William Arnold Ridley, OBE (7 January 1896 – 12 March 1984) was an English playwright and actor. He is known for his play The Ghost Train and for playing the elderly Private Charles Godfrey in the British sitcom Dad's Army (1968–77).
Ridley was born on 7 January 1896 in Bath, Somerset, England. He was married to Althea Parker from 1945 until his death in 1984. Ridley died on 12 March 1984 in Hillington, London, England from complications from a fall, aged 88.