Born in England, Ian Lavender performed in many school drama productions while attending Bournville Boys' Technical School, and with the assistance of a grant from the city of Birmingham, graduated from the Bristol Old Vic acting school. He made his first television appearance in the 1968 play, Flowers At My Feet, for the Half Hour Story. That same year he was cast as Pte. Frank Pike, on the hit comedy Dad's Army, a role that brought him national fame.
Ian Lavender passed away at age 77 after battling a number of health scares throughout his life.
