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'Brian Wilde' (b. 1 June 1921, Lancashire, England) is a British actor, made famous by his comedic roles.
Wilde's lugubrious world-weary face was a staple of British television for forty years, most notably in comedy shows. His early television roles included the series ''The Love of Mike'' (1960), and he supported Tony Hancock in episodes of his ATV series in 1963. He had minor roles in films such as ''The Jokers'' (1967) and ''Carry On Doctor'' (1968), and on television in ''Room at the Bottom'' (1966) as Mr Salisbury. His first major television success was in 1970 as refuse depot manager "Bloody Delilah" in the ITV sitcom ''The Dustbinmen''. He also showed his sinister side as the mischievous magician Mr Peacock in the children's drama series ''Ace of Wands'' in 1972.
In 1973, Wilde starred in the second episode of ''Seven of One'', a series of seven individual stories, all of which starred Ronnie Barker. In the episode, entitled "Prisoner and Escort", Wilde played Mr Barrowclough, a prison warden whose job it is to escort Barker's character Fletch across the moors to his prison. The episode proved popular and a series was commissioned by the BBC, called ''Porridge''. In the series, Wilde reprised his role as the timid and ineffective Barrowclough. ''Porridge'' was highly successful, It ran until 1978, with a film version being made in 1979.
Interestingly Wilde had previously appeared as another, very different gaoler; the efficient, merciless 'rackmaster' Richard Topcliffe, who was charged with the torture of prisoners in the Tower of London, in the 1971 television series Elizabeth R.
Wilde's other—perhaps more—famous role arose in 1976, when he took over from Michael Bates as the third member of a trio of old men in BBC sitcom ''Last of the Summer Wine''. As Walter "Foggy" Dewhurst, a determined ex-army man who planned the group's mis-adventures with military precision and a painstaking eye for detail, Wilde saw the series gather momentum and become greatly successful. Wilde stayed with the series for 9 years before leaving in 1985, to work on other projects. It has been suggested that Wilde had tired of reputed tension on set. Foggy was written out of the series - it was said that he had moved to Bridlington to take over the family egg painting business - and replaced by Michael Aldridge as Seymour Utterthwaite.
In 1988 he starred in his own BBC series, ''Wyatt's Watchdogs'' as Major Wyatt, a retired soldier, who forms his own neighbourhood watch group. As a stuffy ex-army member who leads a motley bunch of comic characters, Wyatt was quite similar to Foggy. The programme, which co-starred Trevor Bannister, was written by Miles Tredinnick and ran for one series of six episodes.
When Aldridge left ''Last of the Summer Wine'', Wilde returned, reprising his role as Foggy in 1990, reuniting the series' most popular and enduring line-up. He would remain until 1997, leaving this time due to ill health when he suffered a mild infection. Though not serious, Wilde elected to stand down for the first five episodes of the 1997 series in case it worsened. Originally this was intended to be a temporary absence, during which he was replaced by Frank Thornton (who Wilde himself suggested replace him). However, a scheduling problem - caused by the filming of a Christmas Special made to introduce Thornton's character - made it impossible for Brian - by then fully fit - to return in that series. Producer Alan JW Bell has stated "Since then, he has been invited to return many times, but says he feels he has 'done it now' and doesn't want to go back. I am sure that one day he will make an appearance - we still have his costume standing by."
The series has since undergone many changes following the deaths of several cast members, most notably Bill Owen. This, along with reduced appearances by an aging Peter Sallis, and a largely different supporting cast, means that even if Wilde were to return, there is no longer any chance of reuniting the successful trio.

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★ The Brian Wilde Date of Birth Scandal

★ Interview with Wilde 1995