Carole Lynne
Encyclopedia
Carole Lynne, Baroness Delfont (16 September 1918 - 17 January 2008) was a British
theatre actress, best known for her work in the 1940s and 1950s. She was the widow
of Lord Bernard Delfont
, a prominent figure in the British entertainment industry.
as a chorus member in the production of Paprika
, a Hungarian
musical
romance.
Her first husband was actor Derek Farr
, whom she married in June 1939. The marriage ended in divorce. She met her second husband, Bernard Delfont
, in 1946. Delfont was from a family of prominent people in the entertainment industry, who included his brothers, Lew Grade
and Leslie Grade
. The couple were together until Delfont's death in 1994.
productions in London
's West End
during the 1940s and 1950s. Her film credits included The Ghost Train
, a 1941 comic horror
film starring Arthur Askey
, and Asking for Trouble
, a 1942 Max Miller movie. She retired from stage acting in the mid-1950s.
Her husband, Bernard Delfont, was knighted in 1974, and created a life peer
as Baron Delfont in 1976.
Lynne remained closely associated with entertainment-related charities throughout her life. She was the life governor
of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, of which her husband, Lord Delfont, was life president.
She made her last television
appearance in 1994 on an episode of This Is Your Life
, which was featuring actress Pat Kirkwood. Lynne and Kirkwood had co-starred in Black Velvet
at the London Hippodrome in 1939. Her performance with Kirkwood was one of her biggest successes.
. She was survived by her son and two daughters.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
theatre actress, best known for her work in the 1940s and 1950s. She was the widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
of Lord Bernard Delfont
Bernard Delfont
Bernard Delfont, Baron Delfont , born Boris Winogradsky, was a leading Russian-born British theatrical impresario....
, a prominent figure in the British entertainment industry.
Early life
Lynne was born Helen Violet Carolyn Heyman in Rochester, Kent, on 16 September 1918. She made her stage acting debut at the age of 18 at His Majesty's TheatreHis Majesty's Theatre
His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen is the largest theatre in north-east Scotland, seating more than 1400. The theatre is sited on Rosemount Viaduct, opposite the city's Union Terrace Gardens. It was designed by Frank Matcham and opened in 1906...
as a chorus member in the production of Paprika
Paprika
Paprika is a spice made from the grinding of dried fruits of Capsicum annuum . In many European languages, the word paprika refers to bell peppers themselves. The seasoning is used in many cuisines to add color and flavor to dishes. Paprika can range from mild to hot...
, a Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
romance.
Her first husband was actor Derek Farr
Derek Farr
Derrick Capel Farr was a British actor who appeared regularly in British films and television from 1938 until his death in 1986....
, whom she married in June 1939. The marriage ended in divorce. She met her second husband, Bernard Delfont
Bernard Delfont
Bernard Delfont, Baron Delfont , born Boris Winogradsky, was a leading Russian-born British theatrical impresario....
, in 1946. Delfont was from a family of prominent people in the entertainment industry, who included his brothers, Lew Grade
Lew Grade
Lew Grade, Baron Grade , born Lev Winogradsky, was an influential Russian-born English impresario and media mogul.-Early years:...
and Leslie Grade
Leslie Grade
Leslie Grade was a British talent agent and executive with The Grade Organisation. He was born Laszlo Winogradsky in Tokmak, Ukraine, Russian Empire...
. The couple were together until Delfont's death in 1994.
Career
Lynne was best known for headlining many theatreTheatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
productions in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
during the 1940s and 1950s. Her film credits included The Ghost Train
The Ghost Train (1941 film)
The Ghost Train is a 1941 British film directed by Walter Forde and was based on the 1923 play of the same name written by Arnold Ridley, who in later years played Private Godfrey in Dad's Army.- Plot:...
, a 1941 comic horror
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
film starring Arthur Askey
Arthur Askey
Arthur Bowden Askey CBE was a prominent English comedian.- Life and career :Askey was born at 29 Moses Street, Liverpool, the eldest child and only son of Samuel Askey , secretary of the firm Sugar Products of Liverpool, and his wife, Betsy Bowden , of Knutsford, Cheshire...
, and Asking for Trouble
Asking for Trouble
Asking for Trouble is a 1942 British comedy film directed by Oswald Mitchell and starring Max Miller, Carole Lynne and Wilfrid Hyde-White. A fishmonger takes up bookmaking to earn extra cash.-Cast:* Max Miller as Dick Smith* Carole Lynne as Jane Smythe...
, a 1942 Max Miller movie. She retired from stage acting in the mid-1950s.
Her husband, Bernard Delfont, was knighted in 1974, and created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Delfont in 1976.
Lynne remained closely associated with entertainment-related charities throughout her life. She was the life governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, of which her husband, Lord Delfont, was life president.
She made her last television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
appearance in 1994 on an episode of This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life is an American television documentary series broadcast on NBC, originally hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards from 1952 to 1961. In the show, the host surprises a guest, and proceeds to take them through their life in front of an audience including friends and family.Edwards...
, which was featuring actress Pat Kirkwood. Lynne and Kirkwood had co-starred in Black Velvet
Black Velvet (revue)
Black Velvet was a revue at the London Hippodrome in 1938 which included Pat Kirkwood, singing the celebrated song My Heart Belongs to Daddy, and vocalist/impressionist Afrique. The show made Pat Kirkwood into Britain's first wartime star and established her career....
at the London Hippodrome in 1939. Her performance with Kirkwood was one of her biggest successes.
Death
Carole Lynne died at her home in Sussex, England, on 17 January 2008 at the age of 89, of motor neurone diseaseMotor neurone disease
The motor neurone diseases are a group of neurological disorders that selectively affect motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing and general movement of the body. They are generally progressive in nature, and can cause...
. She was survived by her son and two daughters.