Real
name: Benny
Hill (Birth name: Alfred
Hawthorn Hill)
Born:
21st January
1924 in Southampton, Hampshire,
UK
Died: 18th
April 1992 in Teddington, Middlesex,
UK. (heart attack)
Other:
Was
introduced to the theatre and
Burlesque Shows by his grandfather
when he was young - it was this
experience that brought out
his effortless comic timing
and acting ability.
BIOGRAPHY - A Glimpse...
Drawn
to the lights of London..
Hill's blossoming theatre talents
were cut short by the second
World War. After serving in
the British army he was drawn
to the lights of London, UK.
He appearing in variety shows
and it was there that he adopted
the stage name Benny Hill (after
one of his favourite comedians,
Jack Benny).
He went on to form a short double
act with Reg Varney and did
various radio shows, but it
was his talent for impressions
and comic timing that were to
give him his first big break
on TV with the show Hi There
in 1949.
Instant
hit
The Benny Hill Show aired in
1955 and Hill had an instant
hit on his hands. The shows
controversial slapstick comedy,
cheeky humour, songs and impressions
were to make it a hit for the
next 40 years.
He also had a hit record with
Ernie The Fastest Milkman In
The West and was handed film
scripts left, right and centre
- he played cameo parts in Those
Magnificent Men In Their Flying
Machines, The Italian Job and
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
A
much loved star...
In 1979 The Benny Hill Show
hit the shores of the US for
the first time. It was an instant
hit with the American audience
and he became a much loved star.
The show won a Golden Rose Of
Montreaux Award and a BAFTA
and was aired worldwide in over
100 countries.
Hill's long television career
came to an end when his show
was canned in 1989, but he carried
on working in the US until a
heart attack got the best of
this great man in 1992.
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