Laurie Webb

Webb was born in Newport, Monmouthshire on 6 May 1924. During the Second World War, he served in the British Army as a sergeant major with the Royal Corps of Signals. He took part in the Normandy landings in 1944 and subsequently was stationed in France and Germany during the conflict. He was later sent to the far east and was discharged on 24 August 1947. He was awarded medals on 7 July 1950.^[2]

Webb was an accomplished singer and dancer and had a very successful career in the theatre, getting his first role in 1932 at just eight years old, touring for two weeks in a farce called Lend Me Your Wife. Within 10 days of his discharge from the Army he was back on stage, starting a three-year theatre tour with The Dancing Years. The rest of his career saw Webb moving from one show to another, and in between productions taking TV roles that came up. He had sizeable stage parts with billing in London’s West End and played Grumio in Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew at Chichester. Webb joined the cast of Guys and Dolls when it started in 1953 at the Coliseum in London’s West End. Sidney James joined the show near the end of its run and they both joined the tour which opened at The Golders Green Hippodrome in November 1955. Webb and James became friends, socialising and playing golf together. They later appeared on television together in Hancock’s Half Hour and Citizen James. Webb appeared in stage musicals up to 1984. When he retired he became bored and passed The Knowledge in just 20 months to become a London black cab driver. ^[3]

Webb was a regular cast member of the TV comedy series Hancock's Half Hour, and featured in numerous guest roles on television series including King of the River, The Troubleshooters, Paul Temple and science fiction series Doomwatch.^[1]

Webb played Mr. Arthur Ollis in the 10th anniversary serial The Three Doctors (1972–1973).^[4] He became the oldest living person associated with the show following Arnold Yarrow's death on 9 December 2024.^[5]

On 31 May 2025, he attended a signing event in Chiswick with fellow Doctor Who actor Katy Manning.^[6]

Webb, an avid golfer, celebrated his centenary by playing nine holes of golf at Pyrford Lakes Golf Club as a fundraiser for Alzheimer's Society.^[7]

Webb died on 29 March 2026, at the age of 101.^[1]

• List of centenarians (actors, filmmakers and entertainers)