Jack Douglas (actor)
| Jack Douglas | |
|---|---|
| Born |
John Douglas Roberton 26 April 1927 Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom |
| Died | 18 December 2008 (aged 81) Isle of Wight, England, United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1961–92 |
Jack Douglas, born John Douglas Roberton (26 April 1927 – 18 December 2008) was an English actor most famous for his roles in the Carry On films.
Douglas was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, into a theatrical family; his father was a theatre producer and his brother, Bill Roberton, became a theatre director. His mother was so keen that he be a Geordie that, according to Douglas, although they had settled in London,
"she jumped on a train and came to Newcastle. I was born in my grandfather’s house near the Swing Bridge. She did the same with my brother."
He spent his early years on a farm in Meriden. and the family later moved to Blackpool to get away from the bombing in World War II.
Like his father, Jack wanted to work in theatre but his father forbade him, so at age 14, he got his things together and moved out into a place of his own. Going to the local Feldman's Theatre, he asked if they wanted a Line Boy, and they did since so many men had gone off to war. He was hired as an "Opposite Prompt Line Boy" for £1.5s (£1.25p) a week and paid for his "digs" and everything out of that, even saving some money.
His father found out where he was working and asked them to give him all the dirty jobs to try and discourage him but Jack did them all without any complaint, so come his fifteenth birthday, his father gave him a present. A script for a Cinderella pantomime, which he was to direct. Having seen his father direct 3 or 4 pantomimes, Jack knew what to do, and did 22 weeks at the Empire Theatre, Sunderland.
Later at the Kingston Empire, he was to direct a show only to have a lead character taken to hospital with a heart attack on the opening night before the show started. Joe Baker, who was also playing a lead, suggested he take over the role as he was the only other person who knew the lines (as he did all the lines of all the characters, being the director.) He so impressed a top agent in the audience that night that he visited Douglas and Baker afterwards. He was surprised to learn that they had only been a double act for two hours and thirty five minutes and immediately signed them up as such.
Jack Douglas and Joe Baker spent ten years touring the world, playing in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa amongst other places. Coming back to Britain again, they did a season at a Butlin's holiday camp and not liking the food served there, Jack cooked in their chalet (which was forbidden) for both of them and another. One evening there was a knock on the door and Billy Butlin was standing there. He noticed the smell and asked if they had enough for four. They did and he ate with them.
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