Kay Kendall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kay Kendall
Kendall in the trailer for The Adventures of Quentin Durward (1955)
Born	Justine Kay Kendall McCarthy (1927-05-21)21 May 1927 Withernsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died	6 September 1959(1959-09-06) (aged 32) London, England
Resting place	Churchyard of St John-at-Hampstead Church, London
Occupation	Actress, singer
Years active	1944–1959
Spouse(s)	Rex Harrison ​ (m. 1957)​
Relatives	Cavan Kendall (paternal half-brother) Marie Kendall (paternal grandmother)

Justine Kay Kendall McCarthy (born May 21, 1927 – died September 6, 1959) was a talented English actress and comedienne. She started her movie career in 1946 with the musical film London Town. However, this movie was not very successful.

Kay Kendall became widely known after appearing in the funny film Genevieve (1953). She made many British films and also became popular with audiences in America. She even won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her role in the musical-comedy movie Les Girls (1957).

She began a relationship with actor Rex Harrison after they worked together in the comedy film The Constant Husband (1955). They got married in 1957. Rex Harrison learned that Kay had a serious illness called myeloid leukemia. This information was kept secret from Kay, who thought she only had an iron deficiency. Rex Harrison took care of Kay until she passed away in 1959 at the age of 32.

Early Life and Family

Kay Kendall was born in Withernsea, a town on the coast in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Her father was Terrence "Terry" McCarthy, who was a vaudeville performer. His mother, Kay's grandmother, was the famous music hall star Marie Kendall. Kay's mother was Gladys Drewery.

Kay had two older siblings, Terrence and Patricia. She also had a younger half-brother named Cavan Kendall from her father's second marriage. As a child, Kay went to different schools, including dancing academies, where she learned to perform.

Kay Kendall's Acting Career

Kay Kendall's first big movie role was in the 1946 musical London Town. This film was very expensive to make but did not do well. She later appeared with Petula Clark in the drama film Dance Hall (1950). After a few smaller movies, she became famous in 1953 with the comedy Genevieve.

After Genevieve, she starred in another popular film, Doctor in the House (1954), with her friend Dirk Bogarde. This movie was the first in the funny Doctor film series. Kay was signed to a contract with the Rank Organisation, a film company.

She also appeared in the drama Simon and Laura (1955) and the comedy Abdulla the Great (1955). In 1955, she was in the big historical film The Adventures of Quentin Durward. In 1956, the head of Rank, John Davis, said he believed Kay would become a global star.

In 1957 and 1958, Kay Kendall appeared on American television shows like The Polly Bergen Show and The Phil Silvers Show.

In 1958, Kay won a Golden Globe Award for her role as Lady Sybil Wren in Les Girls. This movie was about three showgirls in Paris after a war. The next year, she starred with Rex Harrison in the comedy The Reluctant Debutante.

Kay Kendall finished her last film, the comedy Once More, with Feeling! (1960), with Yul Brynner, shortly before she passed away in 1959. She was only 32 years old.

Personal Life and Marriage

Early in her career, Kay Kendall had a long relationship with actor Sydney Chaplin. He was the son of the famous actor Charlie Chaplin.

In 1955, Kay starred with Rex Harrison in The Constant Husband. They started a relationship. At the time, Rex Harrison was married to actress Lilli Palmer. However, when Rex learned about Kay's serious illness, he and Lilli agreed to get a divorce. This allowed Rex to marry Kay and take care of her. Kay and Rex Harrison were married in 1957.

Kay was never told about her illness. She believed she only had an iron deficiency. Lilli Palmer later married another actor, Carlos Thompson.

Her Passing

Kay Kendall is buried in the churchyard of St John-at-Hampstead Church in London. Her gravestone has a special message. In 2013, her burial place was restored by a group called the Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America.

Legacy and Remembrance

Kay Kendall's life story is told in a book called The Brief, Madcap Life of Kay Kendall, published in 2002.

In her hometown of Withernsea, there is a museum inside the old Withernsea Lighthouse. This museum has exhibits about local history, including a special memorial to Kay Kendall. It shows many items and photos from her life.

The Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund is a charity that supports scientific research into leukemia, the illness she had.

On September 6, 2014, a blue plaque was placed on Kay Kendall's former home in Withernsea. This plaque honors her memory and marked 55 years since her death. It was put there by the Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America.

Complete Filmography

Images for kids

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  Kay Kendall's grave in October 2016

See also

In Spanish: Kay Kendall para niños

• List of British actors