hall as an 'open spot'.

As his father was in the army, Sam had joined the Territorial Army in the late nineteen thirties, but rarely attended. However, when War was declared, he was naturally one of the first to be called up. After training, he was sent out with the British Expeditionary force to Calais. He was captured. His book "For You The War Is Over" about his five years in a prison camp, is worth reading. He makes light of the immense deprivation and ill-health he suffered.

After the war he carried on 'MCing', but got into his first film "Captive Heart" by answering an ad in the paper for 'advisers' on a film about Prisoners of War. The 20 advisers were used as supporting artistes as well as 'advisers'. I suppose if you've just been a POW you can certainly act like one! (He told me he was only given a part because the Producer fancied his friend. But as usual I suspect my father was being modest). He was also given several lines to say. And thus his life as an actor began!

His numerous TVs(several thousand, I am not exagerrating) include: Dixon of Dock Green (many episodes), Pickwick Papers (as Sam Weller), Shadow Squad, Man in a Suitcase, Sweeney, Saint, Persuaders, Robin Hood (regular), Crossroads (regular), Maigret, Adam Adamant, Cluff, The Protectors, Dangerman, Dad's Army, Z Cars, Softly Softly, Arthur Haynes Show, Dick Emery Show, Eric Sykes, Curry and Chips (series), Fosset Saga,(series) Crane (series-26 eps), Orlando(series (18 eps), Mess Mates (three series), Arthur Askey Show, Benny Hill Show. (Many eps), Rag Trade, Hancock's Half Hour, Follyfoot Farm, Coronation Street, (he was Mike Baldwin's Dad).etc etc etc

The series Orlando was the spin off from Crane, which starred Patrick Allen and Gerald Flood and Laya Raki. Orlando attracted so many viewers for a children's programme that there were moves afoot to change it to a later adult slot. But this never materialised.

Actually this doesn't do him justice at all. There were thousands of tellies. He even introduced the TV programmes after the News at six for a period in the late fifties dressed as different characters. He wrote all his own scripts! He was a character called 'Fred the Burglar' on the box as well, who found it easy breaking and entering and advised people how not to make it easy for him! I remember when I was a kid people stopping him in the street asking for his autograph as Fred. Or shouting out 'It's Fred! Don't burgle me Fred! I remember going to watch Chelsea Football Club with him and him being mobbed! He did a 'Look at Life' film about what not to do on holiday (This was a regular 'add-on' film between features at the cinema). He was in Armchair Theatres, Play for Todays, you name it. His roles for TV were much bigger than his film roles, and I can't help but think that if he he'd been handled better, his career in films would have blossomed. In this day and age, his huge telly career would have made him an enormous celebrity. As it was, he was still very very well known. His films are listed below:

THE FILM APPEARANCES OF SAM KYDD

Captive Heart, The (1946)   Grant, P.O.W. (Top Bunk) They Made Me A Fugitive (1947)   Eddie Fortune Lane (1947)   Draughtsman Trouble in the Air (1948) Song for Tomorrow, A (1948)   Sergeant Colonel Bogey (1947)   Soldier To the Public Danger (1948)   Police Driver Fly Away Peter (1948)   Harry Parker Love in Waiting (1948) Piece of Cake, A (1948) It's Hard to Be Good (1948)   Husband Scott of the Antarctic (1948)   Leading Stoker E. McKenzie R.N. Once A Jolly Swagman (1948)   Captain of Ilford Speedway team Portrait From Life (1948)   Army Truck Driver Badger's Green (1948)   Harry Parker Small Back Room, The (1948)   Crowhurst Forbidden (1948)   Joe Floodtide (1949)   Sam, the Barman Movie Go‑Round (1949)   Repair Man Passport to Pimlico (1949)   Sapper Stop Press Girl (1949)   Booking Officer Saints & Sinners (1949)   Man in Bar Poet's Pub (1949)   George Vengeance is Mine (1949)   Stacey Obsession (1949)   Club Steward Madness of the Heart (1949)   Soldier at Airport Trottie True (1949)   Stage‑Hand Hasty Heart, The (1949)   Machlaclan's Jeep Driver Mr Marionette [Short] (1949)   [UNRELEASED] Cure for Love, The (1949)   Charlie Fox Blue Lamp, The (1949)   Bookmaker's Assistant Grass Drying [Documentary Short] (1949)   “COMMENTATOR” Chance of A Lifetime (1950)   (One of) the Workers Treasure Island (1950)   Cady Seven Days to Noon (1950)   Soldier in House Search No Trace (1950)   Car Mechanic Blackout (1950) Cage of Gold (1950)   'Palette Club' Waiter Magnet, The (1950)   Postman Clouded Yellow, The (1950)   Rescue Radio Operator Second Mate, The (1950)   Wheeler Mr Drake's Duck (1950) Dark Man, The (1950)   Sgt. Major Pool of London (1950)   2nd Engineer Sermon Film: Ashes From The Altar [Short] (1950) Galloping Major, The (1951) Newspaper Vendor Assassin for Hire (1951)   Bert (or Fred!) Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. (1951)    Seaman Garvin Penny Points to Paradise (1951)   Porter/Taxi Driver Hell is Sold Out (1951) Cheer the Brave (1951) High Treason (1951)   Sam (the Printer) Mr Denning Drives North (1951)    One of Crowd by Jeep Watching Plane Secret People, The (1951)   Irish Police Sergeant Hunted (1952)   Potman Sing Along with Me (1952) Judgement Deferred (1952) Brandy for the Parson (1952)   Lorry Driver Angels One Five (1952)   Mess Waiter Curtain Up (1952)   Ambulance Man Derby Day (1952)   Harry Bunn, Bookie Brave Don't Cry, The (1952)   Porter Lost Hours, The (1952)   Fred, 'Bristow & Brown' Mechanic Trent's Last Case (1952)   Insp. Murch Hour of 13, The (1952)   Reporter Voice of Merill, The (1952)   Sgt. Baker Hot Ice (1952) Appointment in London (1952)   A/C Ackroyd Time Bomb (1953)   Train Ticket Clerk Titfield Thunderbolt, The (1953)    Railway Worker At Yard Where Engine Stolen Cruel Sea, The (1953)   Carslake Steel Key, The (1953) Chauffeur Death Goes to School (1953)   Sgt. Harvey Single‑Handed (1953)   Naval Rating  Malta Story (1953)   Soldier Clearing Airfield Master of Ballantrae, The (1953) Saint's Return, The (1953)   Barkley (Joe Podd) Love in Pawn (1953) Runaway Bus, The (1953)   Chief of Security/Security Officer They Who Dare (1953)   Marine Boyd Devil on Horseback (1954)   Darky Rainbow Jacket, The (1954)   Bruce Father Brown (1954)   Scotland Yard Sgt. Embezzler, The (1954)   Railway Inspector End of the Road, The (1954) Final Appointment (1954)   Vickery Radio Cab Murders, The (1954)   Spencer Lilacs in Spring (1954)   Ginger Souls in Conflict (1954) Impulse (1954)   Ticket Inspector Raising A Riot (1955)   Messenger Where There's A Will (1955)   Jeep Driver As Long As They're Happy (1955)   Milkman Passage Home (1955)   Sheltia Constant Husband, The (1955)   Adelphi Barman Dark Avenger, The (1955) Kid for Two Farthings, A (1955) Glass Cage, The (1955)   George Gold Express, The (1955) Lorry Driver Quatermass Experiment, The (1955)   Station Sergeant One Way Out (1955)   Gang Member Storm Over the Nile (1955)   Joe, The Instructor Portrait of Alison (1955)   Bill, Telephone Engineer LadyKillers, The (1955)   2nd Cab Driver** [**As credited on the BFI website, but unable to confirm on screen...] Josephine & Men (1955)   Station Sergeant Cockleshell Heroes (1955)   Lorry Driver You Can't Escape (1955) Homing Chinaman, The [Short*] (1955)   Simons  [*Episode of the TV Series THE VISE shown in cinemas as a Short Supporting Film] Town Like Alice, A (1956)   Bus Driver Soho Incident (1956)   Sam It’s Never Too Late (1956)   Eavesdropper at Tube Station Ramsbottom Rides Again (1956) Long Arm, The (1956)   P.C. in Information Room Reach for the Sky (1956)   Warrant Officer Blake Jacqueline (1956)   Fireman (Foreman?) Baby & the Battleship, The (1956)   Richards (Mess Hand) It's A Wonderful World (1956)    Attendant Home & Away (1956)   Albert West Circus Friends (1956)   George Tiger in the Smoke (1956)   Tom Gripper Hideout, The (1956)   Tim Bowers Boat  People, The [Documentary Short] (1956)   NARRATOR Smallest Show on Earth, The (1957)   [SCENES CUT] Yangste Incident (1957)   A.B. Walker R.N. Carry on Admiral (1957)   Attendant  Scamp, The (1957)   Shopkeeper Just My Luck (1957)   Roberts, Craftsman Dangerous Exile (1957) Barnacle Bill (1957)   Frogman Tale of Two Cities, A (1957)   Joe, Coach Guard Happy is the Bride (1957)   Foreman Safecracker, The (1957)   McCullers Orders to Kill (1958)   Flight Sergeant Flint Dunkirk (1958) Up the Creek (1958)   Bates Law & Disorder (1958)   Shorty I Was Monty's Double (1958)   Go  Between/Soldier Behind Peggy Further Up the Creek (1958)   Bates Life is A Circus (1958)   Removal Man Captain's Table, The (1958)   Sailor (Filling Pool) Too Many Crooks (1958)   Tramp on Bench Make Mine A Million (1958) 2nd Armed Robber 39 Steps, The (1959)   Train Dining Steward Carlton Browne of the F.O. (1959)    Signaller Hound of the Baskervilles, The (1959)    Perkins I'm Alright Jack (1959)   Shop Steward Upstairs & Downstairs (1959)   Chauffeur Libel (1959)   (2nd) Paper Seller Sink the Bismarck! (1959)   Civilian Worker on Prince of Wales Angry Silence, The (1960)   [SCENES CUT] Price of Silence, The (1960)   Slug Follow That Horse! (1960)   Farrell Dead Lucky (1960)   Harry Winston There Was A Crooked Man (1960)   Foreman House in Marsh Road, The (1960)   Morris Lumley Suspect (1960)   Slater Treasure of Monte Cristo, The (1961)   Albert Clue of the Silver Key, The (1961)    Tickler Iron Maiden, The (1962)   Fred Trotter (or Carter!) Doctor in Distress (1963)   [SCENES CUT] Young Detectives, The [8-Part Film Serial] (1963)   Security Van Driver A Bit of Doing [Short] (1963) Smokescreen (1964)   Hotel Waiter Island of Terror (1965)   Constable John Harris Projected Man, The (1966)   Harry Smashing Time (1967)   Diner Gold is Where You Find it [Short] (1968)   Pader Murphy Till Death Do Us Part (1968)   Fred Submarine XI (1968)   [SCENES CUT] Killing of Sister George, The (1968)   Taxi Driver Look At Life: There Ought to Be A Law [Educational Short] (1968) Moon Zero Two (1969)   Len, Barman Too Late the Hero (1969)   Colour Sgt. Magnificent 6 & ½, The - Series 2: Part 1 (only?): ‘Pee Wee Had A Little Ape’ [6-Part Film Serial] (1969) Last Grenade, The (1970) 10 Rillington Place (1970)   Roberts, Furniture Dealer Dad's Army (1970)   Nazi Orderly Quest for Love (1971)   Taxi Driver Magnificent 6 & ½, The - 3rd Series: Pt 5 (only): 'Up the Creek' [6-Part Film Serial](1971)  Up the Chastity Belt (1971)   1st Locksmith Alf Garnett Saga, The (1972) Steptoe & Son Ride Again (1973)   Claude Confessions of A Window Cleaner (1974)   1st Removal Man Firefighters, The (1974)   Fireman Stark Amorous Milkman, The (1974)   Wilf Great Expectations [USA TVM/GB Cinemas] (1975)   Scarred Convict Chiffy Kids, The [6-Part Film Serial] (1977)    Grumpy Gardener  Chimpmates ‑ Series 3 [6-Part Film Serial] (1978) Time in Between [Short] (1979) Yesterday's Hero (1979)   Sam Turner Shillingbury Blowers, The (1979) [UK TVM, shown Cinemas]   Reggie Danger on Dartmoor (1980) High Rise Donkey (1980)   Resident Mirror Crack'd, The (1980)   Prop Man with Fake Blood Eye of the Needle (1981)   Lock Keeper

Researched and compiled by M. A. Murton     AN INCOMPLETE LIST OF SAM KYDD’S TELEVISION APPEARANCES Appearance suggested, but comprehensive cast lists found and Sam not featured: ‘The Saint’ ITV Mid-60s ‘Sweeney’ ITV 1976 Unable to Find Any Information on Any of These: 'Not Many Mansions' ITV 'TV Playhouse: The Road to Anywhere' ITV 'It's a Wonderful World' ITV Years Unknown for These: 'Perry Como Special' ITV 'Crime Prevention Slots' (as "Fred the Burglar") Series known, but exact episode(s)/date(s) unknown: 'The Army Game' ITV (1957-61) ‘The Benny Hill Show’ (many episodes, various roles) [BBC 1955-57 + 1961 + 1964-66 + 1968; ITV 1967, 1969-89] 'Charlie Drake Show' (many episodes, various roles) BBC (1960-62 & 1967-68) 'Bootsy and Snudge' ITV (1960-63) ‘Maigret’ BBC (1960-63) ‘Dangerman ITV (1960-61 or 1964-67) ‘The Arthur Askey Show’ ATV 1961 ‘The Arthur Haynes Show’ATV (1956-66) 'Shadow Squad' ITV (1957-59) ‘The Rag Trade’ (BBC 1961-63 or LWT 1977-78) 'The Dick Emery Show' BBC (1963-81) ‘The Doctors’ 1963 [= BBC series 1969-71???] ‘Cluff’ BBC (1964-65) 'The Harry Worth Show' BBC (1964/5) ‘Adam Adamant Lives’ BBC (1966/7) ‘Play School’ (story reader) BBC (1970s) Chronological Listing of known appearances: ‘Watch with Mother: Toad of Toad Hall’ BBC 1950 ‘Sherlock Holmes: The Empty House’ (as "Unimpressed onlooker") BBC 1951 ‘The Pickwick Papers’ (5-part serial as "Mr Sam Weller") BBC 1952 ‘Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School: Bunter's Bycycle’ (as "Postman") BBC 1952 ‘Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School: The Report’ (as "Nosey Jenkins") BBC 1952 ‘The Wonderful Visit’ (as "Tramp") BBC 1952 ‘Goonreel’ (various roles) BBC 1952 'Pickwick Papers' (as "Sam Weller") BBC 1953 ‘Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Presents: Second Wind’ (as "Albert") ITV 1954 ‘Caste’(as "Sam Gerridge") BBC 1954 ‘Pantomania’ (as "King Rat") ITV 1955 ‘London Playhouse: The General's Mess’ (as "Charlie Freezeman") ITV 1955 ‘Theatre Royal: Bardell V. Pickwick’ (as "Sam Weller") ATV 1955 ‘As I Was Saying: An Eye for Detail’ BBC 1955 ‘The Vise: The Very Silent Traveller’ (as "Olsen") ITV 1955 ‘The Vise: The Homing Chinaman’ (as "Simons") ITV 1955 ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: episode 2 Mr Utterson's Encounter’ (as "child’s father") BBC 1956 ‘David Copperfield’ (episode two as "A Friendly Waiter") ITV 1956 ‘The Tony Hancock Show’ "[25/05/56] BBC 1956 ‘Before Your Very Eyes’ [24/02/56] ITV 1956 ‘Tales From Soho: The Protectors’ (as "Lefty") BBC 1956 ‘London Playhouse: The Guv'nor’ (as "Charlie") ITV 1956 ‘Captain Carvallo’ (as "Private Gross") ITV 1956 'Dixon of Dock Green: The December Boy’ (as "Mr Jenner") BBC 1957 ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood: The Shell Game’ (as "Pick") ABC 1957 ‘The Gay Cavalier: Little Cavalier’ (as "Peg-Leg") ITV 1957 ‘The Gay Cavalier: The Lost is Found’ (as "Biggleswaite") ITV 1957 ‘The Tony Hancock Show’ [11/01/57] BBC 1957 ‘Big Guns: A Family Matter’ (as "Raikes") BBC 1958 'Dixon of Dock Green: The Case of Mrs. X’ (as "Harry Baker") BBC 1958 ‘The Highwayman’ (as "Jerry Bridger") 1958 ‘Frankly Howerd’ BBC 1959 'A Mask for Alexis' (as "Cycle Dealer") BBC 1959 ‘Television Playhouse: The Advocate’ (as "Kovacs") ITV 1959 ‘Antigone’ (as "First guard") BBC 1959 ‘Sunday-night Theatre: Millionairess’ (as "The Man") BBC 1959 ‘Samson and Delilah’ (as "The Sergeant") BBC 1959 ‘Sunday-night Theatre: The Skin Game’ (as "Dawker") BBC 1959 'Hancock's Half Hour: The Big Night’ (as "1st Launderette Customer") BBC 1959 ‘Sunday Night Theatre: All You Young Lovers' BBC 1959 'The Queen's Corporal' Granada 1959 'The Men From Room Thirteen: The Man Who Made Keys" (Parts 1 & 2 as "Cracker") BBC 1959 ‘Mess Mates’ (three series as "Croaker Jones") ITV 1960-62 ‘Arthur's Treasured Volumes: A Blow in Anger’ (as "Fred") ATV 1960 'Upgreen and At ‘Em' BBC 1960 ‘The Trouble with Harry’ (Worth) BBC 1960 ‘Time Remembered’ BBC 1961 ‘Kraft Mystery Theatre: The Hideout’ 1961 'On the Boundary' BBC 1961 'They Met in a City: The Spanish Waiter' (as "Eddie") BBC 1961 ‘Jango: A Great Day For Jango’ (as "Alf") ITV 1961 ‘The Pursuers: The Inside Job’ (as "Frank") ATV 1961 ‘Playhouse: The Pinkness of it All' ITV 1962 ‘Crane’ (series, 26 episodes as "Orlando O’Connor") ITV 1963-65 ‘Espionage: The Dragon Slayer’(as "Cruthchley") ATV 1963 ‘Swallows and Amazons: episode 3 The Serpent’ (as "Young Billie") BBC 1963 ‘Crossroads’ (regular, as "Mr Walton") ITV 1964-68 ‘Detective: The Quick One’ (as "Wills") BBC 1964 ‘Play of the Week: Deep and Crisp and Stolen’ ITV 1964 'Dixon of Dock Green: The Fire Raiser’(as "Harry Pegg") BBC 1964 'Dixon of Dock Green: The Witness’(as "Harry Pegg") BBC 1964 'Dixon of Dock Green: Mr. Farthing Takes a Walk’(as "Monty Stone") BBC 1964 ‘Out of The Unknown: The Midas Plague’(as "Fred") BBC 1965 ‘Orlando’ (series, 18 episodes as "Orlando O’Connor") ITV 1965-68 'Take a Pair of Private Eyes' (6-part serial as "Hector Frayne") BBC 1966 ‘Comedy Playhouse: Heirs on a Shoestring’(as "Alfred") BBC 1967 ‘Softly Softly: Pieces of Silver’(as "Jack Luff") BBC 1967 ‘Man in a Suitcase: Why They Killed Nolan’(as "Nolan") ITV 1968 ‘Never A Cross Word’(as "Garage Mechanic") LWT 1968 'Dixon of Dock Green: Ania’(as "Wally Green") BBC 1968 'Dixon of Dock Green: The Trojan Horse'(as "Price") BBC 1968 'Dixon of Dock Green: The Set-Up'(as "Cully") BBC 1969 ‘Z Cars: Give A Dog A Bad Name’ (Parts 1&2) (as "Jimmy Dugdale") BBC 1969 ‘Z Cars: Public Relations’(as "Charlie Steele") BBC 1969 ‘Curry and Chips’ (series, as "Smellie") ITV 1969 ‘The Fosset Saga’ (series, as "Herbert Quince") ITV 1969 ‘Comedy Playhouse: The Making of Peregrine’(as "Rory") BBC 1969 ‘Thirty Minute Theatre: The Tide Watchers’ BBC 1970 'Dixon of Dock Green: The Lag’s Bride'(as "Arthur Simpson") BBC 1970 ‘The Troubleshooters: A Truly Exotic Development’(as "George Bartlett") BBC 1970 ‘The Mating Machine: Ada’s Last Chance’(as "Lomax") LWT 1970 ‘Here Come The Double Deckers: Invaders From Space’ BBC 1970 ‘Thirty Minute Theatre: The Moonlighters’ BBC 1971 ‘Tottering Towers’(as "Bertie Bogmoss") ITV 1971 ‘Never Mind The Quality, Feel The Width: There is No Smoke Without Fire’(as "Jacko") ITV 1971 ‘Armchair Theatre: Ireland, Mother Ireland’ (as "Conor Ingram") ITV 1971 'Follyfoot: Shadow'(as "Bookmaker") ITV 1971 ‘Z Cars: Winner Takes All’(as "Taffy Evans") BBC 1972 'Sykes: Mouse' (as "Fire Chief") BBC 1972 'Dixon of Dock Green: First Offenders' (as "Knocker White") BBC 1972 ‘Thirty Minutes Worth’ [07/11/72] Thames 1972 ‘Play for Today: Carson Country’ (as "Tom Brannigan") BBC 1972 ‘The Persuaders!: Someone Waiting’(as "Dwyer") ITV 1972 ‘Marked Personal’ (as "Tom Barrow") ITV 1973 ‘Sykes: Golf" BBC 1973 ‘Ooh La La!: A-Hunting We Will go’ (as "Bridoir") ITV 1973 ‘New Scotland Yard: Bullet in a Haystack’(as "Sammy Cutler") LWT 1973 ‘This is Your Life’(as himself) ITV 1974 ‘The Dickens of A Christmas’ (as "cabbie") Thames 1974 ‘The Dick Emery Show’ [05/10/74] BBC 1974 ‘Funny Ha-ha: Football Crazy’ (as "Dickie") Thames 1974 'Sykes: The Pub' (as "Harold Wilson") BBC 1974 'Dixon of Dock Green: Looters Ltd'(as "Charlie Barnet") BBC 1975 ‘Centre Play: Kipper’ (as "Kipper") BBC 1977 ‘Mr Big: The Ashes’ (as "Mr Waller") BBC 1977 ‘Dad's Army: Wake Up Walmington’(as "Pub Customer") BBC 1977 ‘Love For Lydia’(series, as "Old Johnson") ITV 1977 ‘Sykes: Decorating’ BBC 1978 ‘Return of The Saint: Tower Bridge is Falling Down’ (as "Charlie Stewart") ITV 1978 ‘Sally Ann: Put Out to Grass’ BBC 1979 ‘Sykes: The Stay-at-home Holiday’ BBC 1979 ‘How’s Your Father: Fantasy Time’(as "old man") ITV 1980 ‘Playhouse: The Schoolmistress’ ITV 1980 ‘Minder: Diamonds Are A Girl’s Worst Enemy’(as "Sid") ITV 1980 ‘Rainbow: Striking: Hickory Dickory Dock’ ITV 1981 ‘Terry & June: The Lawnmower’(as "Louis") BBC 1981 'Coronation Street' (as "Frankie Baldwin," Mike’s father) ITV 1981-82 ‘Nobody's Perfect: Mrs Whicker in Love’ (as "Mr Beasley") LWT 1982