Claude Dampier
Claude Dampier | |
|---|---|
 Postcard c. 1910s | |
| Born | Claud Conolly Cowan 1879 |
| Died | 1 January 1955 Ashford, Middlesex, England |
| Resting place | Golders Green Crematorium |
| Occupation | Actor, Comedian |
| Spouse(s) | Irene Vere Billie Carlyle[1] |
| Children | Dorothy Dampier |
Claude Dampier (1879 – 1955) was an English film actor and popular character comedian in the early 20th century.[2][3]
Life[]
He was born in Clapham, South London as Claud Conolly Cowan.[2][3]
He played largely comic roles, first appearing in music hall acts and then moving to both film and radio comedies. Dampier usually appeared as a dim-witted 'silly ass' type, often billed as 'The Professional Idiot'.[4][5] He was best remembered for his post-war Jewel and Warriss radio shows, where he adopted the catch-phrase "it's me-ee".[6]
Dampier toured Australia with Edward Branscombe's Dandies troupes between 1910 and 1917. He revisited the country in 1921, and starred in two Australian films before returning to England.[1]
He married Australian actress Billie Carlyle (c1901-1991), who appeared as a 'straight-woman' in his act.[7] They met whilst acting in the silent film The Adventures of Algy (1925).[8] Carlyle later wrote a book, Claude Dampier, Mrs. Gibson & Me (1978).[9][10] 'Mrs. Gibson' was Dampier's gimmick (apparently developed accidentally), a fictitious member of the audience with whom he spoke throughout his act.[3]
Dampier is the father of actress Dorothy Dampier.[4][11]
He died in 1955 in London of pneumonia.[12]
He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium in north London on 4 January 1955. His ashes lie in section 1-L of the Garden of Remembrance.[13]
Filmography[]
- Hullo Marmaduke (1924)
- The Adventures of Algy (1925)
- Mr. Stringfellow Says No (1934)
- Radio Parade of 1935 (1934)
- So You Won't Talk (1935)
- The White Lilac (1935)
- No Monkey Business (1935)
- Boys Will Be Boys (1935)
- Such Is Life (1936)
- All In (1936)
- Public Nuisance No. 1 (1936)
- King of the Castle (1936)
- She Knew What She Wanted (1936)
- Sing as You Swing (1937)
- Wanted! (1937)
- She Shall Have Music (1937)
- Riding High (1937)
- Don't Take It to Heart (1944)
- Let's Have a Murder (1950)
- Meet Mr. Malcolm (1954)
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Clay Djubal. "Claude Dampier" at Australian Variety Theatre Archive. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Claude Dampier". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2009-01-15.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Claude Dampier". Collections.vam.ac.uk.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "HistoryForSale - Autographs and Manuscripts - Claude Dampier - Autograph Sentiment Signed - Document 160864". Historyforsale.com.
- ^ "' Top of the Bill ' CLAUDE DAMPIER". Bbc.co.uk.
- ^ Quinlan's Film Character Actors:David Quinlan
- ^ "NFSA - Name Details". Colsearch.nfsa.gov.au. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ "NFSA - Search Results". Colsearch.nfsa.gov.au. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ "Claude Dampier, Mrs Gibson and me / by Billie Carlyle. - Version details - Trove". Nla.gov.au.
- ^ "Claude Dampier". Comedy.co.uk.
- ^ "Dorothy Dampier". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2015-06-14.
- ^ "Claude Dampier (1879 - 1955) - Find A Grave Memorial". Findagrave.com.
- ^ Golders Green Crematorium information guide
External links[]
| hide Authority control  | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| National libraries | |
  | This article about an English actor is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by . |
- 1879 births
- 1955 deaths
- English male film actors
- Music hall performers
- English male comedians
- 20th-century British male actors
- English male silent film actors
- 20th-century English male actors
- English actor stubs