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Rita Webb

January 05, 2023

Olive Rita Webb (25 February 1904 – 30 August 1981),[1] later known as Olive Rita Thompson, was an English character actress, mainly in comedy roles. She was the eldest child of Henry Augustus Webb (1880–1926) and Rose Jeannette Keysor.[2] She had a younger brother, Henry Richard Webb, also an actor, and two elder identical twin half-brothers, Leslie and Gordon Durlacher, from her mother's first marriage to Samuel Durlacher. She was the niece of Leonard Keysor, the first Jewish serviceman to win the Victoria Cross in the First World War.[citation needed] A half-brother was the actor George Webb.

Rita Webb
Born
Olive Rita Webb

(1904-02-25)25 February 1904
Willesden, Middlesex, England
Died30 August 1981(1981-08-30) (aged 77)
London, England
OccupationComedy actress
Years active1950–1981
Spouse(s)Lionel Stanley "Thommie" Thompson
(m. 1926; sep. 19??)
RelativesGeorge Webb
(half-brother)
Leonard Keysor
(cousin)

Career

Born in Willesden, Middlesex, United Kingdom, she is best known for her appearances as a stooge for Benny Hill in his long-running Thames Television series.[3] At under five feet tall, with a booming voice and dyed flame-red hair, she was often cast as a blowsey mother-in-law or Cockney type character.

Following her separation from her husband, she lived with Al Jeffery "Jeffie", an accomplished banjo player, whom she adored. She was called "Podge" by Jeffie and was proud that she still had all her own teeth[citation needed]. She signed her letters: "Dame Rita Webb" and refused to appear on the TV show This is Your Life.[4] She and her brother were exceptionally close and they talked every night on the telephone until her death.

In the 1960s she made a number of television appearances with Billy Cotton and alongside Arthur Haynes. Her many other television credits include several appearances in Spike Milligan's Q series, Dixon of Dock Green, Till Death Us Do Part, Sykes, Up Pompeii! with Frankie Howerd, The Wednesday Play and Steptoe and Son. In the Space: 1999 episode "The Taybor" she appeared as a deliberately-unattractive form assumed by the shapeshifter Maya.

She also appeared in supporting roles in many films, including To Sir, with Love (1967), The Magic Christian (1969), Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy (1972), Confessions of a Pop Performer (1975), and Come Play with Me (1977).[5]

Vocal Work

In 1958, she, Roger Livesey, Terry-Thomas, Judith Furse, Avril Angers, and Miles Malleson, recorded 'Indian Summer of an Uncle', and 'Jeeves Takes Charge' for the Caedmon Audio record label, (Caedmon Audio TC-1137). It was released in stereo in 1964.

Rita Webb died in 1981, aged 77, from cancer. Her funeral was held at West London Crematorium and a memorial service took place at St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden, known as The Actors’ Church. She was survived by Jeffie, her brother Henry, and Henry's three children.

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ GRO Register of deaths: SEP 1981 15 1754 WESTMINSTER - Olive Rita Thompson, DoB = 25 Feb 1904
  2. ^ "A Short Biography of Rita Webb".
  3. ^ "Welcome to Rita's Bleedin' Webbsite!". ritawebb.co.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  4. ^ Who's On TV (ITV Books, 1980)
  5. ^ . BFI. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012.

External links

  • Rita Webb at IMDb
  • Rita's Bleedin' Website - Fan Site

January 05, 2023
rita, webb, olive, february, 1904, august, 1981, later, known, olive, rita, thompson, english, character, actress, mainly, comedy, roles, eldest, child, henry, augustus, webb, 1880, 1926, rose, jeannette, keysor, younger, brother, henry, richard, webb, also, a. Olive Rita Webb 25 February 1904 30 August 1981 1 later known as Olive Rita Thompson was an English character actress mainly in comedy roles She was the eldest child of Henry Augustus Webb 1880 1926 and Rose Jeannette Keysor 2 She had a younger brother Henry Richard Webb also an actor and two elder identical twin half brothers Leslie and Gordon Durlacher from her mother s first marriage to Samuel Durlacher She was the niece of Leonard Keysor the first Jewish serviceman to win the Victoria Cross in the First World War citation needed A half brother was the actor George Webb Rita WebbBornOlive Rita Webb 1904 02 25 25 February 1904Willesden Middlesex EnglandDied30 August 1981 1981 08 30 aged 77 London EnglandOccupationComedy actressYears active1950 1981Spouse s Lionel Stanley Thommie Thompson m 1926 sep 19 RelativesGeorge Webb half brother Leonard Keysor cousin Contents 1 Career 2 Vocal Work 3 Selected filmography 4 References 5 External linksCareer EditBorn in Willesden Middlesex United Kingdom she is best known for her appearances as a stooge for Benny Hill in his long running Thames Television series 3 At under five feet tall with a booming voice and dyed flame red hair she was often cast as a blowsey mother in law or Cockney type character Following her separation from her husband she lived with Al Jeffery Jeffie an accomplished banjo player whom she adored She was called Podge by Jeffie and was proud that she still had all her own teeth citation needed She signed her letters Dame Rita Webb and refused to appear on the TV show This is Your Life 4 She and her brother were exceptionally close and they talked every night on the telephone until her death In the 1960s she made a number of television appearances with Billy Cotton and alongside Arthur Haynes Her many other television credits include several appearances in Spike Milligan s Q series Dixon of Dock Green Till Death Us Do Part Sykes Up Pompeii with Frankie Howerd The Wednesday Play and Steptoe and Son In the Space 1999 episode The Taybor she appeared as a deliberately unattractive form assumed by the shapeshifter Maya She also appeared in supporting roles in many films including To Sir with Love 1967 The Magic Christian 1969 Alfred Hitchcock s Frenzy 1972 Confessions of a Pop Performer 1975 and Come Play with Me 1977 5 Vocal Work EditIn 1958 she Roger Livesey Terry Thomas Judith Furse Avril Angers and Miles Malleson recorded Indian Summer of an Uncle and Jeeves Takes Charge for the Caedmon Audio record label Caedmon Audio TC 1137 It was released in stereo in 1964 Rita Webb died in 1981 aged 77 from cancer Her funeral was held at West London Crematorium and a memorial service took place at St Paul s Church Covent Garden known as The Actors Church She was survived by Jeffie her brother Henry and Henry s three children Selected filmography EditMoulin Rouge 1952 woman on balcony emptying bucket uncredited Hindle Wakes 1952 Mrs Slaughter Double Exposure 1954 flower seller The Silken Affair 1956 minor role uncredited No Trees in the Street 1959 Mrs Brown The Boy and the Bridge 1959 landlady Suddenly Last Summer 1959 asylum inmate uncredited Urge to Kill 1960 charwoman The Naked Edge 1961 Cleaner uncredited The Young Ones 1961 woman in market The Boys 1962 Mrs Lee The Bay of St Michel 1963 landlady Sparrows Can t Sing 1963 neighbour in tower block uncredited The Small World of Sammy Lee 1963 cleaner uncredited The Three Lives of Thomasina 1963 gypsy Granny uncredited A Place to Go 1964 woman in wash house uncredited The Bargee 1964 onlooker uncredited He Who Rides a Tiger 1965 flower seller The Idol 1966 landlady Stranger in the House 1967 Mrs Plaskett uncredited To Sir with Love 1967 Mrs Joseph The Man Outside 1967 landlady Mrs Brown You ve Got a Lovely Daughter 1968 woman in pub uncredited The Strange Affair 1968 Charley s Mum The Nine Ages of Nakedness 1969 Brunhilda segment The Theatre Zeta One 1969 clippie The Magic Christian 1969 woman in park uncredited Percy 1971 Mrs Hedges Up Pompeii 1971 Cassandra Up the Chastity Belt 1971 Maid Marian Till Death Us Do Part 1972 Hotel Landlady Frenzy 1972 Mrs Rusk uncredited The Best of Benny Hill 1974 various roles Confessions of a Pop Performer 1975 Fanny s mother I m Not Feeling Myself Tonight 1976 Tea Lady Come Play with Me 1977 Madam Rita Revenge of the Pink Panther 1978 lady at window The Hound of the Baskervilles 1978 elder masseuse uncredited The London Connection 1979 cockney woman Can I Come Too 1979 Laverne Venom 1981 Mrs LoewenthalReferences Edit GRO Register of deaths SEP 1981 15 1754 WESTMINSTER Olive Rita Thompson DoB 25 Feb 1904 A Short Biography of Rita Webb Welcome to Rita s Bleedin Webbsite ritawebb co uk Retrieved 14 February 2015 Who s On TV ITV Books 1980 Rita Webb BFI Archived from the original on 11 July 2012 External links EditRita Webb at IMDb Rita s Bleedin Website Fan Site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rita Webb amp oldid 1121752556, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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