Terry-Thomas was an English character actor and comedian who became internationally known through his films during the 1950s and 1960s. He often portrayed disreputable members of the upper classes, especially cads, toffs and bounders, using his distinctive voice; his costume and props tended to include a monocle, waistcoat and cigarette holder. His striking dress sense was set off by a 1⁄3-inch (8.5 mm) gap between his two upper front teeth.
Terry-Thomas in Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? (1968)
Ardingly College, where Terry-Thomas engaged in amateur dramatics.
Erich von Stroheim, on whom Terry-Thomas based his early look.
"Everyone was talking about the gap between my teeth, my monocle, the fancy waistcoats I wore and the seven-inch cigarette holders I used." —Terry-Thomas on his unique look
A diastema is a space or gap between two teeth. Many species of mammals have diastemata as a normal feature, most commonly between the incisors and molars. More colloquially, the condition may be referred to as gap teeth or tooth gap.
Actor Terry-Thomas was known for his 1⁄3-inch (8.5 mm) diastema.
Large diastemata between incisors, canines and molars of a normal horse