James Beck

Description

James Beck (21 February 1929 &ndash; 6 August 1973) was an English actor best remembered for his role as Private Joe Walker, the cockney spiv in the popular BBC sitcom Dad's Army which ran from 1968 to 1977. In a cast comprising mainly older actors, Beck was one of two younger members. He was the first of the cast to die, aged 44, as a result of pancreatitis. <p>Beck was born in Islington, North London and attended Popham Road Primary School. His childhood was tough, with his father frequently unemployed and his mother making artificial flowers to provide a small income. <p>After a stint at art college and a period of National Service in the army, Beck took up acting. Early acting roles included Shylock in The Merchant of Venice in 1963, for which he earned positive reviews. Moving to London, he decided to concentrate on television, and one role was as a policeman in an episode of Coronation Street involving a train crash. He also appeared in an uncredited role as a policeman in Gideon...