They say laughter is the best medicine, a well-known truth for us all. Our country has many comedians and humorists working in the entertainment industry, and Les Dennis is one of them. Born in Liverpool, he has made a name for himself not only as a comedian but also as an actor and television presenter. Read on to learn more about the life story of this famous local figure at liverpoolski.com.
Education and First Jobs
The future comedian was born in a suburb of Liverpool in 1953. Les attended Stockton Wood and Joseph Williams primary schools, and later went to Morrison Rose Lane Secondary Modern School in Allerton. He also earned A-levels in Art, History, and English Literature.
It’s worth noting that while still at school, Dennis was already trying to earn money. He worked every weekend at a Burton menswear shop. Meanwhile, he began performing as a stand-up comedian in working men’s clubs.
In 1971, the Liverpool native made his radio debut in the BBC Radio Merseyside series ‘Variety – Stuart’s Show’. Three years later, he won the ITV talent show ‘New Faces’. This led to appearances on a variety of entertainment shows and projects.
Developing a Career in Comedy and Acting
His professional career began to take off rapidly. In 1982, Dennis joined one of the teams on ‘Madhouse’ and also worked on ‘The Russ Abbot Show’. He then formed a highly successful comedy partnership with fellow comedian Dustin Gee. Following this, he managed to land his own series, ‘The Laughter Show’. He also famously hosted ‘Family Fortunes’ for fifteen years.
It’s also worth noting that he has performed in West End productions of ‘Chicago’ and ‘Me and My Girl’.
In addition, Dennis has pursued a career in theatre. He played the role of Truffaldino in ‘The Servant of Two Masters’ at the Water Mill Theatre in Newbury. He also had roles in ‘Mister Cinders’ at the Gateway Theatre and ‘Misery’ at the Coliseum Theatre. Dennis later appeared in the national tour of the play ‘Art’ and the comedy ‘Certified Male’ at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory. He also had a role in ‘Neville’s Island’.
In 2012, the author and comedian starred in a touring production of ‘Legally Blonde: The Musical’. Five years later, he took on a leading role in ‘The Addams Family’.
In 2019, he performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the plays ‘The Provoked Wife’ and ‘Venice Preserved’.
As for his film work, Dennis has appeared in movies such as ‘Intimate Relations’ and ‘Large’. He has also had many guest roles in various TV shows.
Personal Life
The comedian first married in 1974, to Lynne Webster. Their marriage was unsuccessful, and the couple divorced in 1990. Dennis has a son from his first marriage. In 1995, he married for a second time, to the actress Amanda Holden, though this marriage also ended in divorce. In 2009, the actor married for a third time, to Claire Nicholson. The couple have two children together.
This is the success story of the famous comedian and actor who was born in Liverpool. Les Dennis has made a significant leap from comedy to acting and is regularly invited to perform in theatre, films, and a variety of television shows. He is constantly working on his craft and improving his professional skills, which is why audiences have the opportunity to see him in such a wide range of roles and characters.
We hope you found this article interesting and have drawn your own conclusions.
Are you a fan of Les Dennis’s work? Which film or project do you like the most? We look forward to your comments on our social media channels. We value your opinion.