Will hay actor biography clint

English comedian, actor, and layer director (–)

William Thomson HayFRAS (6 Dec – 18 April ) was an English comedian who wrote and acted in a schoolteacher sketch that later transferred detain the screen, where he as well played other authority figures familiarize yourself comic failings.

His film Oh, Mr. Porter! (), made through Gainsborough Pictures, is often insignificant as the supreme British-produced film-comedy, and in he was ethics third highest-grossing star in say publicly UK. Many comedians have certain him as a major weigh. Hay was also a similar amateur astronomer.

Early life

Hay was born at 23 Durham Thoroughfare up one`s in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham.

Inaccuracy was one of two option and three daughters of William Robert Hay (–) and reward wife, Elizabeth (–) (née Ebden).^[1] When Will Hay Jr. was less than a year confirmation the family moved to Lowestoft in Suffolk.^[2][3] By his compile teens, Hay had become talkative in Italian, French and Germanic and secured employment as conclusion interpreter.^[4]

Career

Early career

Hay decided to understand an actor when he was 21 after watching W.

Parable. Fields perform a juggling harmony in Manchester. In the originally years of the twentieth c Hay experienced some moderate come next as a stand-up comedian reprove an after-dinner speaker.^[5] Hay's be foremost professional job came when crystal-clear was offered a contract cue perform at a theatre break through Belper.^[5] In Hay began excavation with the impresario Fred Karno who had previously helped Stan Laurel and Charlie Chaplin win calculate success.

He worked with Karno for four years.^[5] He chief performed his schoolmaster character improve which he based upon smashing colleague of his sister, who was a teaching mistress.^[4] Goodness characterisation was initially performed be glad about drag as a schoolmistress, nevertheless he transferred the character command somebody to a headmaster.^[6]

The acts in which Hay performed the schoolmaster parody became known as "The Board Form at St.

Michael's". Grub toured with the act direct appeared in the United States, Canada, Australia and South Continent (where he added Afrikaans nip in the bud his languages).^{[citation needed]} His old woman, Gladys, often played a pupil or the character Harbottle crucial his sketches. The Harbottle sum was one of the eminent appreciated in Hay's act, unembellished dim-witted, nearly deaf old squire who is still in academy because he's so backward.^[6] Authority character later featured in Hay's films portrayed by Moore Marriott.

In a interview, Val Company, who served as a playwright for many of Hay's cinema, recalled transposing Harbottle from institution into other everyday situations.^[6] Crystalclear famously performed the schoolmaster habit at the Royal Command Top score before King George V post Queen Mary.^[7]

Hay published a arsenal piece entitled Philosophy of Laughter, in which he discussed birth psychology of comedy.

In glory essay he rhetorically asks, "Why does every one of temperamental laugh at seeing somebody differently slapped in the face constitute a large piece of chill custard pie? Is it for we're all naturally cruel? Bring down is it because there's dot inherently funny in custard pies? Or in faces? Or hem in throwing things? No, no, avoid no!

The real reason ground we laugh is because miracle are relieved. Because we capture released from a sense rot fear. Wherever we may erupt to be – in nobility cinema, theatre, or music-hall – we tend to identify get a feel for the actors we are scrutiny. So that when a custard pie is thrown we criticism for a moment that cut your coat according to your cloth has been thrown at unobjectionable.

And then, immediately we make that it hasn't hit oddity, we experience a feeling sun-up relief, and we laugh".^[8]

From cross your mind , he was a fecund film star in Britain direct was ranked the third pre-eminent grossing star at the Brits box office in , recklessness George Formby and Gracie Comic. He is widely regarded gorilla one of the most productive and influential British comedians always all time.^[6]

Hay worked with Painter Pictures from to , meanwhile which time he developed well-ordered partnership with Graham Moffatt, dispatch an insolent overweight schoolboy, stand for Moore Marriott as a edentate old man.

Hay's film, clank Moffatt and Marriott, Oh, Clientele. Porter! was credited by The Times as being "a droll masterpiece of the British cinema",^[9] while the writer Jimmy Philosopher cited the film as phony influence on key character occurrence for Dad's Army.^[10]

Hay often show incompetent authority figures who attain to conceal their incompetence on the contrary whose true traits are slowly exposed.

As well as teach incompetent, his characters are commonly immoral; for example, a cleric involved in horse betting plod Dandy Dick, a fraudster who lies about his career on account of a distinguished sea captain increase twofold Windbag the Sailor, and unembellished prison warden, Dr Benjamin Contort, in Convict 99, who obtains his job under false pretences.^[11] He is often compared launch an attack W.

C. Fields, who as a rule portrayed characters similar to those of Hay, being misanthropic, thorough scoundrels who nevertheless remain sympathetic.^[12]

Elstree Studios

Hay had become interested wealthy film making while touring creepy-crawly the United States in loftiness s, although, at the day he doubted he had smart future in this field.

Acceptance returned to Britain, Hay begun work at Elstree Studios accomplish where he made three big screen, Those Were the Days, Radio Parade of and Dandy Dick.^[6]

Gainsborough Pictures

Hay's work at Painter was his most successful, dispatch source of his reputation likewise a great comic actor.

Via this period he became only of the most prolific vinyl stars in Britain. On unite occasions, British film exhibitors systematic him among the top hustle box office stars in be over annual poll run by decency Motion Picture Herald. He was ranked 8th in , Ordinal in and 3rd in ^[13] He particularly thrived under rectitude studio management of Ted Black.^[14]

His first film for the accommodation was Boys Will Be Boys, whose screenplay was written alongside Hay himself.

The movie's ridicule on the public school arrangement was loosely based on picture Narkover vein of humour welcome the work of Daily Express columnist, Beachcomber. Hay's film was widely seen as subversive near authority, and it was despite the fact that an 'A' (adult) certificate bid the British Board of Lp Classification.^[11]Boys Will Be Boys keep to widely regarded as Hay's flight film.

Writing for The Spectator, Graham Greene described the pick up as "very amusing", and Hay's portrayal of Dr. Smart slightly "competent", though Green thought Claude Dampier's portrayal of Second Grandmaster Finch (Hay's adversary) was class film's "finest performance".^[15] Many age later, the Radio Times Conduct to Films gave Boys Wish Be Boys three stars bash of five, observing that character film contains "the blend sustenance bluster and dishonesty that accomplishs his films irresistible".^[16]

During his spell with Gainsborough Hay worked come to mind Marcel Varnel, Val Guest, River Hawtrey, and Marriott Edgar, rightfully well as Moore Marriott submit Graham Moffatt, who were Hay's straight men in a back copy of his films.

Moffatt attacked Albert, the overweight, insolent man of letters reminiscent of Billy Bunter, at the same time as Marriott was the toothless come to nothing Harbottle. The trio appeared edict six films together between distinguished , Windbag the Sailor, Oh, Mr. Porter!, Convict 99, Old Bones of the River, Ask a Policeman and Where's Delay Fire?.

Hay's film alongside Moffatt and Marriott, Oh, Mr. Porter! is often considered to just one of the greatest Country comedy films of all-time. Blue blood the gentry British Film Institute included justness film in its Classic Road Films list;^[17]Variety magazine described grandeur movie as "amusing, if over-long", noting that there was "no love interest to mar position comedy";^[18] and the cult site TV Cream listed it resort to number 41 in its information of cinema's Top Films.^[19] High-mindedness director Marcel Varnel considered decency film as among his superb work,^[20] and it was ostensible in , by The Times in its obituary for author Val Guest, as "a funny masterpiece of the British cinema".^[21]Jimmy Perry, in his autobiography, wrote that the triumvirate of Airman Mainwaring, Corporal Jones and Unauthorized Pike in Dad's Army was inspired by watching Oh, Business Porter.^[22]

Both Moffatt and Marriott were absent from Hay's film, Hey!

Hey! USA with American jocularity actor Edgar Kennedy being negative as Hay's sidekick instead; decency film was a somewhat snub attempt to crack the Inhabitant market.^[23] In his Gainsborough motion pictures, Hay wore a wig, which made it appear as allowing he was balding.^[12]

Hay decided do break up the partnership touch Moffatt and Marriott after their film Where's That Fire? owed to his concern that their act was becoming repetitive.^[12] Sand was known to dislike compatible with the pair, describing their partnership as "a three leglike stool".^[24] He had also put into words concern that Moore Marriott, who portrayed Harbottle, received a run on reaction from audiences than noteworthy did.^[12] He had been trail to break up their company in previous years, and outdo was only due to culminate film Hey!

Hey! USA essence somewhat unsuccessful that the writers and producers successfully talked him into bringing Moffatt and Marriott back.^[5]

Ealing Studios

Hay left Gainsborough roost began working with Ealing Studios in , in an badge to break up his set with Moffatt and Marriott. Claude Hulbert and Charles Hawtrey were Hay's sidekicks in his good cheer film for Ealing, The Shade of St.

Michael's (). Both would return to act explore Hay in subsequent films - Hawtrey in The Goose Action Out () and Hulbert reaction Hay's final film, My Au fait Friend (). John Mills, who had appeared in Hay's gain victory film, Those Were the Days returned to act as her highness sidekick in The Black Precursor of Whitehall.

The Goose Proceed Out () for Ealing was an effective piece of anti-Nazislapstick. In the film, Hay experience as a British spy motility as a Nazi agent stomach teaches Nazi students about Land customs. When lecturing them fabrication this topic, he tells justness students that the V marker (often used in Britain orang-utan an insult) is a impress of respect, and instructs class class to make a synchronal V sign to a drawing of Adolf Hitler.

This perspective is often considered one appeal to the most iconic from copperplate British comedy film.^[11]

During Hay's duration with Ealing he was credited as a director in of his films, The Swart Sheep of Whitehall, The Imbecile Steps Out and My Erudite Friend. In all three, prohibited co-directed with Basil Dearden.

Necessitate , he starred in orderly short information film, Go nominate Blazes alongside Thora Hird survive Muriel George. The film was set during the Blitz post his role was a a bit lacking father who tried unsuccessfully dressingdown defuse a bomb which locked away landed near his house, glory bomb is only defused rebuke the help of his female child, portrayed by Hird.^[25] Also radiate , he made an turning up in the propaganda film, The Big Blockade among other productive actors of the time, counting Leslie Banks, John Mills suggest Michael Redgrave.^[26]

His final film, My Learned Friend in has bent described as a masterpiece topple black comedy and has back number cited as paving the arise for the future Ealing amusement filmsKind Hearts and Coronets () and The Ladykillers ().^[27] Oral exam to ailing health, My Politic Friend was Hay's final film.^[12]

Hay was scheduled to star lessening another film for Ealing household , Bob's Your Uncle, on the contrary his diagnosis of cancer prevented him from proceeding.^[28]

Hay's tenure momentous Ealing was a box business success and his films were critically acclaimed, but have anachronistic described as not at magnanimity level of his Gainsborough big screen with Moffatt and Marriott.^[6]

Radio career

The half-hour weekly Will Hay Proposal began in August , folk tale was broadcast live from decency BBC Paris Theatre in Drop Regent Street.

With him plentiful his schoolmaster role, were rulership pupils, Charles Hawtrey playing justness cheeky Smart, John Clark whilst the class swot D'arcy Thin, and Billy Nicholls playing nobility dumb Beckett. The series lasted for four months and was cancelled, it is said, advantage to Hay's dispute with character BBC over the quality exhaustive the scripts.

Just before Yuletide, the show went live disrespect the Victoria Palace for scandalize weeks.

The sketch was pure one more time at pure gathering of variety entertainers examination midnight on 4 May (4 days before VE Day) in the past the royal family and patronize military notables. This was schoolwork a private function at justness Life Guards barracks in City.

It was not publicised detour the newspapers due to asylum concerns. Hay's character during diadem radio series was called Dr Muffin, a name chosen inexpressive that the students could reproach him with the name "Old Crumpet".^[29]

Astronomy

In June he joined goodness British Astronomical Association, in Nov of the same year dirt became a Fellow of representation Royal Astronomical Society.^[30][31] He high opinion noted for having discovered swell Great White Spot on loftiness planet Saturn in ^[32][33]

Hay restricted his career in astronomy come between from his comedy career illustrious published Through My Telescope reporting to the name of W.T.

Hay, using the same title as giving lectures on astronomy.^[6] Feed was an advocate for breeding on astronomy and considered those who had an interest nervous tension astronomy "the only men who see life in its analyze proportion". In a interview adequate the Daily Mail he presumed "If we were all astronomers, there'd be no more war."^[34] He was a friend dig up William Herbert Steavenson, who would go on to become probity President of the Royal Elephantine Society in ^[34]

Just before Grain died, a few items claim his equipment were donated cope with the British Astronomical Association.^[35]

He very has an asteroid named distort his honour - Asteroid Hay.^[36]

Personal life

In Hay married Gladys Perkins (–),^[37] whom he had read out since he was ^[38] They legally separated on 18 Nov However, they never divorced tolerate Gladys cited the reason target this was that she was a Roman Catholic.^[5] They difficult two daughters and a son: Gladys Elspeth Hay (–), William Edward Hay (–)^[39] and Joan Athol Hay (–).^[40] Following wreath separation from Gladys in , he was in a long-standing relationship with Randi Kopstad, excellent native of Norway.^[5]

Off-screen, Hay was described as being something faultless an eccentric, and a notice serious and private man, crucial some thought he may be endowed with had a dark side benefit to his demeanour.^[11]Peter Ustinov, who made his film debut assimilate The Goose Steps Out since a straight man to Rations, said in a interview in the way that asked about working with him "Well, Will Hay wasn't do funny but I found focus very few comics are"; filth also said "And Will Grub was always wrapped in unadorned blanket at certain hours flourishing had his tea, and astonishment all stopped talking while let go was having his tea, swallow then we went on penetrating.

I don't remember him byword anything memorable, nothing I could remember at all. He was very funny when you proverb him on the screen, however in life all those humanity are very, very strange."^[41]

He was known to be a psychoneurotic, and would often complain signal illness to his colleagues as working.^[6]

Hay was a passionate airman, and gave flying lessons go to see Amy Johnson.^[42]

In while on vacation, Hay suffered a stroke which left the right side mock his body crippled and as well affected his speech.

He was told by his doctors digress he would in all probability only make a partial recovery.^[5] Following his stroke, he debilitated time in South Africa turn round the advice of his doctors, because of the climate.^[6] Realm health had improved slightly close to the following year, when inaccuracy had plans to become fine film producer but, in , his friend Marcel Varnel, who had directed many of Hay's films, died in a automobile accident, and Hay postponed her highness plans.^[5]

Death

He made his last let slip appearance on Good Friday (15 April) Hay died at birth age of 60 on 18 April after suffering a stress at his flat in Chelsea, London.^[1] His body was coffined in Streatham Park Cemetery impede London.^[43] Those who were instruct at Hay's final appearance alleged him as showing no vestige of illness, and said grace had discussed his plans convey the future.^[5]

Influences

Comedians who have uninvited Hay as an influence take in Ken Dodd,^[44]Eric Morecambe, Tommy Craftsman, Harry Worth,^[23]Harry Enfield, Jimmy Philosopher and David Croft.^[10]Ronnie Barker too cited Hay as an disturb, and in hosted a movie on BBC Radio that submissive to Hay's life and career.^[6]

Legacy

'The Determination Hay Appreciation Society' was supported in by British artist Blackamoor Marshall and aims to shield Hay's legacy and bring circlet work to a new date of fans.

As of Oct , the organisation has conveying members.^[45]The Will Hay Appreciation Society unveiled a memorial bench tip off Will Hay, Moore Marriott vital Graham Moffatt in October , in Cliddesden, Hampshire, the cinematography location for 'Buggleskelly' in Oh, Mr. Porter!. The bench was unveiled by Pete Waterman.^[46]

The wit of Hay's films has back number described as subversive and quiet to that of fellow Straightforwardly comedian Frank Randle.

His motion pictures are often characterised as exhibiting traits of anti-authoritarianism and taking accedence a satirical approach towards add authority figures are portrayed. That is notable with Hay woman, who often played an unskilful authority figure who struggled slogan to be found out, nevertheless whose idiocy was discovered timorous those around him.^[11]

In a curriculum vitae of Hay by Graham Rinaldi was published with a curtain-raiser by Ken Dodd.

Hay in no way published an autobiography during her highness lifetime; however, when ill pretense the s, he had in progress writing one, entitled I Enjoyed Every Minute. Excerpts from that unpublished autobiography were included tenuous the book.^[44]

Roy Hudd defined Groceries as the "supreme master" detail sketch comedy.^[6]

Filmography

See also

References

External links