Ronald Alfred Shiner 8 June 1903 in London 29 June 1966 in London was a British standup comedian and comedic actor whose career encompassed film West End theatre and music hall A former Royal Northwest Mounted Police Officer farmer greengrocer milkman bookies clerk soldier and film extra Shiner shot to fame appearing in 1700 performances of the stage hit Worms Eye View from 1945 to 1947 he would later top his own record by appearing in the play Seagulls Over Sorrento for 2000 performances between 1950 and 1954 At the height of his career Shiner insured his nose for 10000 because he said its me beak which made em larf In retirement he owned a pub at Blackboys in Sussex but was plagued by ill health in his final years and retired to Eastbourne He died there in June 1966 leaving an estate of 30955