Dave King (born David Kingshott; 23 June 1929 – 15 April 2002)[1][2] was an English comedian, actor and vocalist of popular songs.

[3] He is remembered for screen roles such as the corrupt policeman 'Parky' in the British gangster film The Long Good Friday (1980)[1] and Clifford Duckworth in the soap opera Coronation Street.

[2] Born in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, King left school aged 12 and joined Morton Fraser's Harmonica Gang in his teens.

In 1959, he went to the United States and hosted the country's high-profile[2] Kraft Music Hall on 19 occasions,[3] but otherwise had limited success despite Mel Brooks joining his regular writers Sid Green and Dick Hills.

Dave's Kingdom ran on ITV in 1964, again made by ATV, but was less successful than King's earlier TV work.

[4] King became a straight actor with some success,[7] starring in the films Pirates of Tortuga (1961), Go to Blazes (1962), The Road to Hong Kong (1962), Strange Bedfellows (1965), Up the Chastity Belt (1971), The Ritz (1976), The Golden Lady (1979), Cuba (1979), The Long Good Friday (1980), Warren Beatty's Reds (1981) and Revolution (1985).

His appearance in The Sweeney saw him play Arnold Drake, the leader of a gang of armed robbers in the episode: "Pay Off" (1976),[11] whilst in The Professionals he appeared in the role of organised crime lord Harry Walter, the mastermind of a silver bullion robbery in the episode "Hijack" (1980).

The closing scene of the episode features King's character standing on the platform of Aidensfield Station while "Memories Are Made of This" plays in the background.