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Kay Kendall

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Kay Kendall
Kendall in the trailer forThe Adventures of Quentin Durward(1955)
Born
Justine Kay Kendall McCarthy

(1927-05-21)21 May 1927
Withernsea,East Riding of Yorkshire,England
Died6 September 1959(1959-09-06)(aged 32)
London,England
Resting placeChurchyard ofSt John-at-Hampstead Church,London[1]
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1944–1959
Spouse
​
(m.1957)​
RelativesCavan Kendall(paternal half-brother)
Marie Kendall(paternal grandmother)

Justine Kay Kendall McCarthy(21 May 1927 – 6 September 1959) was an English actress and comedienne.[2]She began her film career in the musical filmLondon Town(1946), a financial failure. Kendall worked regularly until her appearance in the comedy filmGenevieve(1953) brought her widespread recognition.[3]Prolific in British films, Kendall also achieved some popularity with American audiences, and won aGolden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedyfor her role in the musical-comedy filmLes Girls(1957).[4]

She began a romantic relationship with actorRex Harrisonafter they appeared together in the comedy filmThe Constant Husband(1955) and they were married in 1957. Harrison learned from Kendall's doctor that she had been diagnosed withmyeloid leukaemia,a fact that was kept from Kendall, who believed she was suffering from aniron deficiency.The actor cared for Kendall until her death in 1959 at the age of 32.[5]

Early life[edit]

Kendall was born[6]at Stanley House, Hull Road, inWithernsea,a coastal resort in theEast Riding of Yorkshire,England. Kendall's father was Terrence "Terry" McCarthy (a.k.a. Terry Kendall) (1901-1994), thevaudevillianson of music hall starMarie Kendall(1873–1964). Kay's mother was the former Gladys Drewery (1900–1990).[7]

She had two elder siblings, Terrence Justin "Terry" Kendall McCarthy (born 1923) and Patricia Kim "Pat" Kendall McCarthy (a.k.a. Kim Kendall, born 1925).[8]By her father's second marriage to his professional dancing partner, Dora Spencer, she had a younger half-brother, Cavan Spencer Kendall McCarthy (a.k.a.Cavan Kendall) (1942–1999).[9]Young Justine attended various schools, including St Leonard's (Brighton), St Margaret's (near Oban, Scotland), and theLydia KyashtDancing Academy (London).[10]

Career[edit]

Her first major screen role was in the 1946 musicalLondon Town,one of the more expensive flops in British film history.[11]She co-starred withPetula Clarkagain in the drama filmDance Hall(1950), and was featured in a quick succession of minor films before achieving fame inGenevieve(1953).[2]

She followed this film with the even more popular first film in theDoctorseries,the comedyDoctor in the House(1954) with her friendDirk Bogarde.[12][5]She was under contract to theRank Organisationbut unhappy with the parts offered, turning downValue for Money(1955),As Long as They're Happy(1955) andDoctor at Sea(1955).[13]

She appeared in the dramaSimon and Laura(1955) withPeter Finch;the comedyAbdulla the Great(1955) withSydney ChaplinandGregory Ratoff;and theepichistorical filmThe Adventures of Quentin Durward(1955), withRobert TaylorandRobert Morley.[2]In October 1956, John Davis, managing director of Rank, announced her as one of the actors under contract that Davis thought would become an international star.[14]

In October and November 1957, she appeared in two episodes of the short-lived American television seriesThe Polly Bergen Show.[15]and also starred as herself in Series 3 episode 17 ofThe Phil Silvers Showon 17 January 1958. The production title was Phil Silvers Presents Kay Kendall.[16]

In 1958, Kendall won aGolden Globe Awardfor her performance as Lady Sybil Wren inLes Girlsthe story of three showgirls in postwar Paris (withMitzi GaynorandTaina Elg).[4]The following year she starred opposite Harrison in the comedyThe Reluctant Debutante.[17]

Kendall died in 1959, aged 32, soon after completing her last film, the comedyOnce More, with Feeling!(1960), starring oppositeYul Brynner.[15]

Critical assessment[edit]

Stanley Donen,who produced and directedOnce More, with Feeling!,said: "She was completely unpredictable. She was an instinctive comedienne with a real clown sense. No one has had it sinceCarole Lombard– and Kay was a better actress. "[18]

"As they say about crime victims, Kay Kendall was in the wrong place at the wrong time", wrote Rhoda Koenig, a critic writing forThe Independentin 2006. "In her case, the crime was a waste of talent. One of the most delightful of British actresses...few of her films gave her a chance to shine. A natural screwball heroine, Kendall was born too late for the 1930s comedies in which she would have been the equal of the scatty but scintillating Carole Lombard orClaudette Colbert,and too soon for the naughtiness and absurdity of the 1960s...Kendall was beautiful and funny. She was a true comedienne, unafraid to compromise her ladylike appearance with pratfalls, pop eyes and comic drunk scenes. Kendall could get away with such antics without looking vulgar.”[5]

Personal life[edit]

Early in her career, Kendall had a lengthy romance with actorSydney Chaplin,the second son of actorCharlie Chaplinby his second wife, actressLita Grey.She also had affairs with a Swedish prince and grocery heirJames Sainsburyand reportedly had a romance with the futurePrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.[19][20]

In 1955, she starred opposite Rex Harrison inThe Constant Husband,and they had an affair.[18]Harrison was married to actressLilli Palmerat the time. However, when he learned from Kendall's doctor that she had been diagnosed withmyeloid leukaemia,he and Palmer agreed to divorce so that he could marry Kendall and provide for her care.[21]Kendall married Harrison in 1957.

Kendall never was told of her illness and believed she merely had an iron deficiency.[5]Regarding the divorce, Palmer said she was not upset because she had a lover too. Palmer and Harrison planned to remarry after Kendall's death, but Palmer fell in love with her companion, actorCarlos Thompson,and married him.[22]

Death[edit]

Kendall's gravesite is in the churchyard ofSt John-at-Hampstead Church.[1]Part of the inscription on her gravestone reads "KATE / Deeply loved wife of / REX". In September 2013 her final resting place was restored bythe Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America.[23]

Kendall's grave in October 2016

Legacy[edit]

Kendall's life is recounted in the 2002 biographyThe Brief, Madcap Life of Kay KendallbyEve Goldenand Kim Elizabeth Kendall.[24]

Situated near where Kendall once lived, the late 19th-centurylighthousein Withernsea houses a museum that contains exhibits dedicated to local history, including a memorial to Kendall and displays of many artifacts and photographs associated with her life and times.[25][26]

The Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund supports scientific research into leukaemia.[27]

On 6 September 2014, ablue plaquecommemorating Kay Kendall was erected bythe Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and Americaand unveiled at her former home in Withernsea to mark the 55th anniversary of her death.[28]

Complete filmography[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abGolden, Eve;Kendall, Kim Elizabeth (2002).The Brief, Madcap Life of Kay Kendall.University Press of Kentucky.ISBN978-0-8131-2251-9.
  2. ^abc"Kay Kendall".Bfi.org.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 25 May 2016.Retrieved26 January2018.
  3. ^"BFI Screenonline: Kendall, Kay (1927–1959) Biography".Screenonline.org.uk.Retrieved26 January2018.
  4. ^ab"Kay Kendall".Goldenglobes.com.Retrieved26 January2018.
  5. ^abcd"Kay Kendall: Britain's lost bombshell".Independent.co.uk.10 February 2006.Retrieved26 January2018.
  6. ^Golden, Eve (6 December 2013).The Brief, Madcap Life of Kay Kendall.University Press of Kentucky. p. 8.ISBN978-0-8131-4655-3.
  7. ^"Orange and Magenta » From the Lighthouse".Thomasleejones.com.Retrieved26 January2018.
  8. ^Golden, Eve (5 December 2013).The Brief, Madcap Life of Kay Kendall.University Press of Kentucky.ISBN9780813146560– via Google Books.
  9. ^Golden, Eve (5 December 2013).The Brief, Madcap Life of Kay Kendall.University Press of Kentucky.ISBN9780813146560– via Google Books.
  10. ^"Reader".Reader.paperc.com.Retrieved26 January2018.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^"Kay Kendall – Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos – AllMovie".AllMovie.Retrieved26 January2018.
  12. ^"Doctor in the House (1954)".BFI Screenonline.Retrieved26 January2018.
  13. ^"Glamor star strikes for better roles".The Australian Women's Weekly.National Library of Australia. 12 January 1955. p. 28.Retrieved19 May2012.
  14. ^Wiseman, Thomas (22 November 1956)."Mr Davis Takes on Hollywood".Nottingham Evening Post.p. 9.
  15. ^abKay KendallatIMDb
  16. ^"Bilko Stars Kay Kendall (1958)".Bfi.org.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 7 November 2017.Retrieved26 January2018.
  17. ^"The Reluctant Debutante (1958)".Bfi.org.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 7 November 2017.Retrieved26 January2018.
  18. ^abDemarest, Michael. "A Blithe Spirit Is Gone,"LIFE(magazine), 21 September 1959.Retrieved 6 September 2020
  19. ^"US".Independent.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 25 January 2014.Retrieved26 January2018.
  20. ^"Orange and Magenta » From the Lighthouse".Thomasleejones.com.Retrieved26 January2018.
  21. ^Golden, Eve (5 December 2013).The Brief, Madcap Life of Kay Kendall.University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813146560 – via Google Books.
  22. ^Fleming, E. J. (2005).Carole Landis: A Tragic Life in Hollywood.Jefferson NC: McFarland. p. 259.ISBN978-0786422005.Retrieved5 May2017.
  23. ^"Kay Kendall's Grave Restored".The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America. Archived fromthe originalon 18 May 2019.Retrieved22 September2013.
  24. ^Golden, Eve (6 December 2013).The Brief, Madcap Life of Kay Kendall.University Press of Kentucky.ISBN9780813146553– via Google Books.
  25. ^Baxter, Dale (May 2008)."To the Lighthouse".BBC.Retrieved30 August2014.
  26. ^Withernsea Lighthouse MuseumArchived20 October 2017 at theWayback Machine,Hull Road, Withernsea, East Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  27. ^"Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund".Kklf.org.uk.Retrieved26 January2018.
  28. ^"Blue plaque for Kay Kendall, Genevieve star who died tragically young".Hull Daily Mail.6 September 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 7 September 2014.Retrieved7 September2014.

External links[edit]

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