People

Distinguished British stage actor and director, for whom cinema was a secondary matter

British cockney music-hall comedian, in occasional films. He was noted for his ability to ad-lib

British character comedian, one of the screen’s greats; after many years in the music halls, starred in several incomparable farces playing variations on his favourite role of an incompetent, seedy schoolmaster

Demure-looking but spirited British leading lady with stage experience; married to Bill Travers. With Travers she founded in 1984 the Born Free Foundation, which campaigns for wild animals that are suffering, imprisoned or in danger

Inimitable, garrulous, shapeless, endearing British comedy actress, who usually seemed to be playing somebody’s slightly dotty spinster aunt

Distinguished British stage actor, in occasional films. Despite his splendid theatrical voice and thespian mannerisms he was at his best playing ordinary chaps, though his gallery included plenty of eccentrics

Distinguished British director who after a peak in the late 40s seemed to lose his way; his infrequent later films, though always civilised, were generally disappointing

Lugubrious Scottish actor of stage and screen; his diction and gestures were inimitable

English stage and film comedienne, specialising in warm-hearted tarts of the Northern or Cockney variety

Debonair British leading actor of pleasant, if limited, range, on stage since 1924; films only occasionally gave him the right material

Mild-mannered British light comedy actor, on stage from 1920, films from 1931; became well known with Basil Radford in many films as Englishmen abroad

English leading actress of stage, screen and television

Breezy British leading actor, a recognisable World War II type who later gave compassionate interpretations of middle-aged dreamers

Distinguished British actress, on stage from 1928, usually in well-bred roles: films, rare.

British leading actor of Dutch descent

British leading lady, a former chorus dancer who, in partnership with producer and, later, her husband Herbert Wilcox, built up a formidable film gallery of historical heroines

British light character comedian, on stage from 1922, films from 1929

Tall, distinguished British actor, former schoolmaster, on stage from 1934

Debonair British leading man whose natural enthusiasm found several outlets before he accidentally ended up in Hollywood and was signed up as an extra

Distinguished British stage actor, who in the late 1940s started a spectacular film career first as a master of disguise, then as a young hero and later as any character from Hitler to Obi Wan Kenobi