Les Dawson (1931-1993)

Les Dawson (2nd February 1931, Collyhurst, Manchester, Lancashire - 10th June 1993), aged 62, was a popular English comedian, remembered for his deadpan style, curmudgeonly persona and jokes about his mother-in-law and wife. In 1989 Dawson, in a state of obvious distress, left his dressing room at the Sunderland Empire Theatre, vowing never to work in the building again. He never gave a reason why nor revealed what had caused him to panic; however, the building is reputedly haunted by the ghost of actor Sid James who had his own ultimately fatal heart attack in the building.