Biography

Few British comedians were as successful in the 1950s and early 60s as Dave King. A hit recording singer, he was one of the few British comics to top the bill at the London Palladium as well as having top rating TV shows in both Britain and America. Although his success was relatively short as a comedian, he later became a respected TV and film actor.

After doing National Service in the RAF, King joined "Morton Fraser and his Harmonica Gang", an eccentric variety act based on America's Borrah Minevitch and His Harmonica Rascals.

By the mid-50s, King had turned solo and, with his laid-back style and Perry Como-like singing voice, he began making appearances on TV variety shows. In 1955, he was given his own show by the BBC. An innovative comedian with brilliant timing, his show was scripted by top writers and was considered groundbreaking in its day.

He recording hits included "Memories Are Made of This" (1956) and he followed this with numerous cover versions of Dean Martin and Perry Como songs.

In 1958, he was poached from the BBC by ITV who gave him his own show and, a year later, he hosted the famous Kraft Music Hall Show in America, replacing Milton Berle. In 1961, he appeared on The Bing Crosby Show (1961) in Britain and, a year later, made a cameo appearance as himself in the film, The Road to Hong Kong (1962).

King's fame in America was short-lived and, by the late 60s, he returned to Britain where he began an acting career. Throughout the 1970s, he gave a series of highly-polished and gritty performances in several TV dramas, where he was usually cast as a villain. In 1978, he was cast against type in Dennis Potter's Pennies from Heaven (1978).
- IMDb mini biography by: Patrick Newley

Prior to becoming an entertainer, he went through various jobs, such as plumber, electrician's mate, and butcher's shop assistant. After doing his national service in the RAF, he joined the unit's repertory company, appearing in plays. In the late 50's and early 60's Dave King was one of the country's top comedians with his own TV show at the top of the ratings. He had hit records and became the first British performer to have his own TV show in America. However, in the mid 60's, everything went sour. He said he just didn't enjoy things any more. He would dread going on stage to the extent that it was making him miserable ,so he dropped out of the business altogether. He and his wife Joan bought a kennel in Gloucestershire and bred West Highland White Terriers and Cavalier and King Charles Spaniels. In 1973, he was asked to do Born Yesterday at Greenwich for six weeks. He reluctantly said yes and from his first reading of the script he felt as if he'd been reborn. His kennels later sold but he continued to breed West Highlands as a hobby.
- IMDb mini biography by: Tonyman 5