Comic actor who played Private Sponge in ‘Dad’s Army’
Colin Bean, who died on 20 June, 2009, aged 82, was a British actor best known for his supporting role in the classic sit-com Dad’s Army.
His character, Private Sponge, was most often seen in the background during meetings of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard, but he appeared in 37 episodes during the show’s run from 1968 to 1977 and the Dad’s Army film of 1971.
As the show progressed, Private Sponge became more prominent, was given more lines and was central to a handful of plots that involved his peacetime role as a sheep farmer.
Mr Bean was also a seasoned pantomime dame and appeared on stage in a variety of parts with the Watford Rep where he first met Dad’s Army co-creator Jimmy Perry.
His other television roles included Z Cars (1963), Up Pompeii (1970), Are You Being Served? (1973) and Hi-De-Hi! (1988).
Arthritis in later life hampered his television work, but he continued to work on the radio.
He was also a frequent guest at Dad’s Army conventions and reunions.
He retired to Wickham Hall Care Home in Springfield, near his hometown of Wigan, where he was known for being an entertaining raconteur. He also published an autobiography called Who Do You Think You Are Kidding (1998) which went to three editions.
