Kay Kendall
| Kay Kendall | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Born |
Justine Kay Kendall McCarthy 21 May 1927 Withernsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK |
| Died | 6 September 1959 (aged 32) London, England, UK |
| Cause of death | Leukaemia |
| Resting place | Churchyard of St John-at-Hampstead Church, Church Row, Hampstead, London, England, UK |
| Occupation | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1944–1959 |
| Spouse(s) | Rex Harrison (1957–1959; her death) |
| Parent(s) | Terrence McCarthy (a.k.a. Terry Kendall) and Gladys Drewery |
| Relatives | • Marie Kendall (maternal grandmother) • Cavan Kendall (brother) |
Kay Kendall (21 May 1927 – 6 September 1959) was an English actress and comedian. She began her film career in the musical film London Town (1946). Although the film was a financial failure, Kendall continued to work regularly until her appearance in the comedy film Genevieve (1953) brought her widespread recognition. Most prolific in British films, Kendall also achieved some popularity with American audiences, and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her role in the musical-comedy film Les Girls (1957).
She began a romantic relationship with actor Rex Harrison after they appeared together in the comedy film The Constant Husband (1955) and they were married in 1957. Harrison learned from Kendall's doctor that she had been diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia, a fact that was kept from Kendall, who believed she was suffering from an iron deficiency. The actor cared for Kendall until her death at the age of 32.
She was born Justine Kay Kendall McCarthy, at Stanley House, Hull Road, in Withernsea, a coastal resort in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Kendall's father was Terrence "Terry" McCarthy (a.k.a. Terry Kendall), the vaudevillian son of music hall star Marie Kendall. Kay's mother was the former Gladys Drewery.
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). 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). Young Justine attended various schools, including St Leonard's (Brighton), St Margaret's (near Oban, Scotland), and the Lydia Kyasht Dancing Academy (London). The actress's distinctive nose, an aristocratic swoop, was the result of plastic surgery after a car crash.
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