Ken Morley

Kenneth William Morley was born on 17 January 1943 at Chorley Hospital in Chorley, Lancashire, the only child born to engineer father Frank Morley and his mother Phyllis Morley (née Owen).[1][2] He was educated at St. Peter's Church of England School and Elementary School until the age of twelve and then he attended Ashworth College until he was fifteen. Morley left school with no qualifications.[3] Morley trained as an apprentice mechanic and in September 1963 he enrolled at Alston Hall College where he gained six O-levels and two A-levels.[4] In 1966, he moved to London to become a primary school teacher in Holloway Road, before moving back to Lancashire to become a supply teacher, mainly in History and English.[5] Later in his teaching career, Ken was a teacher at Smithills High School in Bolton, Craigmount School in Edinburgh and Archbishop Tenison's School in London.[6]

Morley made his acting debut in the 1966 film Alfie in an uncredited role, and subsequently the sequel Alfie Darling in 1975.[7] He appeared in an episode of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin as well as playing various characters in The Punch Review in 1977, later appearing in an episode of A Soft Touch in 1978, before making frequent appearances in British television series throughout the 1980's.[8] His first major television role was playing General Leopold von Flockenstuffen in the BBC war sitcom 'Allo 'Allo! starring in the show from 1988 to 1991.[9] In 1988, Morley appeared as a twitcher in the Christmas special on the TV comedy series Watching.[7] In 1989, he joined the cast of the ITV soap opera Coronation Street, playing supermarket Bettabuys manager Reg Holdsworth. The character became a household name for his eccentric personality and spectacle glasses. Morley left the show in 1995, to pursue other acting roles and projects.[10] In 1997, he appeared as a Librarian in the children's television show Woof! and guest starred as Nazi Captain Voorhese in the sitcom Red Dwarf.[11] In 1998, he appeared in an episode of the television show The Grand as Harry Frindel.[7] In 1999, Morley returned to Coronation Street in the spin-off show Coronation Street: After Hours alongside former Coronation Street actress Julie Goodyear.[12] He has also appeared in Emmerdale spin-off show Emmerdale: Don't Look Now! - The Dingles in Venice playing Reg Holdsworth.[13]

In 2003 to 2004, Morley starred in the sitcom Hardware as Rex alongside Martin Freeman.[14] In 2005, he was a contestant in the ITV television show Celebrity Fit Club, where he lost over two stone (28 lb; 13 kg).[15] Morley also appeared in adverts for Safestyle UK double glazing windows, featuring as a character similar to Reg Holdsworth.[16]

Morley appeared in several pantomimes including Jack and the Beanstalk, Aladdin, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty[17] In 2010, Morley returned to Coronation Street in the 50th Anniversary Special Coronation Street: A Knights Tale alongside former Coronation Street actor Kevin Kennedy who played Curly Watts.[18] In 2011, he appeared in an episode of the children's television show Sooty as Hurbert Fanshawe.[8] He also promoted and appeared in the adverts Coronation Street Bingo for Gala Bingo.[19] In 2014, he guest-starred in the ITV sitcom Benidorm as Herbert, and was a contestant in the BBC cookery show Celebrity Masterchef.[20][21]

In January 2015, Morley participated in the fifteenth series of the Channel 5 show Celebrity Big Brother. He entered the house on Day 1, 7 January, as a Housemate and Contestant. On 12 January he was removed from the Big Brother house for using "racist and sexist language". Ofcom had earlier received 233 complaints about his behaviour.[22] His wife defended Morley, explaining: "I think possibly—how should I put it—he's been reading lots of Jacobean and Shakespearean drama. He will have watched Breaking Bad as well. I know my son's got it. He would have got it from there."[23] Morley apologised "unreservedly" for his remarks and for anyone he "disappointed by saying what [he] said".[24]

Morley married secondary school teacher Susan Staples on 27 July 1989 at Woolwich Town Hall.[25] They had a son, Roger, born in 1991.[26]

In 2002, Morley was the victim of a mugging by a group of youths who stole his trademark glasses, which were later recovered.[27] In October 2007, Morley's wife was attacked during an armed raid on their house.[28]

Morley had a fascination with cars from a young age and was an avid car collector, his collection included a 1956 Ford Fairlane, a 1959 pink Cadillac Coupe de Ville and two 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Broughams.[29][30]

• Ken Morley at IMDb