THE veteran comedian Cardew Robinson died yesterday in hospital, his
close friend Claire Gordon said. He was 75.
He was admitted to Queen Mary's Hospital in Roehampton, London,
earlier this month suffering from a bowel infection.
He was best known for his comic character Cardew ''the cad'' -- a tall
overgrown schoolboy.
On stage he used to wear short trousers, cap, and scarf, and recount
his school pranks.
Mr Robinson's break into showbusiness came in the 30s when he joined a
novelty act called Joe Boganni and His Crazy College Boys, appearing at
the Lyric, Hammersmith.
Bill Pertwee, actor and friend, recalled Mr Robinson telling him that
after one poor week at a theatre in Swansea, he and the team had made no
money and had to do a midnight flit to avoid paying the landlady.
Mr Pertwee said: ''He said: 'I'd only been in showbusiness a fortnight
and already I was a crook'.''
One of his last public appearances was in October for a show at the
Imperial War Museum to mark the publication of Stars In Battledress, a
book about services entertainment during the war to which he
contributed.
The show was recorded and will be broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on
Wednesday.
After the Second World War Mr Robinson came to fame through many radio
programmes, the popular Workers' Playtime, and Midday Music Hall.
Mr Robinson made appearances in a number of films, including Sink the
Bismark, Reach for the Sky, and Alfie.
His last film appearance was a cameo role in the box office hit
Shirley Valentine, which was watched by millions on Christmas Day.
He separated from his first wife, Eileen, in the mid-70s but remained
on good terms after she moved to the United States with their two
children, Lindy and Leanne.
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