George Benson

George Benson was a British actor whose stage and screen career ran from the 1930s into the early 1970s. Born in Cardiff and educated at Blundell's, he began in the school's annual Latin plays and later studied drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, winning the Silver Medal in 1930. Revue occupied much of his early career, including Andre Charlot stagings, and his first film came in 1932, Holiday Lovers. A breakthrough followed in 1936 as Edward Gill in the Farjeons' musical The Two Bouquets, and he also appeared in Nine Sharp and The Little Revue. After the war he toured the United States in The Winslow Boy, then played clown roles with the Old Vic Company in Australia. Known for comedy, he also took darker parts, among them Dr Crippen in Belle, or the Ballad of Dr Crippen. His films included Keep Fit (1937) and A Home of Your Own (1964).