The Private Pike actor was the last surviving cast member from the beloved sitcom. <\/p>
Dad\u2019s Army and EastEnders actor Ian Lavender has died at the age of 77.<\/p>\n
Lavender was best known for his 10-year stint playing the role of youngest platoon member Private Pike in Dad\u2019s Army<\/a>, and had been the last surviving main cast member of the beloved sitcom.<\/p>\n He also made a cameo as a different character \u2013 named\u00a0Brigadier Pritchard \u2013 in the 2016 film adaptation of the series, while he appeared in a number of other well-known TV shows including Yes Minister and Rising Damp.<\/p>\n Aside from Private Pike, his most prominent role was as Derek Harkinson in EastEnders<\/a>, a part he first played between 2001 and 2005 before returning in 2016 and leaving definitively a year later.<\/p>\n On the big screen, his credits include Confessions of a Pop Performer, Carry On Behind and Adventures of a Taxi Driver, while stage credits include productions of The Merchant of Venice, The Rocky Horror Show and Sister Act: The Musical.<\/p>\n Meanwhile one of his more recent TV appearances came in 2017, when he appeared alongside various other famous faces in the Channel 5 reality series A Celebrity Taste of Italy.<\/p>\n Following the news of his death, tributes came flooding in on social media as fans remembered Lavender and his career.<\/p>\n The X account for the touring Dad\u2019s Army Radio Show wrote: \u201cWe are deeply saddened to hear the passing of the wonderful, <\/span>Ian Lavender<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn what truly marks the end of an era, Ian was the last surviving member of the Dad\u2019s Army main cast. His wonderful performance as Private Frank Pike will live on for decades to come.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe leaves behind a legacy of laughter enjoyed by millions. We will dedicate this year\u2019s tour to his memory.\u201d<\/p>\n 1\/2 We are deeply saddened to hear the passing of the wonderful, Ian Lavender. In what truly marks the end of an era, Ian was the last surviving member of the Dad\u2019s Army main cast. His wonderful performance as Private Frank Pike will live on for decades to come\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/pOgwfaBCje<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Dad’s Army Radio Show (@DadsArmyRadio) February 5, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>