Harry H. Corbett

Harry H. Corbett OBE (28 February 1925 – 21 March 1982) was an English actor. Corbett was best known for his starring role in the popular and long-running BBC Television sitcom Steptoe and Son in the 1960s and '70s. Corbett was regarded as one of Britain's first Method actors and early in his career he was dubbed "the English Marlon Brando" by some sections of the British press. Corbett was born in Rangoon, Burma. His father was a British Army officer stationed in the country as part of the Colonial defence forces. Corbett was sent back to England after his mother died when he was three, to be brought up by an aunt in Wythenshawe, Manchester. Corbett served in the Royal Marines during the Second World War, at one time engaged in hand to hand fighting in New Guinea, killing two Japanese soldiers. Posted to Tonga at the end of hostilities, he deserted and remained in Australia before handing himself in to the Military Police. On returning to civilian life, Corbett trained as a radiographer before taking up acting as a career, initially in repertory.

Actor