Beatrice Lillie


Actor
Beatrice Lillie

About

Also Known As
Bea Lillie, Lady Peel, Beatrice Lilly
Birth Place
Toronto, Ontario, CA
Born
May 29, 1894
Died
January 20, 1989

Biography

A brilliant deadpan stage comic whose film career never really took off, Beatrice Lillie was born in Canada had her first success in the 1910s in London with revues staged by Andre Charlot. She starred in shows by Noel Coward, Shaw and others, including several one-woman shows.Lillie's unique appeal rarely came across on screen. Her first film, the silent "Exit Smiling" (1926) was a hit,...

Family & Companions

Robert Peel
Husband
British; married January 1920 until his death in 1934.
John Phillip Huck
Companion
Companion and conservator; died of a heart attack on January 21, 1989, one day after Lillie; 30 years her junior.

Bibliography

"Every Other Inch a Lady"
Bea Lillie (1972)

Biography

A brilliant deadpan stage comic whose film career never really took off, Beatrice Lillie was born in Canada had her first success in the 1910s in London with revues staged by Andre Charlot. She starred in shows by Noel Coward, Shaw and others, including several one-woman shows.

Lillie's unique appeal rarely came across on screen. Her first film, the silent "Exit Smiling" (1926) was a hit, and she shone in the all-star "Show of Shows" (1929). But her film work was spotty from then on: the early musical "Are You There?" (1930), the Bing Crosby musical "Dr. Rhythm" (1938), the stagy British-made "On Approval" (1944) and a cameo in "Around the World in 80 Days" (1956). She went out in style, though, with a brilliant turn as a white slaver in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (1967).

Life Events

1910

Began performing in vaudeville singing act with mother and sister (date approximate)

1914

Made London stage debut

1926

Film debut, "Exit Smiling"

1967

Final film, "Thoroughly Modern Millie"

Family

Robert Peel
Son
Died in action in WWII.

Companions

Robert Peel
Husband
British; married January 1920 until his death in 1934.
John Phillip Huck
Companion
Companion and conservator; died of a heart attack on January 21, 1989, one day after Lillie; 30 years her junior.

Bibliography

"Every Other Inch a Lady"
Bea Lillie (1972)