Laddie Cliff
| Laddie Cliff | |
|---|---|
| Born |
3 September 1891 Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom |
| Died |
8 December 1937 London, United Kingdom |
| Other names | Clifford Albyn Perry |
| Occupation | Actor, writer, Singer |
| Years active | 1922–1937 (film) |
Laddie Cliff (1891–1937) was a British writer, choreographer, dancer, actor, producer and director of comedy and musical theatre and film. He was noted for his versatility. His many London West End theatre appearances and films included a long association with fellow thespian Stanley Lupino.[1] He was married to the actress Phyllis Monkman. He died in 1937 after a period of ill health.
Life and theatrical credits
Born Clifford Albyn Perry on 3 September 1891 in Bristol, Laddie Cliff first toured in British, Australian, and American variety.[2] His acclaimed "extraordinary dancing"[2] as a bespectacled comic in the London musical Three Little Widows resulted in his being engaged to choreograph Andre Charlot's The Wild Geese[2] and put him on the road to stardom. He subsequently appeared in the revue Pins and Needles (1921).
As a performer, Cliff was the first to sing "Swanee" on the London stage, in Albert de Courville's London Hippodrome revue Jig-Saw! (1920), and appears on the original sheet music of the song.[3]
Cliff subsequently became a producer and director.[2] As one of the most popular performers on the London stage, his many West End hits[2] included
- The Co-Optimists (1921)
- Tip-Toes (1926) - the London production of the Gershwin musical.[4]
- Lady Luck (1927)
- So This Is Love (1928)
- Love Lies (1929)
- The Millionaire Kid (1931)
- Sporting Love (1934)
- Over She Goes (1936) (a role he recreated in the film version)
Laddie Cliff had to leave the cast of Crazy Days (1937) owing to illness[2] and was replaced by Leo Franklyn. He died later that year.
Selected filmography
- The Card (1922)
- The Co-Optimists (1929)
- Sleeping Car (1933)
- Happy (1933)
- Over She Goes (1937)
- Sporting Love (1937)
References
- ↑ Gänzl p.394
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 John Kenrick, "Who's Who in Musicals", 2004, from Musicals101.com Accessed 13 February 2016]
- ↑ Image of the original sheet music, publication date erroneously given as 1909 Accessed 13 February 2016. Kenrick gives the first performance as The Co-Optimists (1921), but the original sheet music identifies Jig-Saw! (1920) as Laddie Cliff's debut performance of the song.
- ↑ Tip-Toes at the Guide to Musical Theatre
Bibliography
- Kurt Gänzl. The Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre: A-Gi. Schirmer Books, 2001.