Les Dawson
Les Dawson (Leslie Dawson Jr.) was born on February 2nd, 1931. Les passed away June 10th, 1993 at 62 years old. Les Dawson was born in Collyhurst, Manchester, England.
Les Dawson was a popular writer, actor, pianist, presenter, and comedian from the United Kingdom.
As an adult, the first job Les Dawson had was as a pianist who performed in different venues, including a brothel in Paris. He would get into comedy when he started incorporating off-key notes into his performance on the piano, which resulted in laughter from his audience.
He became nationally famous when he appeared on
Opportunity Knocks, the talent show, in 1967. His career flourished with shows such as
The Les Dawson Show,
Dawson’s Weekly and
Sez Lez. He also became massively popular as the host of
Blankety Blank from when it started airing to when it was canceled in 1990.
His self-deprecating humor and deadpan delivery were his characteristic comedy style. One of his most popular acts was when he teamed up with Roy Barraclough to portray Ada and Cissie, two elderly women from Lancashire engaged in innuendo and gossip.
Les Dawson passed on in 1993 from a heart attack, but his legacy endures through his musical talent and distinctive blend of humor and his work in British comedy.
In 1976, Les Dawson published
The Spy Who Came.
In his signature comedic style, he tells a story of espionage full of absurd characters and situations that ridicule the Cold War spy genre.
The work has been noted for having a humorous take on the world of intelligence agencies and spies. The story is also infused with Dawson’s wit, which made him one of the most popular comedians on British television.
A decade later, Les Dawson came out with what has been called an ambitious but dark novel titled
A Time Before Genesis.
Exploring the end of humanity, conspiracy, and cosmic evil, it is the story of David Gates, a journalist who stumbles upon a secret race of vampire-like immortal beings. The beings are responsible for some deadly global catastrophes, while he was looking into the Kennedy assassination.
When his family comes under attack, Gates joins a resistance under the leadership of John Mason.
In 1993, Les Dawson published
No Tears for the Clown, which is an autobiography in which he chronicles his public success and the personal challenges he faced.
He reflects on his fading television career, declining health, and his grief after the death of Margaret, his first wife. But despite the many hardships, he found happiness with Tracy, his second wife, and Charlotte, their daughter.
Balancing sorrow and humor, Dawson also provides insights into his life beyond comedy.
Related Authors
Fans of Les Dawson also enjoy these authors:
- Susan Lewis, author of the Cristy Ward Thriller Series.
- Susan McBride, author of the Detective Jo Larsen Series.
- Susan Meissner, author of: The Nature of Fragile Things.
- Susan Orlean, author of the Susan Orlean Library Science Books.
- Susan Shreve, author of: More News Tomorrow.
Les Dawson: F.A.Q
When was Les Dawson Born?
Les Dawson was born on February 2nd, 1931.
When did Les Dawson die?
Les Dawson died on June 10th, 1993 at 62 years old.
Where was Les Dawson Born?
Les Dawson was born in Collyhurst, Manchester, England.
What was the first book Les Dawson wrote?
The first book written by Les Dawson was A Card For The Clubs, published in 1974.
What was the most recent book Les Dawson wrote?
His most recently released work was Laugh With Les (a short story) on April 4th, 2013.
What is the most popular book by Les Dawson?
Based on the number of readers on Book Notification, the most popular Les Dawson book is
No Tears for the Clown. Here are his most popular books:
- No Tears for the Clown (10)
How many books has Les Dawson written?
Les Dawson has written 22 books. 7 Standalone Novels, 15 Non-Fiction Books.