Dad’s Army and EastEnders star Ian Lavender has died at the age of 77, it was announced today.
The news was broke by Dad’s Army’s official social media account at noon as they paid tribute to the last of the sitcom’s cast members.
The post read: ‘We are deeply saddened to hear the passing of the wonderful, Ian Lavender.
‘In what truly marks the end of an era, Ian was the last surviving member of the Dad’s Army main cast.’
Lavender, best known as the young Private Pike, was cast in the classic comedy series at the age of 22 in 1968.
Dad’s Army and EastEnders star Ian Lavender has died at the age of 77
Ian was cast as Private Pike, the only youthful member of the reserve force, who was often chided for his simplicity
Lavender, second from left, was a comedic stooge – frequently berated as ‘stupid boy’ by the troupe’s Captain Mainwairing, played by Arthur Lowe (centre)
Lavender, who was born in Birmingham in 1946, was twice married. His first wife was actress Suzanne Kerchiss in a union that lasted from 1967 to 1976.
From then on, he lived happily with American-born Miki Hardy. The couple married after 16 years together in 1993, following Lavender’s diagnosis with bladder cancer, which was successfully treated. He had two children.
Outside of acting, he was a keen supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and chose a claret and blue scarf as part of Pike’s wardrobe.
Lavender had only recently graduated from drama school and had just one previous TV appearance to his name when he was cast in Dad’s Army, in stark contrast to the rest of the cast – who were comic veterans.
The acting gig was only expected to last for eight weeks – but the show’s phenomenal success meant it lasted for the best part of a decade.
As Pike, Lavender was a comedic stooge in the series, frequently berated as a ‘stupid boy’ by the troupe’s Captain Mainwairing, played by Arthur Lowe, although the other members of the reserve army behaved more warmly to him.
The comedy actor became a household name, and starred in the series from 1968 to 1977
Lavender was key to one of Dad’s Army’s funniest moments where he had performed a song that called Hitler a ‘twerp’ in front of German forces.
The Nazi captain says his name will also go on a list of people he will take revenge on.
Asked what it is, Captain Mainwaring urges ‘Don’t tell him, Pike’, accidentally revealing his name.
After years of guest-starring roles on television, he returned to popular attention again as Derek Harkinson in Eastenders from 2001 to 2005. Initially the boyfriend of Christian (John Partridge), Derek became firm friends with the show’s matriarch Pauline Fowler (Wendy Craig).
He returned to Eastenders again from 2017 to 2019, starring in 240 episodes overall.
