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Kay Kendall is a Actor British born on 21 may 1926 at Withernsea (United-kingdom)
Kay Kendall (21 May 1927 – 6 September 1959) was an English actress.
Kendall began her film career in the musical film London Town (1946). Although the film was a financial failure, Kendall continued to work regularly until her appearance in the comedy film Genevieve (1953) brought her widespread recognition. Most prolific in British films, Kendall also achieved some popularity with American audiences, and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her role in the musical-comedy film Les Girls (1957).
She began a romantic relationship with actor Rex Harrison after they appeared together in the comedy film The Constant Husband (1955), and they were married in 1957. Harrison learned from Kendall's doctor that she had been diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia, a fact that was kept from Kendall, who believed she was suffering from an iron deficiency. The actor cared for Kendall until her death at age 32.
In 1955, she starred opposite Harrison in The Constant Husband, and an affair soon followed. Harrison was married to actress Lilli Palmer at the time. However, when he learned from Kendall's doctor that she had been diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia, he and Palmer agreed to divorce so he could marry Kendall and provide for her care. Kendall was never told of her illness and ended up believing she merely had an iron deficiency. As for the divorce, Palmer said she was not upset because she had a lover, too. Palmer and Harrison planned to remarry after Kendall's death, but Palmer ended up falling in love with her companion, actor Carlos Thompson, and married him instead.
(1957)
(Actress)
Source : Wikidata
Kay Kendall
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Birth name Justine Kay Kendall-McCarthy
Nationality United-kingdom
Birth 21 may 1926 at Withernsea (United-kingdom)
Death 6 september 1959 (at 33 years) at London (United-kingdom)
Nationality United-kingdom
Birth 21 may 1926 at Withernsea (United-kingdom)
Death 6 september 1959 (at 33 years) at London (United-kingdom)
Kendall began her film career in the musical film London Town (1946). Although the film was a financial failure, Kendall continued to work regularly until her appearance in the comedy film Genevieve (1953) brought her widespread recognition. Most prolific in British films, Kendall also achieved some popularity with American audiences, and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her role in the musical-comedy film Les Girls (1957).
She began a romantic relationship with actor Rex Harrison after they appeared together in the comedy film The Constant Husband (1955), and they were married in 1957. Harrison learned from Kendall's doctor that she had been diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia, a fact that was kept from Kendall, who believed she was suffering from an iron deficiency. The actor cared for Kendall until her death at age 32.
Biography
Early in her career, Kendall had a lengthy romance with actor Sydney Chaplin, the second son of actor Charlie Chaplin by his second wife, actress Lita Grey. She also had affairs with a Swedish prince and grocery heir James Sainsbury and reportedly had a romance with the future Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.[1][2]In 1955, she starred opposite Harrison in The Constant Husband, and an affair soon followed. Harrison was married to actress Lilli Palmer at the time. However, when he learned from Kendall's doctor that she had been diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia, he and Palmer agreed to divorce so he could marry Kendall and provide for her care. Kendall was never told of her illness and ended up believing she merely had an iron deficiency. As for the divorce, Palmer said she was not upset because she had a lover, too. Palmer and Harrison planned to remarry after Kendall's death, but Palmer ended up falling in love with her companion, actor Carlos Thompson, and married him instead.
Best films
(1957)(Actress)
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Filmography of Kay Kendall (26 films)
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Once More, with Feeling! (1960)
, 1h32Directed by Stanley Donen
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Comedy, Romantic comedy, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Films about classical music and musicians, Films based on plays
Actors Yul Brynner, Kay Kendall, Gregory Ratoff, Geoffrey Toone, Mervyn Johns, Martin Benson
Roles Dolly Fabian
Rating60%
Egomaniacal and temperamental Victor Fabian is the London Festival Orchestra's conductor. His wife Dolly is a harpist who acts on her husband's behalf, presenting his impossible demands to the symphony's backers, only to then find him dallying with a considerably younger musician. Dolly decides to leave him, whereupon he destroys her harp.
The Reluctant Debutante (1958)
, 1h35Directed by Vincente Minnelli
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Romantic comedy, Romance
Themes Films based on plays
Actors Rex Harrison, Kay Kendall, John Saxon, Sandra Dee, Diane Clare, Angela Lansbury
Roles Sheila Broadbent
Rating66%
When 17-year-old Jane Broadbent (Sandra Dee) comes to London to live with her wealthy father Jimmy Broadbent (Rex Harrison), her stepmother Sheila (Kay Kendall) feels compelled by her social aspirations to introduce her to society. Jane is bored by the debutante balls she attends and the young men she is introduced to, but becomes interested in a drummer named David Parkson (John Saxon), who has a reputation for leading young women astray. To complicate matters, David Fenner (Peter Myers) relentlessly pursues Jane, even though she openly detests him.
Les Girls (1957)
, 1h49Directed by George Cukor
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Musical, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films
Actors Gene Kelly, Kay Kendall, Mitzi Gaynor, Taina Elg, Jacques Bergerac, Leslie Phillips
Roles Sybil Wren
Rating65%
En Angleterre, Lady Sybil Wren - épouse de Sir Gerald Wren - publie ses mémoires : avant son mariage, elle faisait partie d'une troupe de « Girls » dirigée par le chorégraphe Barry Nichols. Une autre ancienne membre de cette troupe, Angèle Ducros, lui intente un procès en diffamation. Lors des débats, chacune expose sa version des faits. Retour en arrière : Sybil et Angèle sont, avec Joy Henderson, les vedettes d'un spectacle en tournée de Nichols…
Quentin Durward (1955)
, 1h43Directed by Richard Thorpe
Origin USA
Genres Swashbuckler, Adventure, Historical, Romance
Actors Robert Taylor, Kay Kendall, Robert Morley, George Cole, Alec Clunes, Duncan Lamont
Roles Isabelle, Countess of Marcroy
Rating62%
In 1465, honorable but penniless Scottish knight Quentin Durward (Robert Taylor) agrees to go to France to find out if the beautiful young heiress, Isabelle, Countess of Marcroy (Kay Kendall), would be a suitable wife for his aged uncle (that is, if she is as rich as is claimed). The marriage has been arranged by Charles, Duke of Burgundy (Alec Clunes) for his ward to cement an alliance with Scotland, but she wants nothing to do with it, so she runs away and seeks the protection of Charles' great rival, Louis XI (Robert Morley), King of France. Quentin pursues and manages to foil an attempted robbery by brigands under the command of Count William de La Marck (Duncan Lamont), though Isabelle continues on her way unaware of her protector's identity.
Abdullah's Harem (1955)
, 1h43Directed by Gregory Ratoff
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy
Actors Kay Kendall, Sydney Chaplin, Gregory Ratoff, Alexander D'Arcy, Marina Berti
Roles Ronnie
Rating49%
The film is set in a Middle Eastern country whose absolute ruler, Abdullah (Gregory Ratoff), lives a life of great luxury, surrounded by lovely women. When Ronnie, a beautiful English model (Kay Kendall), arrives, Abdullah falls for her and offers her great riches. She resists his advances as she is more interested in Ahmed (Sydney Chaplin), an officer in the King's army. While this is going on, Abdullah is unaware of the growing discontent among his subjects which threatens to overthrow him.
The Constant Husband (1955)
, 1h28Directed by Sidney Gilliat
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy
Actors Rex Harrison, Margaret Leighton, Kay Kendall, Cecil Parker, Nicole Maurey, George Cole
Roles Monica Hathaway
Rating63%
A man (Rex Harrison) wakes up in a hotel room in Wales, suffering from amnesia. He has no recollection of who he is or where he comes from. With the help of mental specialist Doctor Llewellyn (Cecil Parker), he manages to trace himself back to his wife and home in London, but soon discovers that she is just one of his many wives in his many homes all over the country.
Simon and Laura (1955)
, 1h27Directed by Muriel Box
Genres Comedy
Themes Théâtre, Films based on plays
Actors Peter Finch, Kay Kendall, Muriel Pavlow, Maurice Denham, Ian Carmichael, Richard Wattis
Roles Laura Foster
Rating62%
Un couple en instance de divorce devient le couple vedette d'une émission de télévision.
Doctor in the House (1954)
, 1h32Directed by Ralph Thomas
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy
Themes Medical-themed films
Actors Dirk Bogarde, Muriel Pavlow, Kenneth More, Donald Sinden, Kay Kendall, James Robertson Justice
Roles Isobel
Rating65%
The story follows the fortunes of Simon Sparrow (Dirk Bogarde), starting as a new medical student at the fictional St Swithin's Hospital in London. His five years of student life, involving drinking, dating women, and falling foul of the rigid hospital authorities, provide many humorous incidents.
Fast and Loose (1954)
, 1h15Directed by Gordon Parry
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy
Actors Stanley Holloway, Kay Kendall, Charles Victor, June Thorburn, Dora Bryan, Fabia Drake
Roles Carol Hankin
Rating59%
An unmarried couple are forced to adopt a series of pretexts when they stay at a country inn together with only one spare room.
Genevieve (1953)
, 1h26Directed by Henry Cornelius
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy
Themes Sports films, Transport films, Films about automobiles, Auto racing films, Road movies
Actors Dinah Sheridan, John Gregson, Kay Kendall, Kenneth More, Geoffrey Keen, Reginald Beckwith
Roles Rosalind Peters
Rating70%
Two veteran cars and their crews participating in the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. Alan McKim (John Gregson), a young barrister, and his wife, Wendy (Dinah Sheridan), drive Genevieve, a 1904 Darracq. Their friend Ambrose Claverhouse (Kenneth More), a brash advertising salesman, his latest girlfriend, fashion model Rosalind Peters (Kay Kendall) and her pet St. Bernard ride in a 1905 Spyker.
Mantrap (1953)
, 1h13Directed by Terence Fisher
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Thriller, Crime
Actors Paul Henreid, Lois Maxwell, Kay Kendall, Kieron Moore, Anthony Forwood, Hugh Sinclair
Roles Vera Gorringe
Rating58%
Mervyn Speight s'évade de prison où il était incarcéré pour meurtre. Un de ses amis engage Hugo Bishop, un avocat apprenti détective privé, pour le retrouver. Il le trouve en effet sur le lieu du meurtre. Mervyn lui dit alors qu'il espère prouver son innocence car il se souvient avoir vu un visage d'homme avant d'être assommé et arrêté. Depuis son arrestation, la femme de Mervyn, Thelma, un rédactrice dans un magazine, vit avec Victor Tasman et prétend être son épouse. Son rédacteur en chef, Maurice Jerrard, est la seule personne à savoir que son vrai mari était en prison. Bishop finit par croire en l'innocence de Mervyn et invite tous les protagonistes à une soirée. Mervyn reconnaît alors Jerrard comme son agresseur. Jerrard s'enfuit, mais finit par tomber et se tuer près de la scène de crime. Désormais libre, Mervyn voyage à travers l'Europe pour que sa femme puisse continuer à vivre avec Tasman.
Meet Mr. Lucifer (1953)
, 1h23Directed by Anthony Pelissier
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy, Fantasy
Actors Stanley Holloway, Peggy Cummins, Jack Watling, Barbara Murray, Joseph Tomelty, Kay Kendall
Roles Lonely Hearts Singer
Rating58%
When Mr Pedelty (Joseph Tomelty) leaves his firm, he is given a television set as a retirement present. At first he enjoys all the attention from his neighbours, but soon the attraction wears off, and he sells it on to a young married couple (Jack Watling and Peggy Cummins) living in the flat above him. They soon encounter the same problems, and again the set is passed on to several different characters all with the same results.
The Square Ring (1953)
, 1h23Directed by Basil Dearden, Michael Leighton George Relph
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama
Themes Sports films, Théâtre, Martial arts films, Boxing films, Films based on plays, Le boxe anglaise
Actors Jack Warner, Robert Beatty, Bill Owen, Maxwell Reed, George Rose, Bill Travers
Roles Eve Lewis
Rating64%
Five stories that take place mainly in the locker room prior to and after various bouts during a single evening at a cheap boxing stadium. These include a novice cheated of victory, a boxer who refuses to "throw" a fight, and a veteran trying to make a come-back who pays with his life.
Street of Shadows (1953)
, 1h24Directed by Richard Vernon
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Crime
Actors Cesar Romero, Kate Kendall, Bill Travers, Kay Kendall, Simone Silva, Edward Underdown
Roles Barbara Gale
Rating59%
Luigi, the owner of a Soho saloon, is romancing an unhappily married socialite, Barbara Gale. He finds himself accused for the murder of ex-girl friend, Angela, who was found stabbed in his apartment. He evades the police and asks his friend Limpy for help. It turns out Limpy was the real killer of Angela.
It Started in Paradise (1952)
, 1h34Directed by Compton Bennett
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama
Themes La mode
Actors Jane Hylton, Martita Hunt, Muriel Pavlow, Terence Morgan, Ian Hunter, Ronald Squire
Roles Lady Caroline Frencham
Rating57%
In 1938, Mme. Alice (Hunt), chief designer of a famous London fashion house, has lost her touch. Where once she was the most sought after designer in the city, now her creations seem locked in the past and clients are looking elsewhere for modern fashions. She is persuaded by her senior assistant Martha (Hylton) that she needs a long holiday to recapture her creative inspiration. Once Mme. Alice has departed the fiercely ambitious Martha, who has been biding her time for several years, launches a coup, designing and presenting a range of up-to-the-minute garments which are a huge success with the fashion media and bring clients flocking back to the salon. The financial backer of the business is delighted with the upturn in profits; Martha is promoted to chief designer and Mme. Alice is quietly retired.