Dennis Chinnery

Dennis Chinnery
Dennis Chinnery (14 May 1927 – 29 February 2012)

Dennis Chinnery was born in Romford, Essex on 14 May 1927. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, after which he understudied for three years in London's West End, mainly with Paul Schofield in 'Ring Around the Moon' and 'Time Remembered'. From there, he went into weekly repertory at Aldershot, Bexhill, Guildford, Margate, Bromley, Eastbourne, Ipswich, Leatherhead, Leicester, Bristol and Plymouth.

Dennis worked with Sir Donald Wolfit at the King's Theatre, Hammersmith, then joined the Robert Atkins Company in the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, after which he spent two years at the Old Vic Company in Waterloo Road, where he played various Shakespearean roles, including "Macbeth".

It was about this time that he met Hancock and started his run in the 'Hancock's Half Hour' episodes. He went on to appear in 10 of the shows, including that of the air pilot in 'The Alpine Holiday', the 1st officer in 'The Cruise', and the reporter in 'The Bowmans'.

Dennis also appeared in many other television programmes, including 'Coronation Street', 'Doctor Who', 'The Naked Civil Servant', 'The Prisoner', 'Dixon of Dock Green', 'The Avengers', 'The Bill' and many more. From time to time, he returned to the West End of London, appearing in 'The Tinker', 'Everything in the Garden', 'Misalliance', and a year's run in 'The Mousetrap', as Major Metcalfe. He was also leading man for two seasons at the Festival Theatre, Pitlochry, and made many films, including the Hammer horror movie 'Plague of the Zombies', 'The Midas Run' in which he appeared with the Fred Astaire, and 'Bullseye', with Roger Moore and Michael Caine. As well as acting, Dennis was also an accomplished painter.

Dennis died on 29 February 2012.

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