John Clive (6 January 1933 – 14 October 2012) was an English actor and author, known internationally for his historical and social fiction, such as KG200 and Barossa.

Clive was also an established British television and film actor. Beginning his career at the age of fourteen touring in rep, he went on to star on the West End stage, in plays such as Absurd Person Singular, The Wizard of Oz, Under Milk Wood, The Bandwagon at the Mermaid Theatre, The Winslow Boy, Young Woodley and Life with Father.

As a character actor he appeared in comic and straight acting roles in films, such as The Italian Job, Yellow Submarine, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, A Clockwork Orange and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. He was a member of the Carry On Team appearing in two of the Carry on series of comedy films; Carry On Abroad, and Carry On Dick Clive was initiated into the Grand Order of Water Rats in 1988.

Career Born Clive John Frederick Hambley on 6 January 1933 in London. He was still a child when his family moved to Liverpool, and in 1939 he was evacuated to North Wales.

Clive left school when he was 14 years old, and began working as a page at the New Shakespeare Theatre. He soon auditioned for plays and musicals, and was cast in singing roles in children's musicals and as an assistant to comedians in sketches. His first starring role was the lead in The Winslow Boy in 1938. He developed a keen interest in motion pictures as a teenager, especially for the films of Errol Flynn.

He spent his national service in the Royal Air Force, and then returned to acting. He toured the West Country in repertory theatre in plays such as Lady Windermere's Fan, Life With Father, and Young Woodley.

Clive soon moved to London, where he performed in revues at The Poor Millionaire club and the Buxton Club. He continued to find work on the stage, appearing in West End productions of Absurd Person Singular, Under Milk Wood, The Winslow Boy, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He worked as a stand-up comedian and bingo caller between jobs.

Acting For his first film role, in Ealing Studios comedy The Magnet, he was credited as Clive Kendall, but he soon adopted the stage name John Clive. In the Beatles' animated film Yellow Submarine he provided the voice of John Lennon. His television appearances also included Robert's Robots, Rising Damp, The Dick Emery Show, The Perils of Pendragon, The Sweeney, Great Expectations and The History of Mr Polly.

He made his television debut in the seventh Wednesday Play Wear a Very Big Hat, broadcast by BBC 1 in 1964. Clive also featured in Lady Windermere's Fan, One Way Out and The Ten Percenters. He featured in a 1970s advert for Jacob's Coconut Cream Biscuits.

Author In 1977, he co-wrote the historical novel KG 200 with J.D. Gilman, a story about a secret Luftwaffe unit during the Second World War. This book was an international best-seller. The Last Liberator, followed in 1980 and was well received by literary critics. Barossa also achieved critical acclaim. Broken Wings was published in 1983 and matched the international success of KG 200. Other fictional titles written by Clive followed including Ark co-written with Nicholas Headin, in 1986 which also received good reviews and The Lions' Cage which was published in 1988.

Death John Clive died after a short illness on 14 October 2012 in England aged 79. In 2021, his daughter appeared on the BBC TV show The Repair Shop, to which she brought a model of the yellow submarine by Corgi Toys. This had been given to her father at the premiere of the film in which he voiced John Lennon. Steve Fletcher on The Repair Shop restored the model.

Bibliography Clive, John and Gilman J. D. KG 200: The Force with no Face. Simon and Schuster (1977). Clive, John. The Last Liberator. Hamlyn (1980). Clive, John. Barossa. Delacorte Press (1981). Clive, John. Broken Wings. Granada (1983). Clive, John and Head, Nicholas. Ark. Penguin (1986). Clive, John. The Lions Cage. Penguin (1988). Clive, John. De leeuwekooi . Facet (1987). Translation to Dutch

Filmography

Feature films Credits include:

The Magnet (1950) - The people of Merseyside Smashing Time (1967) - Sweeney Todd manager The Mini-Affair (1968) - Joe Yellow Submarine (1968) - John Lennon (voice) The Italian Job (1969) - Garage Manager A Nice Girl Like Me (1969) - Supermarket Shopper Carry On Henry (1971) - Court Dandy (scenes deleted) A Clockwork Orange (1971) - Stage Actor Four Dimensions of Greta (1972) - Phil the Greek Straight on Till Morning (1972) - Newsagent Go for a Take (1972) - Hotel Waiter Carry On Abroad (1972) - Robin Tiffany Jones (1973) - Stefan Carry On Dick (1974) - Isaac the Tailor Great Expectations (1974) - Mr. Wopsle Never Too Young to Rock (1976) - Bandsman No Longer Alone (1976) - Basil Queen Kong (1976) - Comedian The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) - Chuck Hardcore (1977) - Willi Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers (1977) - Man in wheelchair Rosie Dixon - Night Nurse (1978) - Grieves Let's Get Laid (1978) - Piers Horrabin Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) - President's Aide RPM (1998) - Bentley Man (final film role)

Television Credits include:

The Wednesday Play (1965) - Billy Moffatt Watch the Birdies (1966) - Lenny Z-Cars (1967) - Fred "Who Said Anything About the Law?: Part 2 "Who Said Anything About the Law?: Part 1 The Saint (1967) - Garton The Informer (1967) - News photographer Man in a Suitcase (1967) - Clerk The Gnomes of Dulwich (1969) - Old "Episode No.1.5" "Episode No.1.4" "Episode No.1.3" "Episode No.1.2" "Episode No.1.1" Here Come the Double Deckers (1971) Father, Dear Father (1971) - Auctioneer The Man Outside (1972) - Rosko The World of Cilla (1973) Great Expectations (1974) - Mr. Wopsle Robert's Robots (1973-1974) - Robert Sommerby / Robert Robot The Perils of Pendragon (1974) - Rosko The Sweeney (1975) - John Frewin How Green Was My Valley (1975-1976) - Cyfartha "Episode No.1.6" "Episode No.1.5" "Episode No.1.4" "Episode No.1.3" "Episode No.1.2" The Galton and Simpson Playhouse (1977) - Man in Phonebox "Naught for Thy Comfort" Rising Damp - (1977-1978) - Series 3.4 Good Samaritans - Mr. Grey Odd Man Out (1977) - TV Reporter The Chiffy Kids (1978) - Mr. Melrose Rings on Their Fingers (1978) - The Salesman "Party Mood" Leave it to Charlie (1979) - Andy Kirk "Money, Money, Money" The History of Mr. Polly (1980) - Hinks "Episode No.1.4" "Episode No.1.3" "Episode No.1.2" The Nesbitts Are Coming (1980) - PC Emlyn Harris "Moving Day" "Look on the Black Side" "Race Day" "The Big Job" "It's All a Game" A Dream of Alice (1982) Theatre Night (1985) - Mr. Dumby Lady Windermere's Fan Screen One''' (1989) - Prudoe "One Way Out"T-Bag's Christmas Carol (1989) - Giles PickensThe 10 Percenters (1996) - Terry "Surprise"

Other credits

Documentaries Source: Hamlet: The Video (1992) The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades (2007)

Appearances in deleted scenes Source:Carry On Henry / US: Carry on Henry VIII'' (1971) "Plotter"

Notes

External links