Harry H Corbett, born in 1925 in Burma, added the "H" to his name to distinguish himself from Sooty's friend, a common mix-up at the time. His father was a military officer, and his mother's untimely passing when Harry was very young led to his relocation to England as a child. He was subsequently raised by his aunt in Manchester.
After serving in the war, Harry joined a repertory company and went on to appear in numerous stage productions throughout the 1950s. As the decade drew to a close, he transitioned to the big screen, taking on approximately twenty film roles between 1959 and 1980. These roles were largely confined to 'B' pictures, although he did secure the starring part of Detective Sergeant Bung in the 1966 comedy "Carry on Screaming!" and appeared in other notable films such as "Rattle of a Simple Man" (1964) and the two "Steptoe and Son" movie adaptations released in the early 1970s.
Tragically, Harry's life was cut short due to a series of heart attacks between 1979 and 1982, ultimately claiming his life at the premature age of 57.
