Celebrated actor Bill Kerr has died at his home in Perth aged 92.

Kerr was born in South Africa and raised in rural New South Wales.

He achieved international fame on British radio in the late 1940s, billed as The Boy From Wagga Wagga, and went on to work on Hancock's Half Hour.

Kerr's first film role was Harmony Row in 1933, and he appeared in a wide range of films and TV shows including The Dam Busters, Doctor Who, The Young Doctors, Gallipoli, Anzacs, Dusty and The Shark Net.

His son Wilton Kerr said his father was born to perform and his first foray onto the stage was as a newborn baby.

"His mum used him instead of using a prop, a baby prop, she actually used her son, her newborn son, so he was literally kind of born to do it," he said.

Mr Kerr said his father's personality was very different to the kind of men he was asked to portray.

"The most generous, happy, loving man ... different to the gruff-voiced man you'll find in the roles that he would play," he said.

"Generous with his affection, just his life, general positivity, if I could be half the man he is, I'd be a very happy guy."

Mr Kerr said his mother heard his father laughing just before he passed away.

"He said he wasn't feeling too well quite recently and he was just quietly watching television in his room," he said.

"Mum ... said she could hear him laughing to Seinfeld, and that was one of his favourite shows."