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1-50 of 103
- Daisy England was born on 23 June 1860 in Pancras, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Head of the Family (1922) and A Football Favourite (1922). She died on 6 March 1943 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Arthur Hardy was born on 15 April 1870 in Marylebone, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Dreyfus Case (1931), The Amazing Adventure (1936) and Raise the Roof (1930). He died in 1951 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Isobel Ohmead was born on 14 June 1882 in Tehran, Iran. She was an actress, known for Magyar Melody (1939). She was married to J. Sabben-Clare. She died in 1961 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Gwendoline Jesson was born on 3 November 1882 in Pancras, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for One Summer's Day (1917). She died on 12 June 1960 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Stanley Vine was born on 13 September 1886 in Eastbourne, Sussex, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Quatermass and the Pit (1958), Lord of the Manor (1933) and The Man Who Changed His Name (1934). He died on 20 September 1968 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Walter Lindsay was born on 21 August 1888 in Broadstairs, Kent, England, UK. He was an actor, known for For Valour (1937). He died in 1957 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Sidney Pointer was born on 18 April 1889 in Islington, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Under Suspicion (1939). He died on 16 May 1955 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Joe Adami was born on 16 December 1890 in Liverpool, England, UK. He died in 1974 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Margery Bryce was born on 18 June 1891 in Marylebone, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Ten Little Niggers (1949), Whiteoaks (1951) and The Silver Box (1949). She died on 8 June 1973 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- David Tearle was born on 22 June 1891 in Kings Norton, Birmingham, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Celebrity (1928), The Green Goddess (1930) and As I Was Saying (1955). He died on 24 July 1970 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Dennis Esmonde was born on 25 June 1892 in Manchester, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Imperfect Lover (1921). He died on 11 March 1942 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Margaret Withers was born on 6 July 1893 in West Bromwich, West Midlands, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Sin of Esther Waters (1948), Don't Take It to Heart! (1944) and If This Be Sin (1949). She died on 26 October 1977 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Vivian Baron was born on 10 February 1895 in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for The Passing of Mr. Quin (1928), Further Adventures of a Flag Officer (1927) and Sailors Don't Care (1928). He died on 28 December 1961 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Diminutive Scots character actor of quirky personality and gift of gab. As a drama student at St. Andrews, he first performed in productions staged by the university's dramatic society. He served with the Royal Scots during World War I, then forged a career playing comic roles on the Shakespearean stage, where he was often billed as 'D.Hay Petrie'. With the Old Vic from 1920, he was much acclaimed for his performances as Sly in "The Taming of the Shrew" and as Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream". The screen saw him as eccentric personae, well-cast in period drama and in Dickensian parts (such as the malevolent debt-collector Quilp, in The Old Curiosity Shop (1934) and as the corn-chandler Uncle Pumblechook in Great Expectations (1946)). An inveterate scene-stealer, Petrie was able to slip with consummate ease from genre to genre and from comical to villainous.
He is perhaps best remembered as The MacLaggan in The Ghost Goes West (1935) and as the evil Dr. Fosco in Crimes at the Dark House (1940). To his ever-lasting regret, he missed out on the two parts he most coveted: that of Sancho Panza in Feodor Chaliapin Sr.'s film version of Don Quixote (1933) and as Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939). Petrie died suddenly, just two weeks after his 53rd birthday, from undisclosed causes. - Mae Bacon was born on 3 April 1897 in Ilkley, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Good Companions (1933), When We Are Married (1938) and The Fugitive (1939). She was married to Lieutenant Lionel Calvert and Morris Harvey. She died on 3 June 1981 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Cleo Nordi was born on 28 January 1898 in Finland. She was an actress, known for Danger in Paris (1937), Frenzy (1945) and Caravan (1946). She died on 30 March 1983 in Fulham, London, England, UK.- Actor
- Writer
- Music Department
Archie Harradine was born on 19 March 1898 in Clapham, London, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for A Cup of Kindness (1947), A Cup of Kindness (1950) and They Flew Through Sand (1946). He died on 10 August 1974 in Fulham, London, England, UK.- Cecil Trouncer was born on 5 April 1898 in Southport, Lancashire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Pygmalion (1938), Volpone (1948) and The Pickwick Papers (1952). He was married to Henrietta Kirkpatrick Russell. He died on 15 December 1953 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Molly Veness was born on 21 July 1898 in Addlestone, Surrey, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Supernatural (1977), The Onedin Line (1971) and The Silver Sword (1971). She was married to Peter Godfrey. She died on 23 December 1985 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Rose Howlett was born on 14 February 1899 in the UK. She was an actress, known for Saturday Playhouse (1958), The Wednesday Play (1964) and The Monkey's Paw (1948). She died in 1971 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Marianne Deeming was born on 27 September 1899 in Bares, Hungary. She was an actress, known for Victoria Regina (1964), BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950) and Third Time Lucky (1949). She died on 21 August 1984 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Dorothy Darke was born on 30 January 1900 in Exeter, Devon, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Sara Crewe (1951), A Place of Execution (1953) and Loyal Heart (1946). She died on 5 October 1990 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Director
- Actor
- Writer
London-born Harold French made his name on the stage, both as an actor and director. He crossed over to films, making his acting debut in 1920. He became a director shortly before the beginning of World War II, debuting with The Cavalier of the Streets (1937), and made a well-received adaptation of A.E.W. Mason's thriller, Secret Mission (1942). He didn't score again until 1948, with My Brother Jonathan (1948). Known more for his romantic dramas and comedies, French switched to a period action piece, Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue (1953). He directed his last film, The Man Who Loved Redheads (1955) in 1955 and went back to writing. Toward the end of his career he returned to directing in the theatre. While he may not have been classified among the top-ranked British directors, he nevertheless turned out many well-made, entertaining films over his 20-year-plus career.- Max Kirby was born on 24 April 1903 in Hampstead, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Sierra Nine (1963), Maytime in Mayfair (1949) and Spaceflight IC-1: An Adventure in Space (1965). He died on 16 March 1969 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Joan Ingram was born on 14 August 1903 in St George Hanover Square, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for A Tale of Two Cities (1957), BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950) and A King in New York (1957). She died on 27 July 1974 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Reg Lever was born on 4 September 1903 in Chasetown, Burntwood, Staffordshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Scrooge (1970), Doomwatch (1972) and The Beast in the Cellar (1971). He was married to Elsie Winsor. He died on 18 August 1985 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Betty Bowden was born on 7 October 1904 in Wallington, Surrey, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Doctor Who (1963), Just William (1946) and Sixpenny Corner (1955). She died on 20 August 1991 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Alan Shires was born on 25 June 1906 in Fulham, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for He Loved an Actress (1938), Stackars lilla Sven (1947) and Telescope (1947). He died on 19 September 1954 in Fulham, London, England, UK.- Actress
- Additional Crew
Doreen Austin was born on 31 July 1906 in Croydon, Surrey, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Variety Jubilee (1943), Saturday Night at the Palace (1947) and Cabaret (1936). She died on 1 May 1981 in Fulham, London, England, UK.- Elaine de Chair was born on 7 April 1907 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Cheaters (1930). She died on 27 December 1996 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Nancy O'Neil was born on 25 August 1907 in Glebe, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She was an actress, known for There Was a Young Man (1937), Garrison Follies (1940) and Someone at the Door (1939). She died on 5 March 1995 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Writer
- Script and Continuity Department
Katherine Strueby was born on 28 May 1908 in Newton, Kansas, USA. She was a writer, known for The Shop at Sly Corner (1947), Maxwell Archer, Detective (1940) and Forbidden (1949). She was married to Gordon Wellesley. She died on 14 November 1988 in Fulham, London, England, UK.- Phyllis Montefiore was born on 20 April 1909 in Helensburgh, Scotland, UK. She was an actress, known for Somerset Maugham Hour (1960), The Saint (1962) and Crane (1963). She died on 5 November 1973 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Rachel Pinney was born on 11 July 1909 in Dorset, England, UK. She was married to Luigi Cocuzzi. She died on 19 October 1995 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Janet Burnell was born on 4 September 1909 in Hersham, Surrey, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Henry V (1944), Lillie (1978) and The Winslow Boy (1958). She died on 13 June 1999 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Carl Lacey was born on 18 November 1909 in Pancras, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Probation Officer (1959), Quatermass II (1955) and Stand by to Shoot (1953). He died in 1962 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Art Department
Julius Kay was born on 23 March 1910 in England, UK. He died in 1990 in Fulham, London, England, UK.- Malachi Keegan was born on 3 November 1910 in Dublin, Ireland. He was an actor, known for The Case of Thomas Pyke (1949). He died on 5 May 1988 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Norman Pitt was born on 29 January 1911 in Wandsworth, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Saint (1962), The Avengers (1961) and Scott On... (1964). He died in November 1986 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Actor
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Gerry Judge was born on 20 June 1911 in Camberwell, Surrey, England, UK. He was an actor. He died on 13 September 1986 in Fulham, London, England, UK.- Isola Strong was born on 10 December 1911 in Wimbledon, Surrey, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Glorious Morning (1938). She was married to Peter Hobbes and Arnold Ridley. She died on 4 October 1997 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Andrew Freeth was born on 29 October 1912 in Birmingham, England, UK. He died on 26 March 1986 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Whitney Straight was born on 6 November 1912 in New York, New York, USA. He died on 5 April 1979 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- William Dickie was born on 7 September 1914 in Belfast, Ireland [now Northern Ireland], UK. He was an actor, known for The Merry Wives of Windsor (1957), The Man in Armour (1951) and The Power We Need (1963). He died on 14 March 1982 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Kenneth Gilbert More C.B.E. (20 September 1914 - 12 July 1982) was one of Britain's most successful and highest paid actors of his generation, with a multi award-winning career in theatre, film and television spanning over 4 decades.
At the height of his fame during the 1950's More appeared in some of the most memorable feature films of the decade including Genevieve (1953), Doctor in the House (1954), The Deep Blue Sea (1955), Reach for the Sky (1956), Paradise Lagoon (1957), A Night to Remember (1958), The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw (1958), North West Frontier (1959) and The 39 Steps (1959).
Starting out as the lovable, happy-go-lucky gentleman with boyhood charm and cheerful optimism, he would later refine his acting style into a leading man who could articulate a whole range of emotions in serious dramatic performances. More managed to embody courage and a sense of moral certitude with a relaxed, informal manner that made audiences warm to him immediately.
From very early on in his career More was very conscious of his talents, what parts suited him as an actor and what did not. More would have been the first to admit there were other actors that could better perform the works of Shakespeare than he. More was probably being self-deprecating. He had more range than he sometimes gave himself credit for, but he knew how best to appeal to an audience.
Born in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, Kenneth More was the son of a civil engineer, a profession he initially pursued but with little success. More was not a trained actor and had not gone into show business to tread the boards. He was merely looking for work and happened to walk past the Windmill Theatre in London's West End one day and saw a sign above the door 'General Manager - Vivian Van Damm'. More had remembered that a man called Van Damm had known his father and so he asked for a job. More was soon a stagehand earning two pounds and ten shillings a week, shifting scenery and helping to get the nude female performers off the stage during their risqué performances. One day he was called upon to help comic Ken Douglas on stage with a sketch, More playing the small part of a Policeman. It was this experience and the subsequent taste of the audience's laughter which made him want to pursue a career in acting. He was soon an actor in his own right appearing on stage as Ken More in comedy sketches. Following 2 years at the Windmill he moved into repertory theatre with seasons at Byker's, Grand Theatre in Newcastle, and the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.
With the outbreak of war, and following a stint with the Merchant Navy, More joined Royal Navy cruiser HMS Aurora (R12) . It would end up having the greatest impact on his character and his acting style during wartime. As ship's Action Commentator he found an opportunity to hone his craft as an actor, keeping steady nerves when reporting action during conflict to the crew below decks. He also got on well with his shipmates by helping them to write wonderfully romantic love letters home to their ladies. Aurora would journey across the Atlantic and Mediterranean seeing its fair share of action. Wartime missions aboard Aurora, and later with aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (R38) would lead him to receive medals, including campaign stars for Africa, Italy, the Atlantic and Pacific.
After being demobbed from the Navy More returned to England and signed with agent Harry Dubens, who was seeking actors who had served in the forces. More went into 'The Crimson Harvest' (1946) at the Gateway Theatre in Notting Hill, and it was there that BBC producer Michael Barry saw him and offered him a contract to play in small television roles at the Alexandra Palace to help restart the BBC.
Jenny Laird and John Fernald's 'And No Birds Can Sing' (1946) marked More's West End debut at the Aldwych Theatre, playing the part of the Reverend Arthur Platt. Within a year he was back on stage in 'Power Without Glory' (1947) by Michael Clayton Hutton at the New Lindsey, Notting Hill Gate. It was so well received that it led to a live version being broadcast on the BBC. That same year Noël Coward cast More as a British Resistance Leader in 'Peace in Our Time' at the Lyric Theatre; a story of what might have happened if Britain had lost the Second World War. More and Coward got on well and stayed friends throughout their lives. 1950 saw More in 'The Way Things Go' by Frederick Lonsdale at the Phoenix Theatre, alongside a cast which included Michael Gough, Glynis Johns, Ronald Squire and Janet Burnell.
His first breakthrough came on stage at The Duchess Theatre in 1952 playing the role of Freddie Page alongside Peggy Ashcroft in Terence Rattigan's 'The Deep Blue Sea'. It was noted actor Roland Culver who had put More forward for the part having known Rattigan. The production was an enormous success and Kenneth More received great critical acclaim. He would often cite it as his favourite stage performance.
It was whilst More was performing in 'The Deep Blue Sea' that filmmaker Henry Cornelius came back stage to offer him a part which would change his career forever, the role of Ambrose Claverhouse in a film called Genevieve (1953). Cornelius had remembered More from a screen test he had directed him in for the part of Lt. E.G.R. (Teddy) Evans in Scott of the Antarctic (1948). This had been More's first attempt to break into cinema which had not come to fruition although plenty of film work followed. Cornelius was sure More was the Claverhouse he needed for 'Genevieve' and he was not disappointed. More's perfect comic timing was made for the part and he won the audience immediately making him a rising star overnight. 'Genevieve' was the second most popular movie that year and went onto become a British comedy classic, winning Best British Film at the British Film Academy Awards.
More channelled the same energy and zest for life he had shown as Claverhouse in his next performance as student Doctor Richard Grimsdake in the first of the much-loved Doctor in the House (1954) film series. It was a winning formula becoming the most popular film at the box office in 1954 securing More Best Actor at the British Film Academy Awards.
1955 saw More returning to the role of Freddie Page in a big screen version of Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea, playing alongside Vivien Leigh. Incidentally, he had brought the role back to life the previous year for BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950) series. The screen adaptation was produced by Alexander Korda and directed by Anatole Litvak. More's performance was once again praised by audiences and critics alike, leading to being awarded the prestigious Volpi cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival, as well as nominations for Best Actor at the British Film Academy Awards. Further honours were bestowed by the Variety Club of Great Britain as Most Promising International Star of 1955. He had finally made his mark.
It was a serious leading role initially turned down by Richard Burton which would make More a major star. Playing the legless, real-life fighter pilot Douglas Bader in Reach for the Sky (1956) was the role of a lifetime. He felt the part of Bader was one he was born to play as he mentioned in his autobiography, 'More or Less': "Bader's philosophy was my philosophy. His whole attitude to life was mine." More had met Bader at Gleneagles where they played a round of golf together, Bader winning each time. They got on well which was somewhat surprising in that Bader was not that keen on actors. Not wanting to caricature him More kept his distance whilst preparing for the role, only meeting him on a handful of occasions for dinner with his friend, actor Ronald Squire. 'Reach for the Sky' became a smash hit upon release and the most popular British film of 1956, winning a British Film Academy award for Best Film. Playing Bader also garnered a Best Actor award for More from popular cinema publication, Picturegoer magazine.
'Reach for the Sky' did something much greater for his career, it showed British audiences that Kenneth More was not just suited to comic roles, he had range as a leading man in dramatic performances. In later years More called several of his films 'favourites' in the press, but it is the belief that 'Reach for the Sky' remained his preferred choice and greatest accomplishment on screen.
Hugely popular films The Admirable Crichton (1957), A Night to Remember (1958), The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw (1958), North West Frontier (1959) and The 39 Steps (1959) galvanized his status as one of Britain's most sought-after actors of the decade. Once he was a £5 a week actor in rep, now he was commanding £50,000 a film.
At the height of his fame More was offered several opportunities to go to Hollywood but with the success he was enjoying at home he did not see the point, or even what he had to offer Tinseltown at this juncture.
The 1960s saw More continue as a leading man in Sink the Bismarck! (1960), Loss of Innocence (1961) and We Joined the Navy (1962). He would cite The Comedy Man (1964) as one of his most favourite roles playing down and out middle-aged actor Chick Byrd. This character resonated with him on two levels. The first was how it represented the experiences he had as a struggling young actor, the second was how he was coming to terms with the present, his own age and the shifting trends of the industry. It would be More's last leading role on the silver screen. Further successes on film came but in cameo or supporting roles, including The Longest Day (1962), Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), Battle of Britain (1969), Scrooge (1970) and The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella (1976).
More finally achieved worldwide fame as leading man on the small screen in a BBC adaptation of John Galsworthy's The Forsyte Saga (1967). He had been working steadily on television throughout the 1960's in starring roles, but The Forsyte Saga caught the world's imagination and was a huge, phenomenal success. The series managed to achieve that rare cult-like status and helped introduce Kenneth More to a whole new audience, many who had not seen his earlier work. Several years late More took on another famous literary character playing the part of a Catholic priest who was adept at solving mysteries in G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown (1974). The TV Times awarded him Best Actor for his performance.
Kenneth More had returned to the theatre as early as 1963, playing the part of Peter Pounce alongside Celia Johnson in Giles Cooper's 'Out of the Crocodile' at the Phoenix Theatre. A year later he appeared in a musical version of 'The Admirable Crichton' co-starring with Millicent Martin in 'Our Man Crichton' at the Shaftesbury Theatre. By the end of the 1960s he had received great critical praise as Hugh in a production of 'The Secretary Bird' (1968) by William Douglas-Home at the Savoy Theatre. It turned out to be the biggest stage success of his career. Terence Rattigan's 'The Winslow Boy' (1970), Alan Bennett's award-winning 'Getting On' (1971), Jeremy Kingston's 'Sign of the Times' (1973) and Frederick Lonsdale's 'On Approval' (1977) followed, all of which reinforced More's popularity in his later years.
He was made a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the Queen's New Year's Honours list of 1970. The Kenneth More Theatre, a regional playhouse named in his honour opened in Redbridge in 1974. The Variety Club of Great Britain bestowed More with a special silver heart in 1975 for 40 years in show business. He had been a great supporter of the club over the years taking part in a great deal of charitable events. A special, televised ceremony was held in the Lancaster ballroom of the Savoy Hotel and was attended by many of the industry's best-known names, including Sir. Douglas Bader who More had remained friends with throughout the years.
1978 saw the release of his autobiography 'More or Less', reported to have sold 100,000 copies almost immediately upon release. It received widespread critical and public praise and showed that his appeal had not diminished after 4 decades in the business, despite how times had changed. More was considered an 'institution in British entertainment' according to presenter Michael Parkinson whilst introducing him on his chat show in 1978.
More announced his retirement in 1980 due to illness, at the time he was diagnosed with Parkinson's. It is now very likely that he was suffering from Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), due in part to the age of onset and the speed at which the condition progressed. Kenneth More passed away on July 12th, 1982. His wife Angela Douglas was by his side having nursed him in his final years.
Kenneth More's memorial service was held at St Martin-in-the-Fields on 20 September 1982, which also marked his birthday. The service was packed with family and friends alike, including Lauren Bacall, Dame Anna Neagle and Lady Joan Bader, widow of Sir Douglas Bader who had passed away the same year. A plaque was erected at St. Paul's Church Covent Garden, known more commonly as the Actor's Church.
It is almost 40 years since his passing, yet Kenneth More's performances have endured, continuing to screen worldwide on television and home entertainment. What greater legacy can there be for an actor than to be able to continue to thrill audiences long after one has taken their final bow.- Charles Adey-Grey was born on 10 November 1914 in Paddington, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Onedin Line (1971), Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965) and Heartland (1979). He died on 18 May 1983 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Dudley Jones was born on 26 December 1914 in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Treasure Island (1957), Doctor Who (1963) and Under Milk Wood (1971). He was married to Carol Hill. He died on 10 November 1990 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Yves Chanteau was born on 12 June 1915. He was an actor, known for The Whole Truth (1958), Nom-de-Plume (1956) and BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950). He died in June 1972 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- Anthony Nash was born on 9 November 1915 in St. George Hanover Square, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Days of Hope (1975), Thriller (1973) and Paul Temple (1969). He died on 11 November 1977 in Fulham, London, England, UK.
- David Blake Kelly was born on 17 February 1916 in Dublin, Ireland. He was an actor, known for Doctor Who (1963), All Aboard (1958) and The Mail Van Murder (1957). He was married to Jill Gregory. He died on 21 January 1993 in Fulham, London, England, UK.