He was rarely out of work and soon in demand on television, too, taking one-off roles in series such as The Adventures of Superman (1953) and Gun Law (1955) before a run as the college student Brian McAfee in The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1957-58).
He popped up in one-off roles in The New Avengers (1977) and the sitcom Marjorie and Men (1985).
After leaving The Bill he had one-off roles in Holby City (2004), Heartbeat (2007), Doctors (two parts, 2007, 2009), Casualty (2010) and Midsomer Murders (2011), and appeared alongside Robert Carlyle in the 2008 film Summer.
Many one-off roles followed in series such as Bless This House (1971), Love Thy Neighbour (1972), Man About the House (1974), It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1981) and Hi-de-Hi!
Over the show's history, it featured a number of notable comic actors in one-off roles.
Minogue officially registered her interest on 26 March 2007 and was subsequently given a one-off role as the Doctor's companion.
There were also dozens of one-off character roles on television and in films such as HMS Defiant (1962).
In 1930, Lombard returned to Fox for a one-off role in the western The Arizona Kid.
After making his television debut in the play A Man Against His Age (1970), Bardon took one-off character roles in dozens of dramas and comedies.
My father and I would trade off roles: one of us had to lie very still with eyes closed and arms crossed over the chest, and the other had to complain, "I've been searching these pyramids for so many years.
Danone, a food firm, hires people for one-off management roles.
