Irene Handl
1901-12-27 ( 123 years old ) in Maida Vale, London, England, UK

Irene Handl (27 December 1901 – 29 November 1987) was a British character actress who appeared in more than 100 British films; she also wrote novels. Irene Handl was born in Maida Vale, London, the younger of two daughters of an Austrian-born father—Friedrich (later Frederick) Handl (1874–1961) and German mother, Marie (née Schiepp or Schuepp; 1875 – before 1924). Both of Handl's parents became naturalised British citizens. Her father came to England via Switzerland and started as a bank clerk, before becoming a stockbroker, then became a private banker. The Handls lived a comfortable middle-class life, with a German cook and housekeeper living in the family home. From 1907 to 1915, Handl attended the Paddington and Maida Vale High School. In the 1920s Handl travelled several times to New York with her father, with the ship's log listing her on each occasion as having no occupation and residing in the family home. Handl studied at an acting school run by a sister of Dame Sybil Thorndike, and then made her stage debut in London in February 1937, at the relatively advanced age of 36. In 1939, and by now an actress, she was living with her widower father in London. She continued to live with her father until his death in 1961. Her elder sister Liane (1898–1977) had married Russian electrical engineer and photographer Victor Kraminsky (born Viktor Azar'evich Kraminskii; later known as Victor Kennett; 1894–1980) in 1920 in Marylebone, Middlesex (now London). They had at least one child, a son, Charles Kennett. Handl appeared in supporting roles in more than 100 British films, mostly comedy character parts such as slightly eccentric mothers, grannies, landladies and servants. She was a passionate lover of rock and roll, especially the work of Elvis Presley, and was president of the Lewisham branch of the Elvis Presley fan club. She was also a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and one of Britain's most avid champions of Chihuahuas, being inseparable from the pair that she owned. Handl had minor roles in such landmark films as Night Train to Munich and Brief Encounter. Her other notable roles included the wife of the union activist Fred Kite (played by Peter Sellers) in I'm All Right Jack (1959); Mrs Gammon, the formidable cook, opposite Gordon Harker in Small Hotel (1957); Tony Hancock's landlady in The Rebel (1961); Sherlock Holmes's housekeeper, Mrs Hudson, in The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970); and Morgan's Communist mother, Mrs Delt, in Morgan – A Suitable Case for Treatment (1966). She also had small roles in two of the Carry On films, Carry On Nurse and Carry On Constable), and played Miss Peach in the original version of The Italian Job. She worked until 1987, the year of her death. Her last role was released posthumously the following year. Handl died in her flat in Kensington, West London, on 29 November 1987, aged 85, reportedly from cancer. She never married. She was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium, North London.

Movies

Absolute Beginners 1986-04-04
Hotel du Lac 1986-03-02
It's Your Move 1982-10-18
Riding High 1981-05-01
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle 1980-09-11
The Light Princess 1978-12-24
The Hound of the Baskervilles 1978-08-01
The Last Remake of Beau Geste 1977-06-15
Come Play with Me 1977-04-28
Stand up, Virgin Soldiers 1977-04-04
Adventures of a Private Eye 1977-03-04
Confessions of a Driving Instructor 1976-09-01
Room to Let 1976-01-01
For the Love of Ada 1972-01-01
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes 1970-10-29
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever 1970-06-17
Doctor in Trouble 1970-06-16
The Italian Job 1969-06-02
Look at Life: Saturday Special 1969-01-01
Wonderwall 1968-05-17
Lionheart 1968-01-01
Smashing Time 1967-12-20
The Mini-Affair 1967-01-01
The Wrong Box 1966-06-19
Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment 1966-04-03
You Must Be Joking 1965-08-03
The Importance of Being Earnest 1964-11-15
Heavens Above! 1963-05-20
Just for Fun 1963-02-01
Nothing Barred 1961-10-10
Watch It, Sailor! 1961-08-14
Double Bunk 1961-05-06
A Weekend with Lulu 1961-04-10
The Rebel 1961-03-07
The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's 1960-12-22
Two Way Stretch 1960-12-20
The Night We Got the Bird 1960-11-03
No Kidding 1960-11-01
A French Mistress 1960-08-25
Make Mine Mink 1960-08-09
Doctor in Love 1960-07-12
School for Scoundrels 1960-03-24
Carry On Constable 1960-02-22
Inn for Trouble 1960-01-31
Upstairs and Downstairs 1959-11-02
The Night We Dropped a Clanger 1959-10-10
I'm All Right Jack 1959-08-18
Left Right and Centre 1959-06-23
The Crowning Touch 1959-06-01
Carlton-Browne of the F.O. 1959-03-10
Carry On Nurse 1959-01-30
Desert Mice 1959-01-05
Next to No Time 1958-08-04
Law and Disorder 1958-06-09
The Key 1958-05-28
Happy Is the Bride 1958-03-04
Small Hotel 1957-10-14
Brothers in Law 1957-03-04
The Silken Affair 1956-10-02
It's Never Too Late 1956-05-07
Who Done It? 1956-03-20
A Kid for Two Farthings 1955-08-15
Mad About Men 1954-11-16
The Belles of St. Trinian's 1954-09-28
Burnt Evidence 1954-07-05
The Weak and the Wicked 1954-02-02
The Wedding of Lilli Marlene 1953-11-30
Meet Mr. Lucifer 1953-11-30
Top Secret 1952-11-10
Treasure Hunt 1952-06-01
One Wild Oat 1951-05-16
Stage Fright 1950-02-23
Dark Secret 1949-10-30
Adam and Evelyne 1949-05-31
The Perfect Woman 1949-05-23
For Them That Trespass 1949-04-21
Cardboard Cavalier 1949-03-31
Silent Dust 1949-02-01
Woman Hater 1948-10-13
The Hills of Donegal 1947-09-01
The Shop at Sly Corner 1947-03-10
Temptation Harbour 1947-02-27
I'll Turn to You 1946-06-17
Brief Encounter 1945-11-24
Great Day 1945-07-09
For You Alone 1945-05-28
Kiss the Bride Goodbye 1945-01-28
Medal for the General 1944-11-06
Mr. Emmanuel 1944-08-02
Give Us the Moon 1944-07-31
English Without Tears 1944-07-28
It's in the Bag 1944-02-07
Rhythm Serenade 1943-10-11
The Flemish Farm 1943-09-06
I'll Walk Beside You 1943-08-16
Millions Like Us 1943-06-01
Get Cracking 1943-05-17
Uncensored 1942-08-24
Partners in Crime 1942-06-02
Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light 1941-12-30
'Pimpernel' Smith 1941-07-28
The Spell of Amy Nugent 1941-05-10
Gasbags 1941-02-01
George and Margaret 1940-11-30
Night Train to Munich 1940-08-31
Girl in the News 1940-08-28
Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard 1940-04-13
On the Night of the Fire 1939-10-26
The Terror 1938-05-02
Strange Boarders 1938-05-01

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