Scottish entertainer Logan dies

Logan was awarded an OBE in 1996

The veteran Scottish entertainer, actor and producer, Jimmy Logan OBE, has died aged 73.

Logan, real name James Short, had been suffering from cancer of the oesophagus and died early on Friday at the HCI medical centre in Clydebank, near Glasgow.

During his 65 years in show business, he was a theatre-owner, producer, director, actor-manager and the man who inspired Billy Connolly to turn his hand to stand-up comedy.

Logan made two Carry On films

His agent Robert Pratt said: "Jimmy was much loved by everyone and will be sadly missed."

Logan appeared in two Carry On films, made 150 radio programmes with Stanley Baxter and appeared at the London Palladium before starting his own production company.

'Grief'

Mr Pratt said: "Jimmy's wife Angela, sisters Annie and Heather and all the family would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone, friends and public alike, for their love support and generous wishes during this very difficult time.

"It is the request of the family that at this time they be allowed to be left alone in the privacy of their own grief."

One of his most famous performances was in Lauder, his one man musical which he wrote, based on the life of his hero, Sir Harry Lauder.

Sir Harry Lauder was one of Logan's heroes

It opened with a Royal Performance at the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, and later toured in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

He was part of the Logan entertaining dynasty that began with his parents, who were music hall stars.

Born in 1928, he began selling programmes, chocolates and cigarettes for his parents' shows, before joining them on stage.

At the age of 19, he was principal comedian at the Metropole Theatre in Glasgow before starting a 10-year run in the famous Five Past Eight revues at the city's Alhambra Theatre.

It is on record that a young Billy Connolly made up his mind to be an entertainer when he saw Logan in a Glasgow pantomime.

Logan was honoured with an OBE at Buckingham Palace in 1996.

He also appeared as the father-in-law in the Scottish comedy Rab C Nesbitt and was given a part in Connolly's film The Debt Collector in 1998.