Last “Goon,” Spike Milligan, 83
Posted: Wednesday, February 27th, 2002 4:04 pm
Spike Milligan, one of the founding fathers of 20th century British comedy and zany genius behind BBC Radio’s The Goon Show, has died at the age of 83.
Milligan died of liver failure at his home at Rye, Sussex, surrounded by family.
Along with fellow Goons Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe, Milligan influenced with his surreal antics a whole generation of comedians from Beyond the Fringe to Monty Python’s Flying Circus. He was the last of the comic trio to die.
His greatest fan was Prince Charles, once famously labelled “a grovelling little bastard” on live television by Milligan.
Milligan made it up with Charles after his “bastard” remark by sending him a telegram saying, “I suppose a knighthood is out of the question now?” But it wasn’t — Milligan was given an honorary knighthood two years ago. … Read full obituary
