Share and Follow
Today marks what would have been the 100th birthday of Kenneth Williams, the iconic star of the Carry On film series. Though he passed away at the age of 62 in 1988, his legacy in British comedy remains immortal. Known for his roles in classics ranging from “Hancock’s Half Hour” to “Jackanory,” Williams’ life, particularly his final hours, were marked by solitude. Openly identifying as asexual and celibate, he spent his adult years living alone.
Williams’ personal life, as revealed in his diaries, included several brief encounters with men. Yet, his primary companions were friends such as playwright Joe Orton and celebrated actors Sheila Hancock and Maggie Smith. During the 1950s, he settled in various rented flats around London, maintaining close proximity to his beloved mother.
Despite his success, Williams was often described as a “tormented” soul, plagued by loneliness in his later years. A significant relationship in his life was with Tom Waine and Clive Dennis, a gay couple with whom he shared a deep bond. According to his biographer, Christopher Stevens, this connection was Williams’ “only long-lasting love affair.”
“He adored Tom and admired his education, yet their relationship never became physical,” Stevens noted. “As a trio, they enjoyed each other’s company, often celebrating life with dinners, walks, and vibrant gatherings in places like Tangier.”
Throughout his life, Williams maintained a prolific correspondence with them, penning approximately 150 letters.
The Carry On star would face tragedy in 1967 when the news of Joe Orton’s murder reached him. He had been killed by his lover Kenneth Halliwell, and Williams reportedly “couldn’t take it in”.
Ensure our latest showbiz headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
According to Stevens, he instead went out to the cinema and stayed in denial for several months after the homicide.
Williams penned his final diary entry the day before he died, in April 1988. His final words were: “Oh, what’s the bloody point?”
He died from an overdose of barbiturates, though an inquest into the death reached an open verdict, unable to say whether he had intended to commit suicide or not. Likely it was an accidental overdose, as Williams had doubled his usual dose of antacid without consulting his GP – and mixing the medications could have led to his death.
If you have been affected by this story, you can contact the Samaritans, call 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit