George Davy Burnaby (7 April 1881 – 18 April 1949) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

actor who appeared in more than thirty films between 1929 and 1948. He was born in Buckland,

Hertfordshire Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is one of the home counties in southern England. It borders Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire to the north, Essex to the east, Greater London to the south, and Buckinghamshire to the west. For govern ...

and made his screen debut in the 1929 film ''The Devil's Maze''. He died on 18 April 1949, age 68, the same date as comedian

Will Hay William Thomson Hay (6 December 1888 – 18 April 1949) was an English comedian who wrote and acted in a schoolmaster sketch that later transferred to the screen, where he also played other authority figures with comic failings. His film '' O ...

with whom he had previously acted.

Career

Burnaby attended

Haileybury College Haileybury may refer to: Australia * Haileybury (Melbourne), a school in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia ** Haileybury Rendall School, an offshoot in Berrimah, North Territory, Australia China * Haileybury International School, an internatio ...

before reading law at

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

but failed his first exam - so he turned to the Stage. He made his professional debut at a command performance for

King Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria a ...

. He formed

The Co-Optimists ''The Co-Optimists'' is a stage variety revue that opened in London on 27 June 1921. The show was devised by Davy Burnaby. The piece was a co-operative venture by what ''The Times'' called "a group of well-known musical comedy and variety artist ...

a London concert party which was very successful. Burnaby was renowned on the London Stage and on wireless. His films include ''

Calling All Stars Calling All Stars may refer to: *Calling All Stars (1934 musical), a 1934 Broadway musical *Calling All Stars (1937 musical) ''Calling All Stars'' is a 1937 British musical comedy film directed by Herbert Smith and starring Arthur Askey, Evely ...

'', ''

Song of the Forge ''Song of the Forge'' is a 1937 British musical film directed by Henry Edwards and starring Stanley Holloway, Lawrence Grossmith and Eleanor Fayre. The screenplay concerns an elderly blacksmith who refuses assistance from his wealthy son in spi ...

'', '' Talking Feet'' and '' Leave It to Me''.

Partial filmography

* '' The Devil's Maze'' (1929) * ''

Three Men in a Boat ''Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)'',The Penguin edition punctuates the title differently: ''Three Men in a Boat: To Say Nothing of the Dog!'' published in 1889, is a humorous account by English writer Jerome K. Jerome of a tw ...

'' (1933) * '' A Shot in the Dark'' (1933) * '' That's My Wife'' (1933) * '' Strike It Rich'' (1933) * '' Cleaning Up'' (1933) * '' The Wishbone'' (1933) * '' Keep It Quiet'' (1934) * ''

Are You a Mason? Are You a Mason? is a farce in 3 acts by Leo Ditrichstein, who in turn adapted it from a German play, ''Die Logenbrüder'' (''The Freemason''), by Curt Kraatz and Carl Laufs. The play was performed at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 1901.''The Prince ...

'' (1934) * ''

The Diplomatic Lover ''The Diplomatic Lover'' is a 1934 British musical romance film directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring Harold French, Tamara Desni and Davy Burnaby. The film was made at Shepperton Studios as a quota quickie for release by Fox Film.Chibnall, ...

'' (1934) * ''

Murder at the Inn ''Murder at the Inn'' is a 1934 British crime film directed by George King and starring Wendy Barrie, Harold French and Jane Carr. It was a quota quickie, made at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.Wood p.78 Cast * ...

'' (1934) * ''

The Man I Want ''The Man I Want'' is a 1934 British comedy film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Henry Kendall, Wendy Barrie and Betty Astell. The screenplay concerns a man who accidentally comes across some stolen jewels. The film was made at Beacon ...

'' (1934) * ''

On the Air On the Air may refer to: *On the Air (album), ''On the Air'' (album), 1984, by Billy Preston *On the Air (TV series), ''On the Air'' (TV series), an American sitcom *On the Air (film), ''On the Air'' (film), a 1934 British musical comedy *On the A ...

'' (1934) * '' Stormy Weather'' (1935) * ''

While Parents Sleep ''While Parents Sleep'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Adrian Brunel and starring Jean Gillie, Enid Stamp Taylor and Romilly Lunge. The film is a screen adaptation of a 1932 play of the same name by Anthony Kimmins, which had been a ...

'' (1935) * ''

'' (1937) * ''

Feather Your Nest ''Feather Your Nest'' is a 1937 British musical comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring George Formby, Polly Ward and Enid Stamp-Taylor. Plot A worker at a gramophone record factory surprisingly creates a hit song, " Leaning on a L ...

'' (1937) * ''

The Song of the Road ''The Song of the Road'' is a 1937 British drama film directed by John Baxter and starring Bransby Williams, Ernest Butcher and Muriel George. It was made at Shepperton Studios. It was made as a supporting feature A B movie or B film is a ...

'' (1937) * '' Talking Feet'' (1937) * ''

Second Best Bed ''Second Best Bed'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Tom Walls and starring Walls, Jane Baxter and Veronica Rose. The screenplay is by Ben Travers, based on an earlier story of his. Walls and Travers had worked together on the Aldwyc ...

'' (1938) * '' Woman Hater'' (1948)

References

External links

* 1881 births 1949 deaths English male film actors People from East Hertfordshire District Male actors from Hertfordshire 20th-century English male actors People educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College {{england-film-actor-stub