Radio and Television Personalities L

Duncan Lamont
1918 - 1978

Portuguese-born, Scots-raised, a character actor who made many film and television appearances. Had a role in the popular 1953 TV series 'The Quatermass Experiment' and appeared in many series including 'Dial 999' with Robert Beatty (qv).

Hugh Latimer
1913 - 2006

Actor who appeared on stage, in films, television and radio. On radio he played Bob Dale for a time in the soap 'Mrs Dale's Diary'. Also in 'The Dickie Henderson Show' and various television series. A TV announcer and in many TV plays.

John Laurie
1897 - 1980

Scots-born actor who appeared in numerous films and stage plays. Best known for his role as Private Frazer in BBC TV's 'Dad's Army' (1968-1977). Seen mainly in character parts on TV and in films, he also performed Shakesperian roles on stage and film.

Delphi Lawrence
1926 - 2002

Actress who appeared in many roles in British films and made many TV appearances including some in US series after moving to America in 1966.

Sarah Lawson
1928 - 2023

Actress who appeared on stage, film and in TV plays and the series 'The Odd Man' in 1962. Later became a television producer.

Wilfrid Lawson
1900 - 1966

Actor who made many films and was often on radio and TV including an episode of 'The Likely Lads' first series on BBC2.

Frank Lawton
1904 - 1969

Actor who made his name on the stage and in films and also appeared on TV. In 1956 was in an early ITV sitcom, 'My Husband And I' with his wife Evelyn Laye (qv).

Evelyn Laye
1900 - 1996

Successful on stage, initially in musical comedies, she also acted in many plays and appeared on TV, becoming a stalwart of the theatre and continuing her career into her nineties.

Benny Lee
1916 - 1995

Scots-born vocalist with dance bands and solo on stage and on radio before appearing on 'Breakfast With Braden' as a singer and comedian. On TV in 'Teleclub' and 'How Do You View' in 1953 and 'Friends And Neighbours' the followng year and in 'After Hours' (1958) and 'All Square' (1966) on ITV.

Bernard Lee
1908 - 1981

Actor who was best known for his many film roles, especially as 'M' in the James bond films, but who also broadcast frequently on radio and TV.

Margaret Leighton
1922 - 1976

Stage actress who starred in films and appeared on TV both here and in America.

Charles Leno
1910 - 1972

Actor who played character roles in films and on TV. In 'Ray's A Laugh' on radio and the long-running 'Boyd QC' on TV from 1956 to 1964.

Humphrey Lestocq
1919 - 1984

Actor who played Flying Officer Kite in radio's 'Merry-Go-Round' in 1947. Introduced the early 1950s children's TV show 'Whirligig' and appeared in a number of films.

Carroll Levis
1910 - 1968

Canadian-born and a former Canadian radio announcer who set up his touring stage show, Carroll Levis and His Discoveries, which was aired on TV in 1954 as 'The Carroll Levis Show'. The show introduced new talent, each show having a winner chosen by audience response in the form of applause measured by the 'Clapometer'.

Patti Lewis
? -

Canadian-born singer who broadcast and recorded in the UK. Appeared on TV with Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan (both qv) in 'The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d', 'Son Of Fred' and 'A Show Called Fred' in 1956.

Vic Lewis
1919 - 2009

Formed his first band at seventeen and broadcast many times. Inspired by Stan Kenton he included progressive jazz in his musical repertoire. Later became a booking agent for show business performers.

Moira Lister
1923 - 2007

South African-born, originally a stage actress who appeared in films and on television in plays and in 'The Whitehall Worrier' in 1966 and 'The Very Merry Widow' in 1967 and in panel games. Was in the first series of 'Hancock's Half Hour' on radio on which she made many other appearances.

Roger Livesey
1906 - 1976

Welsh-born actor who appeared on stage and in many films. A regular in television and radio drama.

Harry Locke
1913 - 1987

Character actor whose first broadcast was in a Will Hay series and he played Robert in 'Just William'. Starred in 'Comedy Corner' on child-ren's TV in 1952

Julia Lockwood
1941 - 2019

Made her TV debut in 'Heidi' in a BBC children's series in 1953. In the ITV comedy series 'Don't tell Father' in 1959. The daughter of Margaret Lockwood (qv) she also acted in several films.

Margaret Lockwood
1916 - 1990

Indian-born (in Karachi, now Pakistan) actress who became a major box-office success in the 1940s. Television appearances from the 1950s include 'The Flying Swan'.

Malcolm Lockyer
1923 - 1976

Conducted orch-estras for many shows on radio and television and composed some film scores.

Jimmy Logan
1928 - 2001

Scots-born comedian, part of a showbusiness family he began in radio in Scotland with 'It's All Yours', and his stage shows won him lasting acclaim. Brother of singer Annie Ross (qv).

Herbert Lomas
1887 - 1961

Began as a stage actor and first appeared on TV in 'The Wind Of Heaven' in 1947. Also in 'Quatermass II' in 1955 and many film parts.

Joe Loss
1909 - 1990

Studied music and played with dance orchestras, forming his own band in 1930, broadcasting on radio in the 1930s. Many radio and television appearances and remained popular into the 1980s.

Dennis Lotis
1925 - 2023

South African-born singer who sang with dance bands, including Ted Heath (qv). Made records and appeared in variety and on radio and TV.

William Lucas
1925 - 2016

Actor who made many films and TV appearances, including the popular BBC serial 'Portrait Of Alison' in 1955 and in ITV's 'The Strange World Of Planet X' in 1956.

Edgar Lustgarten
1907 - 1978

Lawyer who broadcast with the BBC Overseas Service during the war. He appeared in the series 'Prisoner at the Bar' and in 1955 'Is This Your Problem' with Edana Romney (qv). Hosted many crime films in the 'Scotland Yard' series (1953-1961) and 'Scales Of Justice' (1962-1967).

(Dame) Vera Lynn
1917 - 2020

Legendary singer who first broadcast with Joe Loss (qv) in 1935. Known as The Forces Sweetheart during the last war because of her radio programmes and shows for the troops, she made her TV debut in 1947. Made many records and was a frequent broadcaster achieving lasting popularity.

Barbara Lyon
1931 - 1995

American-born actress/singer who was the daughter of Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon (both qv). Became well-known for 'Life With the Lyons' from 1951 to 1961 in which she appeared with her parents and brother on radio and later TV. 'Dreamtime with Barbara' was her own television show in which she also sang.

Ben Lyon
1901 - 1979

American-born actor who began with stage roles and appeared in films. Came to the UK and appeared on TV with his wife Bebe Daniels (qv) in 1939, also appearing with her in 'Hi Gang'. The long-running radio (and TV) show 'Life With The Lyons' followed.

Richard Lyon
1934 - 2013

Son of Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon (both qv) he appeared with them in the radio and television programmes 'Life With The Lyons'. He also made a few films .