Kay Kendall
Biography
Kay Kendall was an English actress and singer who started in the musical London Town (1946) and worked steadily in British films before the comedy Genevieve (1953) brought her wide recognition. She became a prolific presence in British cinema and gained some popularity with American audiences. Her notable credits included the first Doctor series comedy Doctor in the House (1954), in which she appeared with Dirk Bogarde, and the musical comedy Les Girls (1957), for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. She also starred in the comedy The Reluctant Debutante (1958) and completed the comedy Once More, with Feeling! (1960). She appeared on American television in the late 1950s, including episodes of The Polly Bergen Show and The Phil Silvers Show. She died in 1959.
32years old at death
- Born Withernsea
- Died The London Clinic
- Star sign: GeminiFirst day of the sign, on the Taurus cusp
- Justine Kay Kendall McCarthy (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 5 years1953 to 1958
Every film, newest first
- 1958The Reluctant DebutanteIMDb rating 6.7
- 1957Les GirlsIMDb rating 6.6
- 1954Doctor in the HouseIMDb rating 6.5
- 1953GenevieveIMDb rating 7.0
Genres
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First role
Kendall's first major screen role came in the 1946 musical London Town, which became one of the costliest flops in British film history.
Early training
Kendall, whose birth name was Justine, went to various schools, among them St Leonard's in Brighton, St Margaret's near Oban in Scotland, and the Lydia Kyasht Dancing Academy in London.
Big break
Kendall's fame took off with the 1953 comedy Genevieve, which brought her widespread recognition after a run of minor films.
Kay Kendall movies on Netflix
Worked with
Kay Kendall shares two films with Geoffrey Keen, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Geoffrey Keen's page
Kenneth More's page
Angela Lansbury's page
John Saxon's page
Dirk Bogarde's page
George Coulouris's page
Henry CorneliusDirector, 1 film, 1953
All films by Henry Cornelius
All films by George Cukor
All films by Vincente Minnelli
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.