Arthur ("Chubby") Oates (23 December 1942 – 10 November 2006) was aCockneyclubland comic and character actor.

Born inBermondsey,South London Oates started out as a reporter for theSouth London Observer, he shared an office with future editor ofThe Sun,Kelvin MacKenzie.
In the evenings Oates began to perform as a comic and by the early sixties he'd turned professional. He was also a notedpantomime performer usually appearing as thedame. In this capacity he played "Mum" to some of the biggest and best names in showbusiness. He also claimed the record for the heaviest Ugly Sisters when his co-star in a production of "Cinderella" at Yeovil's Octagon Theatre was Steve King. Their combined weight was in excess of 30 stone!
In 1973-74 he co-starred withFiona Richmond inPyjama Tops, a long-runningPaul Raymond comedy at theWhitehall Theatre. As a character actor Oates appeared in shows such asDoctor Who andDixon of Dock Green, and also played the coach driver in the cult horror filmKiller's Moon (1978). He played a common soldier, providing a monologue in the BBC dramaThe Devil's Crown also in 1978.

He died inDeal in Kent^[1] on 10 November 2006 aged 63 from diabetic complications and aheart attack after giving a performance at a showbusiness luncheon. Appropriately, one of the last pictures taken of Chubby showed veteran comedy legendsRoy Hudd andJune Whitfield laughing at a joke Chubby had just cracked.

• Chubby Oates atIMDb
• Times obituary.
• Chubby Oates at Theatricalia

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