This list of British music hall performers includes a related list of British

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

entertainers...

Music Hall and Variety

Music Hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as variety. Perceptions of a distinction in Bri ...

, Britain's first form of commercial mass entertainment, emerged, broadly speaking, in the mid-19th century, and ended (arguably) after the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, when the halls

rebranded Rebranding is a marketing strategy in which a new name, term, symbol, design, concept or combination thereof is created for an established brand with the intention of developing a new, differentiated identity in the minds of consumers, investors ...

their entertainment as

. Perceptions of a distinction in Britain between bold and scandalous Victorian ''Music Hall'' and subsequent, more respectable ''Variety'' may differ (in the US,

Burlesque A burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects.

and

Vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

have analogous connotations).

British Music Hall entertainers

Annie Adams Asaneth Ann Adams Kiskadden (November 9, 1848 – March 17, 1916), credited as Annie Adams, was an American actress. Early and personal life Adams was the daughter of Julia Ann ( Banker) and Barnabas Lothrop Adams. In 1869, she married James ...

(1843–1905)Richard Anthony Baker, ''British Music Hall: an illustrated history'', Pen & Sword, 2014, , pp.86–87 * Fred Albert (1844–1886) *

Charles Austin Charles Allen Austin (born December 19, 1967) is an American athlete who won the gold medal in the men's high jump at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He was inducted into the United States Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2012. Currently, Ch ...

(1878–1944) *

Wilkie Bard Wilkie Bard (born William August Smith) (19 March 1874 – 5 May 1944) was a popular British vaudeville and music hall entertainer and recording artist at the beginning of the 20th century. He is best known for his songs "I Want to Sing in Opera" ...

(1874–1944) * Fred Barnes (1885-1938) * Ida Barr (1882–1967) * T. W. Barrett (1851–1935) *

George Beauchamp George Delmetia Beauchamp (; March 18, 1899 – March 30, 1941) was an American inventor of musical instruments. He is known for designing the first electrically amplified stringed instrument to be marketed commercially. He was also a foun ...

(1862–1900)Raymond Mander and Joe Mitchenson, ''British Music Hall: A story in pictures'', Studio Vista, 1965, p.101 * Harry Bedford (1873-1939) *

Bessie Bellwood Bessie Bellwood (born Catherine Mahoney; 30 March 1856 – 24 September 1896) was a popular music hall performer of the Victorian era noted for her singing of 'Coster' songs, including "What Cheer Ria". Her onstage persona was that of an abra ...

(1856–1896) *

Ada Blanche Ada Blanche (born Ada Cecilia Blanche Adams; 16 July 1862 – 1 January 1953) was an English actress and singer known early in her career for vivacious performances in Victorian burlesque and pantomime and later in character roles in Edwardian m ...

(1862–1953) *

Bessie Bonehill Bessie Bonehill (17 February 1855 – 21 August 1902) was an English vaudeville singer, comic entertainer and male impersonator. She toured widely in the United States in the 1890s, becoming "one of the most famous and wealthy entertainers of ...

(1855–1902) *

Herbert Campbell Herbert Campbell (22 December 1844 – 19 July 1904), born Herbert Edward Story, was an English comedian and actor who appeared in music hall, Victorian burlesques and musical comedies during the Victorian era. He was famous for starring, for ...

(1844–1904) *

Kate Carney Kate Carney (born Catherine Mary Pattinson; 15 August 1869 – 1 January 1950) was an English singer and comedian who played the music halls in London. Biography She was born in Southwark, London, in 1869 as Catherine Mary Pattinson.1901 c ...

(1869–1950) *

Mrs Caulfield Louisa Caulfield ( Matley, 23 April 1817 – 11 September 1870), known as Mrs Caulfield, was an English music hall singer active in the 1850s and 1860s. She was born in London, and married John Caulfield (1810–1865), an actor. Mrs Cau ...

(1817–1870) *

Harry Champion William Henry Crump (17 April 1865 – 14 January 1942), better known by the stage name Harry Champion, was an English music hall composer, singer and comedian, whose onstage persona appealed chiefly to the working class communities of Ea ...

(1865–1942) *

Charles Chaplin Sr. Charles Spencer Chaplin Sr. (18 March 1863 – 9 May 1901) was an English music hall entertainer. He achieved considerable success in the 1890s, and was the father of the actor and filmmaker Sir Charlie Chaplin. Early years Chaplin was born ...

(1863–1901) *

Hannah Chaplin Hannah Harriet Pedlingham Chaplin (née Hill; 6 August 1865 – 28 August 1928), also known by the stage name Lily Harley, was an English actress, singer and dancer who performed in British music halls from the age of 16. Chaplin was the mother ...

(1865–1928) *

Albert Chevalier Albert Chevalier (often listed as Albert Onésime Britannicus Gwathveoyd Louis Chevalier); (21 March 186110 July 1923), was an English music hall comedian, singer and musical theatre actor. He specialised in cockney related humour based on life ...

(1861–1923) *

G. H. Chirgwin G. H. Chirgwin (born George Chirgwin, 13 December 1854 – 14 November 1922) was a British music hall comedian, singer and instrumentalist, billed as "the White-Eyed Kaffir", a black face minstrel act. Biography Born in the Seven Dials area of L ...

(1854–1922) * Tom Clare (1876–1946) *

Harry Clifton Harry Clifton may refer to: * Harry Clifton (poet) (born 1952), Irish poet * Harry Clifton (actor), American silent film actor * Harry Clifton (footballer, born 1914) (1914–1998), English footballer * Harry Clifton (footballer, born 1998), We ...

(1832–1872) *

Charles Coborn Colin Whitton McCallum (4 August 1852 – 23 November 1945), known by his stage name Charles Coborn, was a British music hall singer and comedian. In a long career, Coborn was known largely for two comic songs: "Two Lovely Black Eyes", and " Th ...

(1852–1945) *

Lottie Collins Lottie Collins (16 August 1865 – 1 May 1910) was an English singer and dancer, most famous for introducing the song "Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay!" in England. Early life She was born Charlotte Louisa Collins in the East End of London in 1865. Her ...

(1865–1910) * Sam Collins (1825–1865) * Kitty Colyer (1881–1972) * Margaret Cooper (1877–1922) Dick Weindling, "The Lady in the Long Silk Gloves", ''Kilburn and Willesden History'', 25 September 2014
Retrieved 29 January 2021 *

Sam Cowell Samuel Houghton Cowell (5 April 1820 – 11 March 1864) was an actor and singer of comical songs. He was born in England and raised in the United States. Biography Born in London, he was the son of Joseph Cowell, a British actor who took ...

(1820–1864) * Whit Cunliffe (1875–1966) *

Marie Dainton Marie Dainton (8 June c. 1881 – 1 February 1938) was an actress of the Victorian and Edwardian eras who appeared regularly in both music halls and in dramatic theatre. Early career Dainton was born in Russia, apparently in 1881, but other so ...

(1881–1938; half-Russian) *

Daisy Dormer Daisy Dormer (born Kezia Beatrice Stockwell, 16 January 1883 – 13 September 1947) was a British music hall performer. Early life Kezia Beatrice Stockwell was born on 16 January 1883 in Southsea to Mary and Henry John Stockwell. Her fathe ...

(1883–1947) *

Leo Dryden George Dryden Wheeler Sr. (6 June 1863 – 21 April 1939), known as Leo Dryden, was an English music hall singer and vocal comic. Life and career George Dryden Wheeler, known as Leo Dryden, was born in London, the son of Sarah Ann (Frost) and Ge ...

(1863–1939) * T. E. Dunville (1867–1924) *

Gus Elen Ernest Augustus Elen (22 July 1862 – 17 February 1940) was an English music hall singer and comedian. He achieved success from 1891, performing cockney songs including "Arf a Pint of Ale", "It's a Great Big Shame", "Down the Road" and "If It ...

(1862–1940) *

G. H. Elliott George Henry Elliott (3 November 1882 – 19 November 1962) was a British music hall singer and dancer. Known as "The Chocolate Coloured Coon", he performed with a painted brown face and dressed entirely in white: white top hat, white tail-coat w ...

(1882–1962) * Kate Everleigh (1864–1926) *

James Fawn James Fawn (born James Simmonds; 1847–19 January 1923) was a British music hall comic entertainer, popular towards the end of the 19th century when he was often billed as 'The Prince of the Red Nosed Comedians'. His best known song was "Ask a P ...

(1850–1923) *

George Formby Sr George Formby (born James Lawler Booth; 4 October 1875 – 8 February 1921) was an English comedian and singer in musical theatre, known as one of the greatest music hall performers of the early 20th century. His comedy played upon Lanca ...

(1875–1921) *

Tom Foy Thomas Foy (1866 – 7 August 1917) was an English music hall performer and comedian. He was born in Manchester of Irish parents. Although some sources give his year of birth as 1879, official records (as well as his gravestone) indicate that ...

(1879–1917) *

Harry Fragson Harry Fragson (2 July 1869 – 31 December 1913), born Léon Philippe Pot, was a British music hall singer, songwriter and comedian. Born in London of French parentage, he moved to Paris, where he developed an act imitating French music hall pe ...

(1869–1913) * Will Fyffe (1885–1947) * Barclay Gammon (1866–1915) *

Gertie Gitana Gertie Gitana (born Gertrude Mary Astbury; 27 December 1887 – 5 January 1957) was an English music hall entertainer. Biography She was born in Shirley Street, Longport, Staffordshire, Longport, Stoke-on-Trent.Robert Glindon (c. 1799–1866) * Charles Godfrey (1854–1900) *

Ernest Hastings Ernest Walter Hastings (15 June 1879 – 2 September 1940) was an English singer, pianist, composer and performer of comic monologues. He was popular from the 1900s to the 1930s, when he was described as "England's Greatest Entertainer at the ...

(1879–1940) Ernest Hastings, ''Petrucci Music Library''
Retrieved 17 January 2021 *

Dick Henderson Richard Henderson (20 March 1891 – 15 October 1958) was an English music hall comedian, singer and character actor. Life and career Dick Henderson was born in Sculcoates, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, the son of a machinist. He was an app ...

(1891–1958) * May Henderson (1884–1937) * Jenny Hill (1848–1896) * Thomas Hudson (1791–1844) *

Alec Hurley Alexander Hurley (24 March 1871 – 6 December 1913) was an English music hall singer, and Marie Lloyd's second husband. Born in London, Hurley began a boxing career, during which he would perform a song entitled "The Strongest Man on Earth" aft ...

(1871–1913) *

Jack Judge John "Jack" Judge (3 December 1872 – 25 July 1938) was a Anglo-Irish songwriter and music-hall entertainer best remembered for writing the song "It's a Long Way to Tipperary". Judge originally wrote and sang the song in 1912, but the far more ...

(1872–1938) *

Marie Kendall Marie Kendall (born Mary Ann Florence Holyome; 27 July 1873 – 5 May 1964) was a British music hall comedian and actress who had a successful career spanning 50 years. Biography Kendall was born Mary Ann Florence Holyome on 27 July 1873 in ...

(1873–1964) *

Hetty King Winifred Emms (4 April 1883 – 28 September 1972), best known by her stage name Hetty King, was an English entertainer who performed in the music halls as a male impersonator over some 70 years. Early life She was born in New Brighton, Ches ...

(1883–1972) * John Labern (c. 1815–1881) * Walter Laburnum (1847–1902) *

George Lashwood George Lashwood (born Edward George Wright; 25 April 1863 – 20 January 1942) was a popular English singer and comedian of the Edwardian era, who performed in music halls throughout the country, especially in London's East End and at seaside l ...

(1863–1942) *

Harry Lauder Sir Henry Lauder (; 4 August 1870 – 26 February 1950)Russell, Dave"Lauder, Sir Henry (1870–1950)" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004, online edition, January 2011, accessed 27 April 2014 was a S ...

(1870–1950) *

Dan Leno George Wild Galvin (20 December 1860 – 31 October 1904), better known by the stage name Dan Leno, was a leading English music hall comedian and musical theatre actor during the late Victorian era. He was best known, aside from his music hall ...

(1860–1904) * Fannie Leslie (1856–1935) *

George Leybourne George Leybourne (17 March 1842 – 15 September 1884) was a ''Lion comique'' of the British Victorian music hall who, for much of his career, was known by the title of one of his songs, " Champagne Charlie". Another of his songs, and one that ...

(1842–1884) * George Leyton (1864–1948) *

Letty Lind Letitia Elizabeth Rudge (21 December 1861 – 27 August 1923), known professionally as Letty Lind, was an English actress, singer, dancer and acrobat, best known for her work in burlesque at the Gaiety Theatre, and in musical theatre at Daly's ...

(1861–1923) * Millie Lindon (1869–1940) * Alice Lloyd (1873–1949) *

Arthur Lloyd Arthur Lloyd may refer to: * Arthur Lloyd (rugby league), rugby league footballer of the 1930s for Wales, and York * Arthur Lloyd (musician) (1839–1904), Scottish singer, songwriter, comedian and stage producer * Arthur Lloyd (bishop) (1844–19 ...

(1839–1904) *

Marie Lloyd Matilda Alice Victoria Wood (12 February 1870 – 7 October 1922), professionally known as Marie Lloyd (), was an English music hall singer, comedian and musical theatre actress. She was best known for her performances of songs such as " T ...

(1870–1922) *

G. H. MacDermott Gilbert Hastings MacDermott (born John Farrell, 27 February 1845 – 8 May 1901) was an English lion comique, who was one of the biggest stars of the Victorian English music hall. He performed under the name of The Great MacDermott, and was wel ...

(1845–1901) * E. W. Mackney (1825–1909)A. P. Sharpe, "Banjo Pioneer", ''Banjo Mandolin Guitar'', February 1965, pp.164–165 *

Clarice Mayne Clarice Mayne (6 February 1886 – 16 January 1966) was a music hall and variety theatre singer and performer. Life and career Clarice Mabel Dulley, whose stage name was Clarice Mayne, was born in London in 1886. She is best known for the s ...

(1886–1966) *

Ernie Mayne Percy Ernest Barratt (17 March 1871 – 15 May 1937) was an English music hall entertainer who performed under the name Ernie Mayne. Mayne was one of the first music hall stars to broadcast on radio in 1922. Born in Topsham, Devon, by the age o ...

(1871–1937) * Jack Mayne (1887-1963) Comedian (name George Albert Caley) * Sam Mayo (1881–1938) *

Billy Merson Billy Merson (born William Henry Thompson; 29 March 1879 – 25 June 1947)Richard Anthony Baker, ''British Music Hall: an illustrated history'', Pen & Sword, 2014, , pp.227-228 was an English music hall performer, comedian and songwriter. Biog ...

(1879–1947) *

Victoria Monks Victoria Annie Monks (1 November 1884 – 26 January 1927) was a British music hall singer of the early 20th century. During the Edwardian and First World War eras she performed and recorded popular songs such as "Take Me Back to London Town" a ...

(1884–1927) *

Lily Morris Lily Morris (born Lilles Mary Crosby; 30 September 1882 – 3 October 1952)Richard Anthony Baker, ''British Music Hall: an illustrated history'', Pen & Sword, 2014, , pp.252-253 was an English music hall performer, who specialised in singing comedi ...

(1882–1952) * Jolly John Nash (1828–1901)Peter Gammond, ''The Oxford Companion to Popular Music'', Oxford University Press, 1991, p.279 *

Harry Nicholls Harry Nicholls VC (21 April 1915 – 11 September 1975) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Milit ...

(1852–1926) *

Talbot O'Farrell Talbot O'Farrell (born William Parrot; 27 July 1878 – 2 September 1952) was an English music hall singer (a tenor, whose repertoire included both sentimental and comic songs) and film actor. Biography He was born in the north of England ...

(1878–1952) *

Joe O'Gorman Joseph George O'Gorman (24 July 1890 – 26 August 1974) was a British entertainer and cricketer. With his brother Dave (1894–1964) he formed a song, dance and comedy act called the O'Gorman Brothers. Starting by touring the variety halls o ...

(1863–1937) "Joe O'Gorman", ''Music Hall Guild''
Retrieved 1 February 2021 *

Denise Orme Jessie Smither, Duchess of Leinster (25 August 1885 – 20 October 1960),Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 2, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd (2003), p. 2300 known by her stage name Denise Orme, was a ...

(1885–1960) * Charles Penrose (1873–1952) * Mrs F. R. Phillips (c. 1829–1899) *

Jack Pleasants Jack Pleasants (born Squire Pleasants; 27 August 1874 – 2 January 1924) was an English music hall comedian and singer. Life and career Jack Pleasants was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England in 1874. After entering a talent co ...

(1875–1924) *

Nelly Power Nelly PowerWhile her name is given variously as Nellie or Nelly in contemporary press reports and in advertisements for her appearances, Nelly is the name on her gravestone. (10 April 1854 – 19 January 1887) was the stage name of Ellen Mari ...

(1854–1887) * Arthur Prince (1881–1946) * Harry Randall (1857–1932) *

Ada Reeve Ada Reeve (born Adelaide Mary Reeves, 3 March 1874 – 5 October 1966) was an English actress of both stage and film. Reeve began to perform in pantomime and music hall as a child. She gained fame in Edwardian musical comedies in the 1890s. R ...

(1874–1966) *

Ella Retford Elinor Maud Dawe ( Flanagan, 2 July 1885 – 29 June 1962), who used the stage name Ella Retford, was an English music hall comedian, singer and dancer, and later a stage and film actress. Biography She was born in Sunderland (not Ireland, ...

(1885–1962) * Arthur Roberts (1852–1933) *

George Robey Sir George Edward Wade, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE (20 September 1869 – 29 November 1954),James Harding (music writer), Harding, James"Robey, George" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University P ...

(1869–1954) *

Frederick Robson Frederick Robson, born Thomas Frederick Brownbill (22 February 1821 – 12 August 1864) was an English comedian, actor and ballad singer. During his acting career, he combined outstanding comic gifts with the power of moving an audience to a se ...

(1821–1864) * Austin Rudd (1868–1929) *

Maidie Scott Maidie Scott (born Mary Elizabeth Pim; 21 September 1881 – 28 July 1966) was an Irish-born singer, comedienne and music hall performer. Life and career She was born in Mountmellick, County Laois, Ireland, and moved with her parents and sibli ...

(1881–1966) * Malcolm Scott (1872–1929) *

Mark Sheridan Mark Sheridan (11 September 1864 – 15 January 1918), born Frederick Shaw, was an English music hall comedian and singer. He became a popular performer of lusty seaside songs and originated the J. Glover-Kind classic, " I Do Like to Be Beside ...

(1864–1918) *

Ella Shields Ella Shields (27 September 1879 – 5 August 1952) was a music hall singer and male-impersonator. Her famous signature song, " Burlington Bertie from Bow", a parody of Vesta Tilley's " Burlington Bertie", written by her manager and first husba ...

(1879–1952) *

J. H. Stead James Hurst Stead ( 1826 – 24 January 1886) was an English music hall comedian, popular for several decades from the 1850s. Biography He was born in Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, and by the 1850s was performing in music halls around the c ...

(c. 1827–1866) *

Eugene Stratton Eugene Augustus Rühlmann (May 8, 1861 – September 15, 1918) was an American-born dancer and singer. Born in Buffalo, New York, he adopted the stage name Eugene Stratton and spent most of his career in British music halls. Stratton was a ...

(1861–1918) *

Marie Studholme Caroline Maria Lupton (10 September 1872 – 10 March 1930),Peter Bailey"Studholme, Marie (1872–1930)" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press (2004), Retrieved on 27 June 2008 known professionally as Marie Studho ...

(1872–1930) * Randolph Sutton (1888–1969) * Harry Sydney (c. 1825–1870) *

Harry Tate Ronald Macdonald Hutchison (4 July 1872 – 14 February 1940), professionally known as Harry Tate, was an English comedian, who performed in the music halls, in variety shows, and in films. Career Born in Lambeth, the son of a Scottish tea m ...

(1872–1940) *

Little Tich Harry Relph (21 July 186710 February 1928),Russell, Dav"Relph, Harry (1867–1928)" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004, online edition, January 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2013 professionally known as Littl ...

(1867–1928) *

Vesta Tilley Matilda Alice Powles, Lady de Frece (13May 186416September 1952) was an English music hall performer. She adopted the stage name Vesta Tilley and became one of the best-known male impersonators of her era. Her career lasted from 1869 until 192 ...

(1864–1952) * Sam Torr (1849–1923) *

Alfred Vance Alfred Peek Stevens (1839 – 26 December 1888), best known by his stage name of Alfred Vance, was a 19th-century English music hall singer. He was also known as ''The Great Vance'', and ''Alfred Grenville''. Early life Vance was born in L ...

(1839–1888) *

Harriet Vernon Harriet Vernon (9 October 1858–11 July 1923) was an English actress and singer of the Victorian era who appeared regularly in music hall, Victorian burlesque and pantomime in the 1880s and 1890s. In a career that spanned five decades, her fi ...

(1852–1923) *

Vesta Victoria Vesta Victoria (born Victoria Lawrence, 26 November 1873 – 7 April 1951) was an English music hall singer and comedian. She was famous for her performances of songs such as " Waiting at the Church" and "Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow Wow", both ...

(1873–1951) * Harry Weldon (1881–1930) * Bessie Wentworth (1873–1901) * Mabel Whittaker (1888-1963) (Dancer) The Rainbow Girl * Charles Whittle (1874–1947) *

Daisy Wood Daisy Violet Rose Wood (15 September 1877 – 19 October 1961), was an English music hall singer. Life and career Wood was born in Hoxton, London, the fifth of nine children, the oldest being Matilda Alice Victoria Wood (1870–1922), who per ...

(1877–1961) *

Wee Georgie Wood George Wood Bamlett OBE (17 December 1895 – 19 February 1979), known professionally as Wee Georgie Wood, was a British comic entertainer and actor who appeared in films, plays and music hall revues. He had a lengthy career of over fifty year ...

(1894–1979) *

Tom Woottwell Tom Woottwell (born Thomas Hare Burgess; 25 March 1864–13 February 1941) was an English music hall comedian, dancer and monologuist, popular around the turn of the twentieth century. Biography He was born in Highbury, London, the son of a b ...

(1864–1941)

British Music Hall entertainers: gallery

File:1892 Charles Coborn.jpg,

(1852-1945) File:Gus Elen 1900.jpg,

(1862-1940) File:Little Tich in Paris.jpg,

(1867-1928) File:Marie Lloyd 02.jpg,

(1870-1922) File:Vesta Victoria 001.jpg,

(1873-1951)

British Variety entertainers

Arthur Askey Arthur Bowden Askey, (6 June 1900 – 16 November 1982) was an English comedian and actor. Askey was known for his short stature (5' 2", 1.58 m) and distinctive horn-rimmed glasses, and his playful humour incorporating improvisation ...

(1900–1982) * Billy Bennett (1887–1942) *

Issy Bonn Issy Bonn (born Benjamin Levin; 21 April 1903 – 21 April 1977) was a British comedian, singer, actor, and theatrical agent. His signature song was "My Yiddishe Momme". Biography Benjamin Levin was born into a Jewish family in Whitechapel, L ...

(1903–1977) *

Max Bygraves Walter William Bygraves (16 October 1922 – 31 August 2012), best known by the stage name Max Bygraves (adopted in honour of Max Miller), was an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer. He appeared on his own television shows, s ...

(1922–2012) *

Charlie Chester Charlie Chester MBE (26 April 1914 – 26 June 1997) was an English comedian, radio and television presenter and writer, broadcasting almost continuously from the 1940s to the 1990s. His style was similar to that of Max Miller. Life and ...

(1914–1997) *

Ken Dodd Sir Kenneth Arthur Dodd (8 November 1927 – 11 March 2018) was an English comedian, singer and occasional actor. He was described as "the last great music hall entertainer", and was primarily known for his live stand-up performances. A life ...

(1927–2018) *

Clive Dunn Clive Robert Benjamin Dunn (9 January 19206 November 2012) was an English actor. Although he was only 48 and one of the youngest cast members, he was cast in a role many years his senior, as the elderly Lance Corporal Jones in the BBC sitcom ' ...

(1920–2012) *

Sid Field Sidney Arthur Field (1 April 1904 – 3 February 1950) was an English comedy entertainer who was popular in the 1940s. Early years Field was born in Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire, the son of Albert (a candlemaker) and Bertha (a dressmak ...

(1904–1950) *

Gracie Fields Dame Gracie Fields (born Grace Stansfield; 9 January 189827 September 1979) was an English actress, singer, comedian and star of cinema and music hall who was one of the top ten film stars in Britain during the 1930s and was considered the h ...

(1898–1979) *

Flanagan and Allen Flanagan and Allen were a British singing and comedy double act most active during the 1930s and 1940s. Its members were Bud Flanagan (1896 – 1968, born Chaim Weintrop) and Chesney Allen (1894–1982). They were first paired in a Florrie For ...

(respectively: 1896–1968; 1894–1982) *

Flanders and Swann Flanders and Swann were a British comedy duo. Lyricist, actor and singer Michael Flanders (1922–1975) and composer and pianist Donald Swann (1923–1994) collaborated in writing and performing comic songs. They first worked together in a scho ...

(respectively: 1922–1975; 1923–1994) *

George Formby George Formby, (born George Hoy Booth; 26 May 1904 – 6 March 1961) was an English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian who became known to a worldwide audience through his films of the 1930s and 1940s. On stage, screen and record he s ...

(1904–1961) *

Bruce Forsyth Sir Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson (22 February 1928 – 18 August 2017) was a British entertainer and presenter whose career spanned more than 70 years. Forsyth came to national attention from the late 1950s through the ITV series ''Sunday Night ...

(1928–2017) *

Dickie Henderson Richard Matthew Michael Henderson, OBE (30 October 1922 – 22 September 1985) was an English entertainer. Early years He was born in London. His father, Dick Henderson (1891–1958), was a music hall comedian and singer famous for his ...

(1922–1985) *

Joan Hinde Joan Hinde (21 October 1933 – 22 January 2015) was a British trumpeter and entertainer. Life Joan Hinde was born in Eckington, Derbyshire. At the age of six she began receiving cornet lessons from her uncle, who was the conductor of a local ...

(1933–2015) *

Hinge and Bracket Dr Evadne Hinge and Dame Hilda Bracket were characters devised by George Logan and Patrick Fyffe for their comedy and musical act. Hinge and Bracket were elderly, intellectual female musicians; in these personae the male Logan and Fyffe playe ...

: G. Logan (b. 1944) & P. Fyffe (1942–2002) *

Stanley Holloway Stanley Augustus Holloway (1 October 1890 – 30 January 1982) was an English actor, comedian, singer and monologist. He was famous for his comic and character roles Stanley Holloway on stage and screen, on stage and screen, especially t ...

(1890–1982) *

Roy Hudd Roy Hudd, OBE (16 May 1936 – 15 March 2020) was an English comedian, actor, presenter, radio host, author and authority on the history of music hall entertainment. Early life Hudd was born in Croydon on 16 May 1936 to Evalina "Evie" (née ...

(1936–2020) *

Jack Hylton Jack Hylton (born John Greenhalgh Hilton; 2 July 1892 – 29 January 1965) was an English pianist, composer, band leader and impresario. Hylton rose to prominence during the British dance band era, being referred as the "British King of Jazz" a ...

(1892–1965) * Jewel and Warriss (respectively: 1909–1995; 1909–1993) *

Davy Kaye Davy Kaye MBE (born David Kodeish, 25 March 1916 – 3 February 1998) was a British comedy actor and entertainer. Early life Born in Mile End Road in the East End of London to Jewish parents Koppel and Dora Kodeish, Kaye was so small at birth t ...

(1916–1998) *

Danny La Rue Danny La Rue, (born Daniel Patrick Carroll, 26 July 1927 – 31 May 2009) was an Irish singer and entertainer, best known for his on-stage drag queen, drag persona. He performed in drag and also as himself in theatrical productions, television ...

(1927–2009) * Kenneth McKellar (1927–2010) * Max Miller (1894–1963) *

Ivor Novello Ivor Novello (born David Ivor Davies; 15 January 1893 – 6 March 1951) was a Welsh actor, dramatist, singer and composer who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. He was born into a musical ...

(1893–1951) *

(1890–1974) *

Tessie O'Shea Teresa Mary "Tessie" O'Shea (13 March 1913 – 21 April 1995) was a Wales, Welsh entertainer and actress. Early life O'Shea was born in Plantagenet Street in Riverside, Cardiff to newspaper wholesaler James Peter O'Shea, who had been a soldie ...

(1913–1995) *

Bob and Alf Pearson Bob and Alf Pearson were an English musical variety double act, consisting of brothers Robert Alexander Pearson (15 August 1907 – 30 December 1985) and Alfred Vernon Pearson (15 June 1910 – 7 July 2012), who were mainly known for their singi ...

(respectively: 1907–1985; 1910–2012) *

Frank Randle Frank Randle (born Arthur Hughes, also known as Arthur McEvoy or Arthur Twist; 30 January 1901 – 7 July 1957) was an English comedian. A contemporary of fellow Lancastrians George Formby and Gracie Fields, he was regarded as more subv ...

(1901–1957) * Ted Ray (1905–1977) *

Leslie Sarony A Wills cigarette card from the 'Radio Celebrities' series, 1934; Sarony on right Leslie Sarony (born Leslie Legge Frye; 22 January 1897 – 12 February 1985) was a British entertainer, singer, actor and songwriter. Biography Sarony was b ...

(1897–1985) * Andy Stewart (1933–1993) *

Tommy Trinder Thomas Edward Trinder CBE (24 March 1909 – 10 July 1989) was an English stage, screen and radio comedian whose catchphrase was "You lucky people!". Described by cultural historian Matthew Sweet as "a cocky, front-of-cloth variety turn", he was ...

(1909–1989) *

Max Wall Max Wall (12 March 1908 – 21 May 1990) was an English actor and comedian whose performing career covered music hall, films, television and theatre. Early years Wall was born Maxwell George Lorimer, son of the successful music hall entert ...

(1908–1990) *

Jimmy Wheeler Ernest Alfred Henry Remnant (16 September 1910 – 8 October 1973), known professionally as Jimmy Wheeler, was a British variety theatre comedian and pioneer of radio and television. Earlier in his career he worked with his father in the double ...

(1910–1973) *

Robb Wilton Robert Wilton Smith (28 August 1881 – 1 May 1957), better known as Robb Wilton, was an English comedian and actor. He was best known for his filmed monologues during the 1930s and 1940s, in which he played incompetent authority figures. His tr ...

(1881–1957)

British Variety entertainers: gallery

File:Nina Vanna and Ivor Novello.jpg,

(1893–1951) File:GracieFieldsStageDoorCanteen.jpg,

(1898–1979) File:George Formby with the army in France, 1940 cropped.jpg,

(1904–1961) File:Danny La Rue 1975.jpg,

(1927–2009) File:KEN DODD.jpg,

(1927–2018)

References