Jack Marks (12 February 1895 – 12 March 1987) was an English performer and screenwriter. He was born in

Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...

West Yorkshire West Yorkshire is a metropolitan and ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and Humber Region of England. It is an inland and upland county having eastward-draining valleys while taking in the moors of the Pennines. West Yorkshire came into exi ...

, and began his career as a comedian, dancer and singer. He appeared before

King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother Que ...

and Queen Mary at the inaugural Royal Command Performance in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

in 1912. He later became a successful screenwriter for several British films, such as '' Up for the Cup'' (1950). Marks married Iris Dilley and they had a son, Howard. He died from

lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma (since about 98–99% of all lung cancers are carcinomas), is a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissue (biology), tissues of the lung. Lung carcinomas derive from tran ...

in St John's Wood.

Selected filmography

* ''

Splinters in the Navy ''Splinters in the Navy'' is a 1931 British comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Sydney Howard, Alf Goddard, and Helena Pickard. The film was made at Twickenham Studios, and is a sequel to the film '' Splinters'' (1929), about an a ...

'' (1931) * ''

The Mayor's Nest ''The Mayor's Nest'' is a 1932 Cinema of the United Kingdom, British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Sydney Howard, Claude Hulbert and Al Bowlly. It was made at British and Dominions Imperial Studios, Elstree Studios.Wood p. ...

'' (1932) * ''

This Week of Grace ''This Week of Grace'' is a 1933 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Gracie Fields, Henry Kendall and John Stuart. The screenplay concerns a poor, unemployed woman who is made housekeeper at the estate of a wealthy du ...

'' (1933) * ''

It's a King ''It's a King'' is a 1933 British comedy film directed by Jack Raymond and starring Sydney Howard, Joan Maude and Cecil Humphreys. It was made at Elstree Studios by the producer Herbert Wilcox's British and Dominions company.Wood p.75 Plot Far ...

'' (1933) * ''

Trouble Trouble may refer to: Film and television * ''Trouble'' (1922 film), an American silent comedy-drama film directed by Albert Austin * ''Trouble'' (1933 film), a British comedy film * ''Trouble'' (1977 film), a Soviet drama film * ''Trouble'' ...

'' (1933) * ''

Up for the Derby ''Up for the Derby'' is a 1933 British sports comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Sydney Howard, Dorothy Bartlam and Tom Helmore. The screenplay concerns a tramp who unexpectedly gains money. It was made at British and Dominion ...

'' (1933) * ''

It's a Cop ''It's a Cop'' is a 1934 British police-themed comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Sydney Howard, Chili Bouchier and Garry Marsh. It was made at British and Dominion Elstree Studios.Wood p.78 Plot An incompetent police constab ...

'' (1934) * ''

Girls, Please! ''Girls, Please!'' is a 1934 British comedy film directed by Jack Raymond and starring Sydney Howard, Jane Baxter, Meriel Forbes and Peter Gawthorne. It was made at British and Dominions Imperial Studios, British and Dominion's Elstree Studios.Wo ...

'' (1934) * ''

Where's George? Where's George? is a website that tracks the natural geographic circulation of American paper money. Its popularity has led to the establishment of a number of other currency tracking websites and sites that track other objects, such as used bo ...

'' (1935) * '' Fame'' (1936) * ''

Splinters in the Air ''Splinters in the Air'' (aka, ''Splinters In The Air Force'') is a 1937 British comedy film directed by Alfred J. Goulding and starring Sydney Howard and Richard Hearne. It is a loose sequel to the films ''Splinters (1929 film), Splinters'' (19 ...

'' (1937) * '' Why Pick on Me?'' (1937) * '' What a Man!'' (1938) * ''

Old Mother Riley Joins Up ''Old Mother Riley Joins Up'' is a 1940 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane, Martita Hunt, Bruce Seton and Garry Marsh. It was part of the long-running Old Mother Riley series. Plot summary Old ...

'' (1940) * ''

Old Mother Riley's New Venture ''Old Mother Riley's New Venture'' is a low-budget black-and-white 1949 British comedy film, starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane and Chili Bouchier. It is the twelfth in the long-running Old Mother Riley films, and was the first of the series to ...

'' (1949) * '' Trail Blazers'' (1953) * ''

Not Wanted on Voyage ''Not Wanted on Voyage'' is a 1957 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Ronald Shiner, Brian Rix and Catherine Boyle. The film was made at British National Studios. It is based on a play by Ken Attiwill and his wife ...

'' (1957)

External links

* 1895 births 1987 deaths English male screenwriters English male comedians Writers from Leeds 20th-century English comedians Comedians from Yorkshire 20th-century English screenwriters 20th-century English male writers {{England-actor-stub