Personal Info
Birth date
1927-05-21 (98 Years)
Day of death
1959-09-06
Gender
Female
Known for
Acting
Place of birth
-
Also known as
Justine Kay Kendall McCarthy
Kay Kendall
Biography
From Wikipedia Kay Kendall (21 May 1927 – 6 September 1959) was an English actress. Kendall began her film career in the musical film London Town (1946). Though the film was a financial failure, Kendall continued to work regularly until her appearance in the comedy film Genevieve (1953) brought her widespread recognition. Most prolific in British films, Kendall also achieved some popularity with American audiences, and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her role in the musical-comedy film Les Girls (1957). She began a romantic relationship with actor Rex Harrison after they appeared together in the comedy film The Constant Husband (1955), and they were married in 1957. Harrison learned from Kendall's doctor that she had been diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia, a fact that was kept from Kendall, who believed she was suffering from an iron deficiency. The actor cared for Kendall until her death at age 32.
Filmography
The Ed Sullivan Show
6.8
Overview:
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the CBS Sunday Night Movie, which ran only one season and was eventually replaced by other shows. In 2002, The Ed Sullivan Show was ranked #15 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.The Phil Silvers Show
6.952
Overview:
The Phil Silvers Show, originally titled You'll Never Get Rich, was a sitcom which ran on CBS from 1955 to 1959 for 142 episodes, plus a 1959 special. The series starred Phil Silvers as Master Sergeant Ernest G. Bilko of the United States Army. The series was created and largely written by Nat Hiken, and won three consecutive Emmy Awards for Best Comedy Series. The show is sometimes titled Sergeant Bilko or simply Bilko in reruns, and is very often referred to by these names, both on-screen and by viewers. The show's success transformed Silvers from a journeyman comedian into a star, and writer-producer Hiken from a highly-regarded behind-the-scenes comedy writer into a publicly recognized creator.Les Girls
6.4
Overview:
After writing a tell-all book about her days in the dance troupe "Barry Nichols and Les Girls", Sybil Wren is sued for libeling her fellow dancer Angele. A Rashômon style narrative presents the story from three points of view where Sybil accuses Angele of having an affair with Barry, while Angele insists that it was actually Sybil who was having the affair. Finally, Barry gives his side of the story.Night and the City
7.5
Overview:
Londoner Harry Fabian is a second-rate con man looking for an angle. After years of putting up with Harry's schemes, his girlfriend, Mary, becomes fed up when he taps her for yet another loan.Caesar and Cleopatra
6.1
Overview:
The aging Caesar finds himself intrigued by the young Egyptian queen. Adapted by George Bernard Shaw from his own play.Genevieve
6.564
Overview:
Two friends driving in the London to Brighton vintage car rally bet on which of them will be the first to arrive back home.Lady Godiva Rides Again
5.8
Overview:
Marjory Clark wins a competition in her Midland town and finds herself in a Festival of Britain procession as Lady Godiva - though not in the buff. This leads by way of a suspect beauty competition to the show-business world of London. But it could be a slippery slope for simple home-town Marge.Doctor in the House
6.5
Overview:
The first of the seven "Doctor" films, based on Richard Gordon's novels and released between 1954 and 1970. Simon Sparrow is a newly arrived medical student at St Swithin's hospital in London. Falling in with three longer-serving hopefuls he is soon immersed in the wooing, imbibing and fast sports-car driving that constitute 1950s medical training. There is, however, always the looming and formidable figure of chief surgeon Sir Lancelot Spratt to remind them of their real purpose.The Constant Husband
6.9
Overview:
Charles Hathaway wakes up in West Wales with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. With the help of a Cardiff specialist he traces his life back to his gorgeous wife and their large London house, so all seems well with the world. But more detective work starts to uncover an alarming chain of further stunning wives and a way of going on that the new Charles finds pretty unacceptable.Quentin Durward
6
Overview:
During the 15th century reign of France's King Louis XI, a young Scottish man is sent by his English Lord to woo a French lady on his behalf. The plan goes awry when the young man falls in love with her. Based on the classic novel by Sir Walter Scott.The Reluctant Debutante
6.8
Overview:
While visiting her father, an American teenage girl is thrown into London society during its final "Debutante Season."The Square Ring
7.071
Overview:
Boxing drama following the lives of 5 different fighters and their reasons for becoming boxers.Dance Hall
5.5
Overview:
Episodic tale of four factory girls and their various romances at the local dance hall in Chiswick, London. Unusual at the time, the film tells its story from a feminine perspective. Today, it is mainly recognised for its post-war London atmosphere, with bomb sites, trolleybuses and rationing.Once More, with Feeling!
5.9
Overview:
The wife of brilliant, but boisterous and ill-tempered conductor of the London Symphony puts up with his childishness, but the last straw is drawn when he begins an affair with a young pianist.Simon and Laura
5.6
Overview:
A couple of bickering, married performers agree to star in a "Mr. and Mrs." TV show.Fast and Loose
5.8
Overview:
An unmarried couple are forced to adopt a series of pretexts when they stay at a country inn together with only one spare room.Curtain Up
7.2
Overview:
In a small town in the 1950s a repertory company meets on Monday morning to start rehearsing the following week's play. This is a ghastly thing written by the aunt of one of the theatre's directors. The producer doesn't try to hide his annoyance about it, and is further exercised when the authoress herself arrives to help. The cast have to try and sort out real-life problems that keep intruding as they wrestle with the play's dire dialogue.Mantrap
5.1
Overview:
Branded as criminally insane and incarcerated for a murder he did not commit, Speight escapes from the asylum, determined to clear his name. He befriends private detective Hugo Bishop who, convinced that the wrong man has been convicted, agrees to help find the real killer. They begin their search for the murderer closest to home where both Thelma Speight and her employer Maurice Jerrard were visibly distressed by the news of her husband's jailbreak. More than Speight's 'insanity' fuels their worries.It Started in Paradise
5
Overview:
A talented dress designer, who lets nothing get in the way of her success, rises in the fashion world then loses contact with her own humanity. She also forgets that you meet the same people on the way up as on the way down.Street of Shadows
5.5
Overview:
A saloon owner falls in love with the abused wife of a heavy gambler. He is snared into a web of intrigue when an ex-girlfriend is found murdered in his apartment.Wings of Danger
5.2
Overview:
A former pilot suffering from blackouts discovers that a fellow flyer is suspected of being mixed up with a web of smugglers. While searching for his missing buddy, he unwittingly becomes entangled in a morass of suspicion.London Town
NYR
Overview:
Veteran music-hall entertainer Jerry Stanford a washed-up comedian hopes to stage a comeback in a glittering new revue. Alas, Stanford is hired as merely an understudy and bit player. His faithful daughter pulls a few fast ones in order to get her dad back on stage in a starring role....Meet Mr. Lucifer
5.1
Overview:
A TV set given as a retirement present is sold on to different households causing misery each time.Fiddlers Three
8.167
Overview:
Two British soldiers and a WREN take refuge at Stonehenge during a thunderstorm, they are struck by lightning and transported back to ancient Rome.Abdullah's Harem
NYR
Overview:
Abdullah, absolute monarch of a wealthy Middle Eastern country, has everything a man could want. Everything, that is, until he falls for a beautiful model. She rejects his advances, however, along with his offers of riches and luxury, chosing instead an officer in the king's army as her lover. As all of this is going on, the ruler is oblivious to the growing discontent among his subjects, and the threat of revolt that is increasing with each passing day.Champagne Charlie
5.556
Overview:
A man from the countryside becomes London’s newest music hall sensation, and competes with a rival music hall performer for the audience’s attention.Cole Porter in Hollywood: Ça c'est l'amour
NYR
Overview:
This documentary short subject for DVD gives a look at the making of Cole Porter's MGM classic, "Les Girls". Hosted by Finnish film legend and star of "Les Girls", Taina Elg tells of working with Gene Kelly, Kay Kendall and George Cukor on one of the last great MGM musicals.Acting
2003Cole Porter in Hollywood: Ça c'est l'amour as Scenes: Les Girls (archive footage)
1960Once More, with Feeling! as Dolly Fabian
1958The Reluctant Debutante as Sheila Broadbent
1957Les Girls as Lady Sybil Wren
1955Simon and Laura as Laura Foster
1955The Phil Silvers Show (1 Episode) as Unknown
1955Quentin Durward as Isabelle, Countess of Marcroy
1955The Constant Husband as Monica Hathaway
1955Abdullah's Harem as Ronnie
1954Doctor in the House as Isobel Minster
1954Fast and Loose as Carol Hankin
1953Meet Mr. Lucifer as Lonely Hearts Singer
1953Street of Shadows as Barbara Gale
1953The Square Ring as Eve
1953Genevieve as Rosalind Peters
1953Mantrap as Vera Corridge
1952It Started in Paradise as Lady Caroline Frencham
1952Wings of Danger as Alexia LaRoche
1952Curtain Up as Sandra Beverley
1951Lady Godiva Rides Again as Sylvia Clark
1950Night and the City as Helen's Girl (uncredited)
1950Dance Hall as Doreen
1948The Ed Sullivan Show (1 Episode) as Self
1946London Town as Patsy
1945Caesar and Cleopatra as Slave Girl (uncredited)
1944Fiddlers Three as Girl (uncredited)
1944Champagne Charlie as Bit Part (uncredited)