Dodd, Ken(neth) Arthur (1927- )

English stand-up comedian, singer, and actor. A regular performer for variety, pantomime, and radio, he also starred in a series of popular television shows, such as The Ken Dodd Show (1959-66), Ken Dodd's World of Laughter (1974-76), and The Ken Dodd Laughter Show (1979), often supported by his trademark Diddymen. His recordings included the hit songs ‘Happiness’ (1964) and ‘Tears’.

Dodd was born in Liverpool. His inaugural appearance at the Empire Theatre, Nottingham, in 1954, was followed by ten years of summer seasons around the UK. In 1965 he made his London debut at the Palladium with a record-breaking 42-week season of Doddy's Here; he also achieved another first in The Guinness Book of Records for telling 1,500 jokes nonstop in three and a half hours. His later television work included Ken Dodd at the London Palladium (1990) and An Audience with Ken Dodd (1994).