Claude Dampier (born Claud Conolly Cowan; 23 November 1878 – 1 January 1955) was an English film actor and character comedian in the early 20th century.[2][3]
Life
He was born in Clapham, South London as Claud Conolly Cowan.[4][2][3] After gaining some theatrical experience in Britain during the mid-1890s, he after toured Australia with Edward Branscombe's Dandies troupes between 1910 and 1917. He revisited the country in 1921, touring in revue shows with Hilda Attenboro, and starred in two Australian films.[5][1] He also worked in South Africa.[4]
Following an early marriage to Irene Vere, with whom he had a daughter, he married Australian actress Billie Carlyle (c1901-1991). They met whilst acting in the silent film The Adventures of Algy in 1925,[6] and formed a double act in 1926, with Dampier billed as "The Professional Idiot". He played mostly comic roles as a dim-witted and literal-minded character.[7] According to historian Richard Anthony Baker: "Dampier specialised in 'silly arse' characters. His face was his fortune. Chinless and with protruding teeth, it was easy to believe he was daft."[4] Carlyle appeared as a 'straight-woman' in his act.[8]
On one occasion while performing in New Zealand, Dampier forgot his lines and improvised by pretending to recognise an old friend, Mrs Gibson, in the audience, who then turned out not to be Mrs Gibson at all. References to the imaginary Mrs Gibson became a regular part of his performances thereafter.[3] After Dampier returned to Britain in 1927, he featured on BBC radio,[9] until he was temporarily banned from broadcasts after mentioning that he had "promised to squeeze Mrs Gibson's oranges."[4][7]
He died in 1955 and was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium in north London on 4 January 1955. His ashes lie in section 1-L of the Garden of Remembrance.[11]
Carlyle later wrote a book, Claude Dampier, Mrs. Gibson & Me (1978).[12][13] Dampier's daughter from his first marriage, Dorothy Dampier, became an actress.[14][15]
