Trivia

Had half of his finger chopped off by a tank door.

Was an Associate Member of RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts).

Was Chairman of The Lord's Taverners (1970-1971).

He was educated at Scarborough College and Bromsgrove School.

He got the leading role in the television series the World of Wooster after Terry-Thomas turned it down.

His first break came in 1951 with 'The Lyric Revue' in the West End and over night he was claimed to be an outstanding comedian. This was followed by 'he Globe Revue' and 'High Spirits' and the film 'Simon and Laura'. Later he was in 2 big West End hits 'Tunnel of Love' and 'The Gazebo'.

His parents ran a jewelry and fine goods shop.

He made his film debut in 1948 in 'Bond Street.

His favourite stage part was as Augie Poole in the west End production of 'Tunnel of Love' while his favourite film roles were Stanley Windrush in I'm Alright Jack' and 'Roger Thursby in 'Brothers in Law'.

He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to drama.

After RADA he toured in rep for a year before joining the army at the outbreak of war and gaining a commission as a major but in films and plays he always played a lower rank.. He maintained involvement with the stage during the war by producing a popular revue before going overseas and applied for transfer to the entertainment side of the army and was auditioned by a colleague he'd known at RADA. On being demobbed the auditioning officer became his agent.

He formed a dance band at 16.

For 3 years -1955 to 1957 he was 2nd in the top box office names in the country.

Even as a schoolboy he had a talent for making people laugh and enjoyed it so set about learning his craft which he did though an old comic called Leo Franklyn, the father of actor William Franklyn, who during a 30 week tour of the operetta The Lilac Domino, after Ian came out of the army, put him through a through apprenticeship. He believes his image of 'the innocent abroad that he portrayed in such as Privates Progress, Brothers in Law and Lucky Jim grew naturally out of his boarding school background, the drawing room comedies of pre - war theatre and the firm emphasis at drama school on perfectly enunciated Kings English.He had a natural bent for comedy but the one form he could.t stand was farce. He was married to Pym, who he met in Yorkshire during the war and lived in the Mill Hill area of London for some years before returning to their native Yorkshire near the River Esk and the sea in 1974.

His stage debut was as a robot in RUR at the Peoples Palace in London's Mile End in 1939.

Joined RADA in 1949.

In 1955 he was awarded a Variety Club Heart for 'The Actor Who Made Most Progress.

He was 17 when he formed a dance band in which he played drums.

While filming 'Double Bunk' he had to keep three wives happy - Janette Scott. his wife in the film. Moira Lister, his wife in the play 'The Gazebo which he was performing in on an evening and his real wife at home.

He was educated at a minor public school then went to RADA.