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Muriel George

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Muriel George
Born(1883-08-29)29 August 1883
London, England
Died22 October 1965(1965-10-22) (aged 82)
Brighton, Sussex, England
OccupationActress
Years active1932–1955
Spouses
Robert Davenport
​
​
(m. 1903; div. 1909)​
​
​
(m. 1921; div. 1943)​
ChildrenJohn Davenport

Muriel George (29 August 1883 – 22 October 1965)[1][2] was an English singer and film actress. She appeared in 55 films between 1932 and 1955. George also appeared on the variety stage and sang on radio with her second husband, Ernest Butcher, for thirty years.

Early life and career

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Muriel Winifred George was born on the 29 August 1883 in Marylebone, London, England.[3] Her father, Robert, was a Professor of singing at the Royal Academy of Music and her mother, Annie Isabel Matilde (née Robinson), was an ex pupil of her husband and a singing teacher in her own right.[4][5] The family moved to Albany Street, Regent's Park, on the birth of George's brother, Lionel Hugh.[6][7] At the age of 10, the family moved to West Kensington. George attended a private school in Holland Road.[7] At the age of twelve, she appeared on stage at the Devonshire Park, Eastbourne.

She made her West End stage debut, at the age of 16, in Harry Pelissier's pierrot troupe, The Follies at The Palace, Shaftesbury Avenue, London before joining Arthur Davenport's pierrot troupe, The Yashmaks, a year later. George then toured with The Ragamuffins for a year.[8]

George subsequently performed at the Apollo Theatre in 1911.[5]

In 1912, George appeared in the first English version of Die Fledermaus at the Lyric Theatre.[9]

George appeared on the variety stage with her second husband Ernest Butcher. At the turn of the First World War, George, along with Butcher, formed The Bunch of Keys concert party. After the war, they made radio appearances and played comedy parts in straight plays.[10]

George's last role was playing the Queen Mother in a 1953 adaptation of the Rose and the Ring.[11]

Personal life

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George married Robert William (known as 'Robin' or 'Arthur') Davenport, an author and lyricist in 1903. The couple lived in Fulham, west London and, on 10 May 1908, had a son, the critic John Davenport.[12] However, George petitioned Davenport for divorce in July 1909 and Davenport did not meet his son until John was 16 years old.[5][13]

George married actor Ernest Butcher in 1921 in Fulham, west London.[14] By 1939, the couple were living in Torrington Park, North Finchley.[2] However, in 1943, the marriage ended in divorce.[15]

George's hobbies included gardening and antiques, and she latterly lived in Worthing, West Sussex. George wrote an unpublished autobiography between 1941 and 1957.[7]

George died on 22 October 1965, aged 82, at the Sussex Eye Hospital in Brighton, Sussex.[16][1]

Selected filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995. Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England. London, England © Crown copyright.
  2. ^ a b 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/7706B 1939 England and Wales Register Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of TNA, London England. 1939 Register (Series RG101), The National Archives, Kew, London, England.
  3. ^ "FreeBMD Entry Info". www.freebmd.org.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  4. ^ Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA) Series RG14, 1911.
  5. ^ a b c "Family histories". 23 February 2016. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  6. ^ Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1891.
  7. ^ a b c "The memoirs". 1 April 2016. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  8. ^ "The memoirs". 1 April 2016. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  9. ^ "The memoirs". 1 April 2016. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Obituary MURIEL GEORGE". The Daily Telegraph. 23 October 1965. p. 10.
  11. ^ "Muriel George". 20 January 2019. Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  12. ^ The New Review, vol. 3, issue 31, 1976, p. 69
  13. ^ Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, later Supreme Court of Judicature: Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Files, J 77; Reference Number: J 77/980/9758; Series Number: J 77; Piece Number: 980. England & Wales, Civil Divorce Records, 1858-1918
  14. ^ "FreeBMD Entry Info". www.freebmd.org.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Star Of The Music Hall Ernest Butcher Dies, Aged 79". Liverpool Echo. 8 June 1965. p. 1.
  16. ^ "FreeBMD Entry Info". www.freebmd.org.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
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