Northwood, London Borough of Hillingdon, England.[2]
Resting place
Bath Abbey Cemetery, Widcombe, Somerset, England
Nationality
British
Alma mater
University of Bristol
Occupation(s)
Actor, playwright
Years active
1918–1984
Spouse(s)
Hilda Kathleen Mary Cooke (m. 1926–1939),
Isola Strong
(m. 1939)
,
Althea Parker
(m. 1945)
Children
1
Relatives
Daisy Ridley (great-niece)
Military career
Allegiance
United Kingdom
Service/branch
British Army
Years of service
1915–1917
1939–1940
1940–1944
Rank
Captain
Service number
103363
Unit
Somerset Light Infantry Caterham Home Guard
Battles/wars
First World War
Battle of the Somme
Second World War
Battle of France
William Arnold Ridley, OBE (7 January 1896 – 12 March 1984) was an English playwright and actor, earlier in his career known for writing the play The Ghost Train and later in life in the British television sitcom Dad's Army (1968–1977) as the elderly bumbling Private Godfrey, as well as in spin-offs including the feature film version and the stage production.
^"Birth Index entry". FreeBMD. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 6 October 2021. Register of Births: Jan-Feb-Mar 1896. Surname: Ridley. Given Name: William Arnold. District: Bath. Volume: 5c. Page: 543.
^
"Death Index entry". FreeBMD. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 6 October 2021. Register of Deaths: 1984. Surname: Ridley. Given Name: William Arnold. DoB: 07 Ja 1896. District: Hillingdon. Registered: 06.84. Volume: 13. Page: 0934.
William ArnoldRidley, OBE (7 January 1896 – 12 March 1984) was an English playwright and actor, earlier in his career known for writing the play The...
Private Godfrey in the sitcom Dad's Army). ArnoldRidley's brother, Daisy's grandfather, John Harry Dunn Ridley, OBE, was head of the Engineering Secretariat...
Charles Godfrey MM is a fictional Home Guard soldier, first portrayed by ArnoldRidley in the British television sitcom Dad's Army. He is retired and was previously...
David Fennell (1964–1976) Vi Blundell* – (1964–1970) Rev Guy Atkins* – ArnoldRidley (1964–1972) Hilda Duvene* – Margery Field – (1964–1968) Anthony Mortimer*...
Louis Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne The Wrecker (play), a 1924 play by ArnoldRidley The Mystery of Wreckers' Rock by William Arden; a 1986 Three Investigators...
Mockford Peggy Mount Daphne Oxenford Muriel Pavlow Richard Pearson ArnoldRidley Brian Rix Paul Rogers Clifford Rose Andrew Sachs Peter Sallis Stuart...
comedy film Dad's Army playing the iconic Private Godfrey, based on ArnoldRidley, who had played the character in the original classic BBC series of...
Leo Genn headed a cast which included Mark Kingston, Paul Maxwell, ArnoldRidley and Robert Urquhart. In 1996 a production at the Comedy Theatre directed...
Wilson Clive Dunn as Lance Corporal Jones John Laurie as Private Frazer ArnoldRidley as Private Godfrey Ian Lavender as Private Pike Bill Pertwee as ARP...
Keighley London housekeeper Queen's Players 1953 Beggar My Neighbour ArnoldRidley Hippodrome, Keighley Queen's Players 1953 Desire in the Night Hippodrome...
Scientia Potentia Est 2016 We’re doomed the dads army story (TV movie) ArnoldRidley/Pte Godfrey 2021 The Outlaws Mr Kingsley (lawyer) Episodes 2&5 2022...
starring Dolly Davis, Georgius and Alice Tissot. It is an adaptation of ArnoldRidley's play The Ghost Train. In England a group of passengers are stranded...
ISBN 1-85311-494-4. Williams, Lauren (31 August 2021). "Dad's Army's John Laurie and ArnoldRidley historic rivalry exposed 'Different characters'". Express.co.uk. Retrieved...
name, "Rambling" Sid Ridley, is a combination of Kenneth Williams' Round the Horne character ‘Rambling Sid Rumpo’ and ArnoldRidley who played Private Godfrey...
Maltby, British-born Australian writer and illustrator (born 1899) ArnoldRidley, playwright and actor (born 1896) Leslie R. H. Willis, archaeologist...
1905) March 10 – June Marlowe, American actress (b. 1903) March 12 – ArnoldRidley, English playwright and actor (b. 1896) March 14 – Aurelio Peccei, Italian...
Global Information
United Kingdom
British Army