Legendary variety entertainer Wyn Calvin, known as 'The Welsh Prince of Laughter', has died aged 96.
His wife of 46 years, Carole Calvin, confirmed that he died "peacefully" in hospital in Cardiff following a short illness in the early hours of Tuesday, January 25.
Wyn's colourful and illustrious career in showbiz spanned an astonishing 76 years, right up until his death. He excelled as a comedian, television chat show host, actor, radio personality, pantomime dame, after-dinner speaker, lecturer, charity worker, newspaper columnist for the Western Mail and a giant of variety theatre.
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His life dedicated to entertainment saw him work and make friends with huge stars, such as Sir Ian McKellen, Shirley Bassey and Catherine-Zeta Jones.
A prolific and tireless supporter of many charities - notably as a founder of the campaign to build the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales - Wyn was awarded an MBE for his charity work in 1989.
"He was compos mentis until the very end, joking and telling stories", said Carole, 73, who is a former dancer.
She met Wyn when he performed at the opening of the Barry Butlins holiday camp in 1966. The pair married in 1975 and she remained a constant companion by his side.
Born Joseph Wyndham Calvin Thomas in Narberth on August 25, 1925, Wyn was the seventh out of eight children.
Coming from a long line of Welsh Presbyterian preachers, his later entry into show-business saw him go against the grain of his religious family.
When he was five, his family moved into a house in Cardiff, where he lived ever since. He attended Kitchener Road Infants and then Canton High School, the building which is now Chapter Arts Centre.
Aged six or seven, he got his experience of theatre when his father took him to panto in Cardiff's New Theatre - a venue that he would later appear in more than any other performer.
Having joined the army when he was 18, he was invalided out of the forces due to a heart problem. In an article he wrote for the Western Telegraph in 2020, he recalls he was given just six months to live at the time.
"Well, that six months was, in fact, 75 years ago, and it started a career in show-business," he wrote.
"If I couldn't stay in the Army I’d entertain them, make them laugh, cheer them up at a difficult time in Britain’s history."
So began his lifelong career as an entertainer, throughout which he was always known as "Wyn Calvin".
In 1945, he was enlisted by Ensa (Entertainments National Service Association) - an organisation set up in 1939 to provide entertainment for British armed forces personnel during World War Two - or “Every Night Something Atrocious”, as he called it.
Performing in France, Belgium and the Netherlands, it was in Germany as the war ended that his comedy career started to evolve, after the troupe’s resident comedian quit and Wyn was thrust into the role.
Returning to the UK, he went into weekly repertory theatre, where he played more than 300 roles. Performing a different play every week around the UK, Wyn said this was where he learned the art of the stage and acquired his rich baritone voice.
He made a name for himself on popular radio shows such as Welsh Rarebit - a pioneering comedy show recorded at the BBC's studios, then on Park Place in Cardiff - and Workers’ Playtime, which comprised comedy and musical acts. The huge impact of radio propelled his career further, with listeners filling theatres.
Wyn went on to establish himself on variety bills around the UK, excelling in the seaside entertainment shows in the summer and appearing with stars such as Ken Dodd, Shirley Bassey and Morecambe and Wise.
He attained top billing at Blackpool’s Central Pier Theatre for five consecutive seasons and he broke box-office records for seven seasons in Llandudno.
It is in one particular theatrical role that the Welshman is considered one of the greatest ever - the pantomime dame.
Wyn's first panto was in Reading in 1947 and the second in Swansea the following year. In total, he performed in 54 pantomimes, seven of which were in Cardiff.
He wasn’t immediately a dame, but with some coaxing he took on the role. It became constant throughout his long and distinguished career, with the Stage newspaper acclaiming him as “the Laurence Olivier of pantomime dames”.
Renowned for his role as panto dame Widow Twankey, he played “mother” to the likes of Ken Dodd, Roy Hudd, Cilla Black, Frank Bruno, Harry Worth, Cannon and Ball and even The A-Team star, Mr T.
This particular role won a seal of approval from theatrical royalty Sir Ian McKellen, who, in 2003, asked the entertainer to coach him in the art of playing Widow Twankey, ahead of his role at the National Theatre. The pair became great friends and remained in touch ever since.
Over the years, Wyn also supported charities through organisations such as the Grand Order of Water Rats showbiz fraternity and the Variety Club of Great Britain.
He was one of the founders of the campaign to build the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales, one of his proudest achievements.
As a founder-member of the original committee, he made a huge contribution towards the creation of the hospital – enlisting friends such as Catherine Zeta-Jones and Shirley Bassey to throw their considerable clout behind the fundraising campaign. He continued as a trustee of Noah’s Ark.
Wyn was vice-president of the British Music Hall Society, deputy to its president Paul O'Grady. One of his last appearances was in September 2021, at a celebratory lunch put on by the society - attended by Sir Ian McKellen - to commemorate his 96th birthday and 76 years in showbiz at the Union Jack Club in London.
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