Arnold Ridley, OBE, born William Arnold Ridley, (7 January 1896 — 12 March 1984), was a British playwright/actor best known for playing Private Godfrey in Dad's Army.
He studied in the Education Department at the University of Bristol. It was here he got his first taste of acting, playing Hamlet in one of the university's productions. After graduating, Ridley worked as a student teacher and made his theatrical debut at the Theatre Royal in a production of Prunella. He joined the British Army in 1915 and fought in World War I, during which he was honourably discharged in 1917 due to injuries sustained from shrapnel in his legs and becoming prone to blackouts after a blow to the head from a rifle butt.
After his time on the battlefields, Ridley returned to acting, now with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. In 1923, he wrote a play of his own, The Ghost Train, which became a hit with over 600 consecutive performances on the West End, two revivals, and three film adaptations. Ridley would go on to write over thirty more plays.
Ridley rejoined the army for World War II, but had to be discharged due to his health issues; despite this, Ridley stayed active in the war effort by joining his local Home Guard and touring with ENSA. His acting career picked up again after the war, notably playing Doughy Hood in The Archers and Reverend Atkins in Crossroads. Ridley became famous for his role as Private Godfrey in Dad's Army, a Sitcom about the Home Guard, fitting for someone with his military experience.
He died in hospital after a fall at the age of 88. His great-niece, Daisy Ridley, is also an actor.
Works on TV Tropes he appeared in:
Films- A Man for All Seasons (1966) — Innkeeper (Uncredited Role)
- Dad's Army (1971) — Private Charles Godfrey
- Carry On Girls (1973) — Alderman Pratt
- The Avengers, episode "Never, Never Say Die" (1967) — Elderly Gent
- Z Cars, episode "I Never Meant to Drop Him: Part 1" (1967) — Gardener
- Coronation Street, 5 episodes:
- 1 episode (1967) — Herbert Whittle
- 4 episodes (1969) — Jim Gilbert
- Crossroads, 15 episodes (1968-71) — Reverend Guy Atkins
- Dad's Army, 80 episodes:
- 80 episodes (1968-77) — Private Charles Godfrey
- "The Two and a Half Feathers" (1970) — Fakir
- The Caesars, episode "Caligula" (1968) — Nigrinus
- Out of the Unknown, episode "Random Quest" (1969) — Munnings
- The Persuaders!, episode "The Ozerov Inheritance" (1971) — Uncle Rodney
