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Arthur Lowe

Highest Rated: 100% Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

Lowest Rated: 33% The Lady Vanishes (1979)

Birthday: Sep 22, 1915

Birthplace: Hayfield, Derbyshire, England, UK

Best known as Captain George Mainwaring from the British sitcom "Dad's Army," Arthur Lowe was born into humble beginnings. Lowe planned to join the Merchant Navy but was rebuffed for his poor eyesight. He joined the British Army on the eve of World War II, and performed in shows for the troops. After the war ended, Sergeant Major Lowe left the military to pursue his newfound love of acting. He joined a repertory theatre and built his stage reputation, ultimately reaching the West End. He began earning small roles in film in 1948 and on television by 1954. By the '60s, he'd become a series regular on "Coronation Street" as preacher Leonard Swindley. The popular character resulted in two spin-offs, "Pardon the Expression" and "Turn Out the Lights." After seven years, Lowe grew tired of playing Swindley, and returned to theatre when Sir Laurence Olivier invited him to perform at the Old Vic. He was also cast in "Dad's Army" as Captain Mainwaring. Like Swindley, the character caught on, and Lowe reprised the role on radio and film. After earning over 100 film and television credits, Lowe's career came to an abrupt end. Lowe suffered a stroke in his dressing room at the Alexandra Theatre. He was preparing to perform "Home at Seven," in which his wife Joan Cooper also starred. He died at the hospital shortly thereafter.

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Highest rated movies

100% 93% Kind Hearts and Coronets
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90% 87% If...
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88% 81% Theater of Blood
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83% 85% The Ruling Class
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81% 87% O Lucky Man!
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33% 43% The Lady Vanishes
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Stranger in Town
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41% No Sex Please, We're British
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The Spider and the Fly
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The Great Inimitable Mr Dickens
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
33% 43% The Lady Vanishes Charters (Character) - 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet Daphne Laureola Unknown (Character) - 1978
No Score Yet 41% No Sex Please, We're British Mr. Bromley (Character) - 1973
No Score Yet 17% Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall Major Drysdale (Character) - 1973
88% 81% Theater of Blood Horace Sprout (Character) - 1973
81% 87% O Lucky Man! Mr. Duff/Charlie Johnson/Dr. Munda (Character) - 1973
83% 85% The Ruling Class Daniel Tucker (Character) - 1972
No Score Yet 41% Dad's Army Captain Mainwaring (Character) - 1971
No Score Yet 65% The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer Ferret (Character) - 1970
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Great Inimitable Mr Dickens John Dickens (Character) - 1970
90% 87% If... Mr. Kemp (Character) - 1968
No Score Yet 62% The White Bus The Mayor (Character) - 1967
No Score Yet No Score Yet Black Tide Garage Owner (Character) - 1957
No Score Yet 81% The Green Man Radio Salesman (Character) - 1957
No Score Yet No Score Yet Breakaway Mitchell (Character) - 1956
No Score Yet No Score Yet Stranger in Town Jeweller (Character) - 1956
100% 93% Kind Hearts and Coronets The Titbits Reporter (Character) $35.9K 1949
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Spider and the Fly Town Clerk (Character) - 1949

TV

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Bless Me, Father Unknown (Character) 1978-1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dad's Army Capt. George Mainwaring (Character) 1968-1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet David Copperfield Mr Micawber (Character) 1974-1975
No Score Yet 88% The Avengers Unknown (Guest Star) 1967