Diana Darvey facts for kids
Diana Magdalene Roloff (born April 21, 1945 – died April 11, 2000), known as Diana Darvey, was a talented British actress, singer, and dancer. She became very famous for her exciting performances on The Benny Hill Show.
Quick facts for kids
Diana Darvey
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| Born |
Diana Magdalene Roloff
21 April 1945 |
| Died | 11 April 2000 (aged 54) Redhill, Surrey, England
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| Occupation | Actress, singer, dancer |
| Spouse(s) | Terry Gittings (divorced) Ralph Barker (m. 1995-2000; her death) |
Contents
About Diana Darvey's Early Life and Career
Diana was born in Cheadle, England. Her mother, Pamela Cooper, was a performer herself. Diana grew up and went to school in Bristol. When she was two years old, her father passed away.
When Diana started her career in entertainment, she used the last name "Davey" from her mother's second husband. Later, she added an "r" to make it "Darvey."
Starting Her Stage Career
In 1962, at age 17, Diana first appeared on stage as a dancer in a pantomime show in Bath. A year later, she became a Butlin's Redcoat, which is a holiday camp entertainer.
After that, Diana joined a ballet group in London. They traveled and performed in countries like Sweden, Germany, and Spain.
Becoming a Star in Spain
Once the tour ended, Diana decided to stay in Spain. There, she became a popular revista performer. She worked with a famous Spanish show producer named Colsada.
For several years, Diana performed in many musical theatre shows across Spain. In the early 1970s, during a show in Madrid, she was noticed by the famous comedian Benny Hill. This meeting changed her career.
Diana Darvey on The Benny Hill Show
Diana Darvey first appeared on The Benny Hill Show on February 7, 1974. Fans immediately loved her performances. She often wore amazing, unique costumes that she designed herself. These costumes became almost as famous as her singing and dancing.
Her Memorable Performances
On the show, Diana sang popular songs from Europe, like "Sway" and "Quizás, Quizás, Quizás". One of her most famous acts was a four-song medley. It included "It's Nice to Go Trav'lin'", a song Frank Sinatra had recorded.
In this nearly four-minute performance, Diana sang in English, French, and Spanish. She also wore four different costumes, including one for a belly dancer.
Comedy Sketches with Benny Hill
Diana was also known for a funny sketch called "Continental Cabaret." She performed this with Benny Hill and his regular friend, Jackie Wright. The sketch included a joke about the very long word "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious".
She also took part in other sketches. For example, she played Benny Hill's girlfriend in a funny version of the 1956 film Baby Doll. In total, Diana appeared on The Benny Hill Show five times. Her last appearance was on January 26, 1977.
Life After The Benny Hill Show
After her time on The Benny Hill Show, Diana Darvey used her popularity to appear in other TV shows and a movie. She was on the game show Quick on the Draw and the sitcom ...And Mother Makes Five. She also had a role in the 1975 film Carry On Behind.
Traveling and New Ventures
In the years after her last Benny Hill show, Diana traveled the world with her cabaret act. Her husband at the time, Terry Gittings, who was a drummer, often joined her.
For a while in the early 1980s, she lived in Miami Beach, Florida. By then, The Benny Hill Show had become very popular in the United States. Her marriage to Terry Gittings later ended. Diana eventually returned to England. At one point, she managed a pub in Bodicote, Oxfordshire.
Later Life and Passing
In 1995, Diana married for a second time to Ralph Barker. She passed away on April 11, 2000, just ten days before her 55th birthday.
She had an accidental fall at home. This led to a medical issue that caused her death.
