{{Short description|British actor (1878–1955)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Claude Dampier | image = Claude_Dampier.jpg | caption = Signed postcard | birth_name = Claud Conolly Cowan | birth_date = {{birth date|1878|11|23|df=y}} | birth_place = London, England | death_date = {{death date and age|1955|1|1|1878|11|23|df=y}} | death_place = Ashford, Middlesex, England | resting_place = Golders Green Crematorium | other_names = | occupation = Actor, comedian | years_active = | spouse = {{plainlist| * Irene Vere * Billie Carlyle<ref name="Claude Dampier">Clay Djubal. [https://ozvta.com/practitioners-d/ "Claude Dampier"] at ''Australian Variety Theatre Archive''. Retrieved 27 January 2018.</ref> }} | children = 1 | website = | awards = }}
'''Claude Dampier''' (born '''Claud Conolly Cowan'''; 23 November 1878 – 1 January 1955) was an English film actor and character comedian in the early 20th century.<ref name=bfi>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/7820|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115032932/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/7820|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-01-15|title=Claude Dampier|website=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk}}</ref><ref name=v&a>{{cite web|url=https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O87100/claude-dampier-caricature-sommerlad-gilbert/|title=Claude Dampier|website=Collections.vam.ac.uk|date=August 1937 }}</ref>
==Life== Claude Dampier was born Claud Conolly Cowan on 23 November 1878 in Clapham, South London.<ref name=baker>Richard Anthony Baker, ''Old Time Variety: an illustrated history'', Pen & Sword, 2011, {{ISBN|978-1-78340-066-9}}, pp.66-67</ref><ref name=bfi/><ref name=v&a/> After gaining some theatrical experience in Britain during the mid-1890s, he after toured Australia with Edward Branscombe's Dandies troupes between 1910 and 1917. He revisited the country in 1921, touring in revue shows with Hilda Attenboro, and starred in two Australian films.<ref name=oztva>[https://ozvta.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/dampier-claude-1662018.pdf Claude Dampier, Australian Variety Theatre Archive, 2018]. Retrieved 17 April 2022</ref><ref name="Claude Dampier"/> He also worked in South Africa.<ref name=baker/>
Following an early marriage to Irene Vere, with whom he had a daughter, he married Australian actress Billie Carlyle (c1901-1991). They met whilst acting in the silent film ''The Adventures of Algy'' in 1925,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://colsearch.nfsa.gov.au/nfsa/search/summary/summary.w3p;adv=no;group=;groupequals=;page=0;parentid=;query=Person:/Person/key/48069-1;querytype=;resCount=10|title=NFSA - Search Results|website=Colsearch.nfsa.gov.au|accessdate=4 September 2020}}</ref> and formed a double act in 1926, with Dampier billed as "The Professional Idiot". He played mostly comic roles as a dim-witted and literal-minded character.<ref name=wilmut>Roger Wilmut, ''Kindly Leave the Stage: The Story of Variety 1919-1960'', Methuen, 1985, {{isbn|0-413-48960-4}}, pp.100-101</ref> According to historian Richard Anthony Baker: "Dampier specialised in 'silly arse' characters. His face was his fortune. Chinless and with protruding teeth, it was easy to believe he was daft."<ref name=baker/> Carlyle appeared as a 'straight-woman' in his act.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://colsearch.nfsa.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=no;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=Person:%22/Person/key/48069-1%22;querytype=;rec=0;resCount=10|title=NFSA - Name Details|website=Colsearch.nfsa.gov.au|accessdate=4 September 2020}}</ref>
On one occasion while performing in New Zealand, Dampier forgot his lines and improvised by pretending to recognise an old friend, Mrs Gibson, in the audience, who then turned out not to be Mrs Gibson at all. References to the imaginary Mrs Gibson became a regular part of his performances thereafter.<ref name=v&a/> After Dampier returned to Britain in 1927, he featured on BBC radio,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e866d3ad1d724574a21ed194dc6f15f2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614071822/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e866d3ad1d724574a21ed194dc6f15f2|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 June 2015|title=' Top of the Bill ' CLAUDE DAMPIER|website=Bbc.co.uk|date=27 February 1940 }}</ref> until he was temporarily banned from broadcasts after mentioning that he had "promised to squeeze Mrs Gibson's oranges."<ref name=baker/><ref name=wilmut/>
He also appeared in more than twenty films, including ''Radio Parade of 1935''.<ref name=baker/> After the Second World War he appeared on Jewel and Warriss radio shows, where he adopted the catch-phrase "it's me-ee".<ref>Quinlan's Film Character Actors:David Quinlan</ref>
He died in 1955 and was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium in north London on 4 January 1955. His ashes lie in section 1-L of the Garden of Remembrance.<ref>Golders Green Crematorium information guide</ref>
Carlyle later wrote a book, ''Claude Dampier, Mrs. Gibson & Me'' (1978).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/25455226?q&versionId=30677469|title=Claude Dampier, Mrs Gibson and me / by Billie Carlyle. - Version details - Trove|website=Nla.gov.au}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/claude_dampier/|title=Claude Dampier|website=Comedy.co.uk}}</ref> Dampier's daughter from his first marriage, Dorothy Dampier, became an actress.<ref name=history>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyforsale.com/html/prodetails.asp?documentid=160864&start=1&page=104|title=HistoryForSale - Autographs and Manuscripts - Claude Dampier - Autograph Sentiment Signed - Document 160864|website=Historyforsale.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2bc3a2d4ed|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614115331/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2bc3a2d4ed|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-06-14|title=Dorothy Dampier|website=Explore.bfi.org.uk}}</ref>
==Filmography== {{div col}} * ''Hullo Marmaduke'' (1924)<ref name="hay">{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-films-the-hayseeds/|title=Forgotten Australian Films: The Hayseeds|date=3 September 2025|access-date=3 September 2025}}</ref> * ''The Adventures of Algy'' (1925) * ''Mr. Stringfellow Says No'' (1934) * ''Radio Parade of 1935'' (1934) * ''So You Won't Talk'' (1935) * ''The White Lilac'' (1935) * ''No Monkey Business'' (1935) * ''Boys Will Be Boys'' (1935) * ''Such Is Life'' (1936) * ''All In'' (1936) * ''Public Nuisance No. 1'' (1936) * ''King of the Castle'' (1936) * ''She Knew What She Wanted'' (1936) * ''Sing as You Swing'' (1937) * ''Wanted!'' (1937) * ''She Shall Have Music'' (1937) * ''Riding High'' (1937) * ''The Backyard Front'' (1940 Dig for Victory film) * ''Don't Take It to Heart'' (1944) * ''Let's Have a Murder'' (1950) * ''Meet Mr. Malcolm'' (1954) {{div col end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0198971}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dampier, Claude}} Category:1878 births Category:1955 deaths Category:English male film actors Category:British music hall performers Category:English male comedians Category:20th-century British male actors Category:English male silent film actors Category:20th-century English male actors Category:Male actors from London Category:Comedians from London