George Formby, OBE (born George Hoy Booth; 26 May 1904 â€" 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 sang light, comical songs,
usually playing the ukulele or banjolele, and became the UK's
highest-paid entertainer.Born in Wigan, Lancashire, he was the son of
George Formby Sr, from whom he later took his stage name. After an
early career as a stable boy and jockey, Formby took to the music hall
stage after the early death of his father in 1921. His early
performances were taken exclusively from his father's act, including
the same songs, jokes and characters. In 1923 he made two
career-changing decisions â€" he purchased a ukulele, and married
Beryl Ingham, a fellow performer who became his manager and
transformed his act. She insisted that he appear on stage formally
dressed, and introduced the ukulele to his performance. He started his
recording career in 1926 and, from 1934, he increasingly worked in
film to develop into a major star by the late 1930s and 1940s, and
became the UK's most popular entertainer during those decades. The
media historian Brian McFarlane writes that on film, Formby portrayed
gormless Lancastrian innocents who would win through against some form
of villainy, gaining the affection of an attractive middle-class girl
in the process.During the Second World War Formby worked extensively
for the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA), and
entertained civilians and troops, and by 1946 it was estimated that he
had performed in front of three million service personnel. After the
war his career declined, although he toured the Commonwealth, and
continued to appear in variety and pantomime. His last television
appearance was in December 1960, two weeks before the death of Beryl.
He surprised people by announcing his engagement to a school teacher
seven weeks after Beryl's funeral, but died in Preston three weeks
later, at the age of 56; he was buried in Warrington, alongside his
father.
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 sang light, comical songs,
usually playing the ukulele or banjolele, and became the UK's
highest-paid entertainer.Born in Wigan, Lancashire, he was the son of
George Formby Sr, from whom he later took his stage name. After an
early career as a stable boy and jockey, Formby took to the music hall
stage after the early death of his father in 1921. His early
performances were taken exclusively from his father's act, including
the same songs, jokes and characters. In 1923 he made two
career-changing decisions â€" he purchased a ukulele, and married
Beryl Ingham, a fellow performer who became his manager and
transformed his act. She insisted that he appear on stage formally
dressed, and introduced the ukulele to his performance. He started his
recording career in 1926 and, from 1934, he increasingly worked in
film to develop into a major star by the late 1930s and 1940s, and
became the UK's most popular entertainer during those decades. The
media historian Brian McFarlane writes that on film, Formby portrayed
gormless Lancastrian innocents who would win through against some form
of villainy, gaining the affection of an attractive middle-class girl
in the process.During the Second World War Formby worked extensively
for the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA), and
entertained civilians and troops, and by 1946 it was estimated that he
had performed in front of three million service personnel. After the
war his career declined, although he toured the Commonwealth, and
continued to appear in variety and pantomime. His last television
appearance was in December 1960, two weeks before the death of Beryl.
He surprised people by announcing his engagement to a school teacher
seven weeks after Beryl's funeral, but died in Preston three weeks
later, at the age of 56; he was buried in Warrington, alongside his
father.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.