George Formby was an English actor and comedian best known for his performances in films such as Bell-Bottom George, No Limit, and It’s in the Air. He was born George Hoy Booth on May 26, 1904, in Wigan, Lancashire.
Personal and Family Life
George Formby married Beryl Formby, his wife and manager, in September 1924. Beryl played an essential role in his career, as she helped him rehearse his lines and songs since George was unable to read or write. The couple faced challenges in their career, including a royal disagreement with South African authorities in the late 1940s, where they refused to perform for segregated audiences. They remained married until Beryl’s death on December 24, 1960.
Career
Formby began his career in entertainment after his father’s death in 1921, starting with a performance at the Hippodrome. He made two significant changes to his career in 1923: he purchased a ukulele and married Beryl, which transformed his act. By the mid-1930s, he became a major star, performing extensively for soldiers and civilians during World War II. Although his popularity declined after the war, he continued performing until his last television appearance in December 1960.
Death and Legacy
George Formby passed away from a heart attack on March 6, 1961, in Preston, Lancashire, just weeks after the death of his wife. He was buried alongside his father in Warrington. Even after his death, Formby’s impact on British entertainment remained significant, and he is remembered as one of the UK’s most beloved entertainers.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Bell-Bottom George | 1944-02-07 | George Blake |
| No Limit | 1935-10-28 | George Shuttleworth |
| I See Ice | 1938-02-10 | George Bright |
| It’s in the Air | 1938-11-01 | George Brown |
| Come on George! | 1939-12-01 | George |
| George in Civvy Street | 1946-07-07 | Mary Colton |
| Turned Out Nice Again | 1941-08-01 | George Pearson |
| Let George Do It! | 1940-07-12 | George Hepplewhite |
| South American George | 1941-12-27 | George Butters / Gilli Vanetti |
| Boots! Boots! | 1934-07-30 | John Willie |
| Spare a Copper | 1940-12-02 | George Carter |
| Trouble Brewing | 1939-03-01 | George Gullip |
| I Didn’t Do It | 1945-08-06 | George Trotter |
| Off the Dole | 1935-06-01 | John Willie |
| Keep Your Seats, Please | 1936-08-01 | George Withers |
| Keep Fit | 1937-07-31 | George Green |
| Feather Your Nest | 1937-03-12 | Willie Piper |
| He Snoops to Conquer | 1944-12-12 | George Gribble |
| Get Cracking | 1943-05-17 | George Singleton |
| Much Too Shy | 1942-10-12 | George Andy |
| Ain’t Misbehavin’ | 1974-02-27 | Self (archive footage) |
| Funny Up North | 2011-07-23 | Himself |
| Songs That Won the War | 1994-05-01 | Himself (Archive) |
| Britain’s Most Dangerous Songs: Listen to the Banned | 2014-07-11 | (archive footage) |
| To See Such Fun | 1977-11-01 | |
| Hitler: The Comedy Years | 2007-05-10 | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| Entertaining the Troops | 2011-09-20 | Archive Film |
| Wogan | 1982-05-04 | Self (archive material) |