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Dad’s Army star Ian Lavender, best known for playing the role of Private Pike, has died at the age of 77.
He was the last surviving main cast member of the hit TV series – following the death of Frank Williams in 2022.
The actir died on Friday. Dad’s Army‘s official social media account released the news of his death at noon, paying tribute in a post that said: “We are deeply saddened to hear the passing of the wonderful, Ian Lavender.
“His wonderful performance as Private Frank Pike will live on for decades to come. He leaves behind a legacy of laughter enjoyed by millions.”
Who was Ian Lavender?
Lavender was born in Birmingham and grew up in the Midlands but studied acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, with the assistance of a grant from the City of Birmingham.
Following his graduation in 1967, he appeared on stage in Canterbury until his big break in Dad’s Army where he was cast as Private Pike – a foolish yet lovable young private in the Home Guard. He provided comedic relief for the best part of a decade to an audience of around 18 million.
The show made him a household name across the UK.
What other TV series did Ian Lavender star in?
Away from Dad’s Army, he acted in other TV comedies such as Yes Minister, and appeared on stage, including in The Merchant of Venice. He also had a stint on EastEnders as Derek Harkinson in 2016.
Despite the intermittent success he garnered from these roles, Lavender believed his role as Pike may have stopped him from getting bigger roles, a fate many other actors have experienced when cast in hit TV series.
Speaking to the Guardian in 2014, he said: “I was close to getting two very big movies in the 70s, but in the end, they said, ‘We can’t get past Private Pike.’”
“Pike is why I was in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in rep at Worcester, rather than in the West End.”
Was Ian Lavender married and did he have children?
Lavender was first married to fellow actor Suzanne Kerchiss and the pair has two sons, Dan and Sam.
The pair split up and Lavender then married his second wife, American-born Miki Hardy, six days after he was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 1993.
Lavender said at the time: “We had been living together for 16 years and it was something I should have done a long time before, these things change you, they help you to see what is important in life.”
Outside of acting, he was an avid fan of Aston Villa and chose a claret and blue scarf as part of Pike’s wardrobe.
Who else starred in Dad’s Army?
Written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, the show was originally planned to run for eight weeks. It became a household name and is still broadcast around the world.
Arthur Lowe played Captain Mainwaring, known for his catchphrase aimed at Pike, often calling the private a “stupid boy.”
Other notable characters in the series were Arnold Ridley as Private Godfrey and John Le Mesurier as Sergeant Wilson.
The series has had a long-lasting impact on British popular culture and its famous phrases like “Don’t panic” and “Put that light out” are known across generations.
