Thomas Terry Hoar-Stevens (14th July 1911 - 8th January 1990) was a distinctive English comic actor, known as Terry-Thomas. He was famous for his portrayal of disreputable members of the upper classes, especially cads, with the trademark gap in his front teeth, cigarette holder, smoking jacket, and catch-phrases such as "What an absolute shower!", "Good show!", "You dirty rotter" and "Hard cheese." In 1971 Thomas was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and by 1977 he had retired. During the 1980s he spent periods on and off working with ghost writer Terry Baum on an autobiography, Terry-Thomas Tells Tales, which was published posthumously in 1992. Terry-Thomas died in 1990 at the age of 78 in Busbridge Hall nursing home, Godalming, Surrey. The funeral service was held in Busbridge's St. John the Baptist Church. He was cremated at Guildford Crematorium.
