The Carry On films brought laughter to millions between 1958 and 1978, but behind the scenes, several of the franchise's best-loved stars endured personal tragedies, including an on-stage death, a fatal overdose and a nervous breakdown.
Over 20 years and 30 films, the original Carry On series endeared itself to the British public. It featured some of the most beloved comedy stars of the era, including Barbara Windsor, Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques and Charles Hawtrey, who were all series regulars.
Known for saucy seaside humour and hilarious takes on institutions such as the humble cabbie or the NHS, the films were a huge hit and remain beloved to this day. However, while the stars had audiences rolling in the aisles, many were dealing with personal struggles behind the scenes, from depression and affairs to family tragedies and serious illness.
Kenneth Williams' lonely life and death
Despite being one of the greatest comedy stars to come out of the UK, Kenneth Williams' life was marred by loneliness and tragedy. He claimed to be asexual and celibate and lived alone throughout his adult life.
He died aged 62 in April 1988 from an overdose of barbiturates. An inquest returned an open verdict, unable to establish whether he intended to take his own life. His final diary entry, written the day before his death, was: "Oh, what's the bloody point?"
It is widely believed his death was accidental after he doubled his usual dose of antacid without consulting his GP, with the combination of medications potentially proving fatal.
Sid James' on-stage collapse
Behind his beloved on-screen persona as a cheeky, laughing rogue, Sid James lived a chaotic life. He was a heavy drinker and smoker, a legendary gambler who lost tens of thousands of pounds betting on horses, and his three marriages included a years-long affair with Carry On co-star Barbara Windsor.
A prolific workaholic, he appeared in 19 Carry On films, starred in sitcoms including Bless This House and toured relentlessly in theatre. In April 1976, the 62-year-old suffered a massive heart attack on stage during the opening night of The Mating Season at Sunderland Empire Theatre. Because of his comic persona and talent for ad-libbing, the audience and fellow cast members initially thought his collapse was part of the act. When the curtain came down, a doctor rushed backstage, but James was pronounced dead on the way to hospital.
Charles Hawtrey's struggles
The famously eccentric Charles Hawtrey was gay at a time when homosexuality was still illegal in Britain, and he guarded his private life carefully. Behind the scenes, he struggled with alcoholism and reportedly cared for his mother after she developed Alzheimer's while continuing to work.
In 1984, his house caught fire after he went to bed with a man and left a cigarette burning on a sofa. He lost antiques and sentimental possessions in the blaze. By the end of his life, Hawtrey was suffering from a serious arterial condition. Doctors recommended amputating his legs, but he refused. He died in a nursing home in 1988, aged 73.
Hattie Jacques' heartbreak
Hattie Jacques was married to fellow comedy icon and Dad's Army star John Le Mesurier when she became caught up in a turbulent love triangle with a younger man, John Schofield. The Cockney used-car dealer, who had also worked as her driver, soon moved into the family home.
To protect their children, Le Mesurier graciously moved out of the couple's bed and into the spare room, eventually moving into the attic. Following their separation, Jacques' weight increased dramatically and she eventually tipped the scales at almost 20 stone, causing significant health problems. She continued working despite her difficulties, but died from a heart attack in October 1980, aged just 58.
