Dave Lee (comedian)

For other uses, see Dave Lee (disambiguation).
Dave Lee
Born Broadstairs, Kent, England
Died 16 January 2012 (aged 64)
Medium Pantomime
Nationality British

Dave Lee MBE was a British comedian known for his work in pantomimes around Kent and his work on television. Lee also founded his own charity to help disadvantaged children.

Career

Lee was born in Broadstairs. At the age of five he suffered a bout of tuberculosis and later on, Lee also suffered from a burst appendix, peritonitis, pleurisy, double pneumonia and had his tonsils and adenoids out. Subsequently Lee was sent to a convalescent home in Margate and disliked the idea.[1]

He began his career as a drummer at the Chartham Secondary Modern School at the age of 13. He worked as a warm-up man for Michael Parkinson, Michael Aspel and Jimmy Tarbuck.[2] He also appeared on television on the shows The Generation Game, Celebrity Squares, Live from the Palladum and had his own golfing series.[3] Lee was also a non-executive director of Gillingham F.C., having been a fan of the club.[4]

In 1994 Lee founded the Dave Lee Happy Holidays Charity and during his lifetime, it raised £2 million for many of Kent's sick, disabled and under-privileged children to enjoy holidays and outings with their families. In 2003, Lee was awarded the MBE for his charity work.[5]

Illness and death

On 9 November 2011 it was announced that Lee had pulled out of the pantomime for Cinderella due to his ailing health days before the rehearsals began. In his absence Lee's role was rewritten and filled by Sion Tudor Owen.[6]

Lee died of pancreatic cancer on 16 January 2012.[7] His funeral was held at Canterbury Cathedral on 30 January 2012 with fellow comedians Jim Davidson, Richard Digance, and the Lord Mayor of Canterbury in attendance.[3]

Legacy

A bronze statue of Lee was unveiled outside the Marlowe Theatre in May 2014.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Comic Dave Lee's kids charity has now raised £2 million". This is Kent. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  2. ↑ "Cathedral funeral for Kent comic and panto star Dave Lee". BBC News (BBC). 25 January 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Hundreds attend Dave Lee's funeral in Canterbury". BBC News (BBC). 30 January 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  4. ↑ Horn, Jenni (17 January 2012). "Gillingham FC chairman pays tribute to comedian Dave Lee". Medway Messenger. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  5. ↑ "Dave Lee to receive Freedom of the City". Canterbury City Council. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  6. ↑ "Comic Dave Lee quits Cinderella panto after shock health warning". This is Kent. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  7. ↑ "Tributes to Kent comedian and pantomime star Dave Lee". BBC News (BBC). 17 January 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  8. ↑ "Bronze statue of panto legend Dave Lee unveiled outside the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, watched by Richard Digance, Brenda Blethyn and Joe Pasquale". KentOnline. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
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