Kay Kendall

2.1. Birth and family

Kendall was born Justine Kay Kendall McCarthy on May 21, 1927, in Stanley House, Hull Road, located in Withernsea, a coastal resort town in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Her father was Terrence "Terry" McCarthy (1901-1994), also known professionally as Terry Kendall, a vaudeville performer. Her paternal grandmother was the renowned music hall star Marie Kendall (1873-1964), indicating a strong theatrical lineage. Kay's mother was the former Gladys Drewery (1900-1990).

She had two elder siblings: Terrence Justin "Terry" Kendall McCarthy (born 1923) and Patricia Kim "Pat" Kendall McCarthy (born 1925), who was also known as Kim Kendall. From her father's second marriage to his professional dancing partner, Dora Spencer, Kay had a younger half-brother, Cavan Spencer Kendall McCarthy (1942-1999), who also became an actor, known as Cavan Kendall.

2.2. Education

Young Justine attended various educational institutions that shaped her artistic development. She studied at St Leonard's in Brighton and St Margaret's near Oban, Scotland. Crucially for her career, she also received training at the Lydia Kyasht Dancing Academy in London, which provided her with a strong foundation in the performing arts.

3.1. Early career and debut

Kendall's initial foray into the film industry began with uncredited minor roles in films such as Champagne Charlie (1944), Fiddlers Three (1944), Dreaming (1945), and Caesar and Cleopatra (1945). Her first major screen role was in the 1946 musical film London Town, where she played the character Patsy. Despite being a significant debut for her, the film was a considerable financial failure, becoming one of the most expensive flops in British film history. Following this, she continued to appear in a quick succession of minor films. She co-starred with Petula Clark in the drama film Dance Hall (1950).

3.2. Rise to fame

Kendall's career trajectory significantly changed with her appearance in the 1953 comedy film Genevieve, which brought her widespread recognition and established her as a prominent figure in British cinema. This success was followed by her role in the highly popular comedy Doctor in the House (1954), the first installment in the successful Doctor series, where she co-starred with her friend Dirk Bogarde.

Despite her rising profile, Kendall, who was under contract to the Rank Organisation, expressed dissatisfaction with the parts offered to her. She reportedly turned down roles in films such as Value for Money (1955), As Long as They're Happy (1955), and Doctor at Sea (1955) in pursuit of more challenging and substantial roles. In October 1956, John Davis, the managing director of Rank, publicly identified Kendall as one of the actors under contract whom he believed had the potential to achieve international stardom.

3.3. International recognition and awards

Kendall's talent transcended British cinema, earning her popularity with American audiences as well. She appeared in several notable films, including the drama Simon and Laura (1955) with Peter Finch, the comedy Abdulla the Great (1955) alongside Sydney Chaplin and Gregory Ratoff, and the epic historical film The Adventures of Quentin Durward (1955) with Robert Taylor and Robert Morley.

Her international acclaim was solidified in 1958 when she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical and Comedy for her performance as Lady Sybil Wren in Les Girls (1957). This musical-comedy film depicted the story of three showgirls in postwar Paris, co-starring Mitzi Gaynor and Taina Elg. In addition to her film work, Kendall made appearances on American television, featuring in two episodes of the short-lived series The Polly Bergen Show in October and November 1957. She also starred as herself in the episode "Phil Silvers Presents Kay Kendall" of The Phil Silvers Show on January 17, 1958. The following year, she starred opposite her husband Rex Harrison in the comedy The Reluctant Debutante (1958). Kendall's final film was the comedy Once More, with Feeling! (1960), released posthumously, in which she starred opposite Yul Brynner.

3.4. Critical assessment

Kay Kendall's acting talent, particularly her comedic abilities, received significant praise from both critics and directors. Stanley Donen, who produced and directed her last film Once More, with Feeling!, remarked on her unique qualities, stating: "She was completely unpredictable. She was an instinctive comedienne with a real clown sense. No one has had it since Carole Lombard - and Kay was a better actress."

Rhoda Koenig, a critic writing for The Independent in 2006, lamented the underutilization of Kendall's talent, suggesting she was "in the wrong place at the wrong time." Koenig highlighted Kendall's natural aptitude for screwball comedy, asserting that she would have been a peer to classic actresses like Carole Lombard or Claudette Colbert in the 1930s, and also suited for the humor of the 1960s. Koenig emphasized Kendall's distinct appeal: "Kendall was beautiful and funny. She was a true comedienne, unafraid to compromise her ladylike appearance with pratfalls, pop eyes and comic drunk scenes. Kendall could get away with such antics without looking vulgar." These assessments underscore her rare combination of beauty, elegance, and uninhibited comedic timing.

4.1. Romantic relationships

Early in her career, Kendall was involved in a lengthy romance with actor Sydney Chaplin, who was the second son of the legendary actor Charlie Chaplin from his second marriage to actress Lita Grey. Beyond this public relationship, Kendall also had romantic entanglements with other notable figures, including a Swedish prince and grocery heir James Sainsbury. It was also widely reported that she had a romance with the future Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

4.2. Marriage to Rex Harrison

In 1955, Kay Kendall starred opposite actor Rex Harrison in the film The Constant Husband, during which they began an affair. At the time, Harrison was married to actress Lilli Palmer. However, a critical turn of events occurred when Harrison learned from Kendall's doctor that she had been diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia. This devastating diagnosis was deliberately kept from Kendall, who was led to believe she was merely suffering from an iron deficiency.

In light of Kendall's severe illness, Harrison and Palmer mutually agreed to divorce, allowing Harrison to marry Kendall and provide her with care during her final years. Their marriage took place in 1957. Despite the difficult circumstances, Palmer later stated that she was not upset by the divorce, as she also had a lover at the time. There had been an understanding between Palmer and Harrison that they would remarry after Kendall's death. However, Palmer ultimately fell in love with her companion, actor Carlos Thompson, and married him instead. Harrison remained dedicated to caring for Kendall throughout her illness until her death in 1959.

5.1. Diagnosis and final years

Kay Kendall was diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia. However, the severity and true nature of her illness were kept from her by her husband, Rex Harrison, and her doctors. She was instead informed that she was suffering from an iron deficiency, a condition she believed to be the cause of her declining health. Despite her illness, Kendall continued her acting career, completing her final film, Once More, with Feeling! (1960), shortly before her death. Harrison dedicated himself to caring for her during these final years.

5.2. Death and burial

Kay Kendall died on September 6, 1959, at the young age of 32, succumbing to myeloid leukaemia. Her death deeply affected the film industry and her admirers. She was buried in the churchyard of St John-at-Hampstead Church in Hampstead, London. Part of the inscription on her gravestone reads "KATE / Deeply loved wife of / REX", commemorating her marriage to Rex Harrison. In September 2013, her final resting place underwent restoration, undertaken by the Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America, ensuring the preservation of her memorial.

6.1. Biography and memorials

Kendall's life and career are extensively recounted in the 2002 biography titled The Brief, Madcap Life of Kay Kendall, co-authored by Eve Golden and Kim Elizabeth Kendall.

In her hometown of Withernsea, near where she once resided, the late 19th-century Withernsea Lighthouse now houses a museum. This museum features exhibits dedicated to local history, including a specific memorial to Kendall. Displays within the museum showcase numerous artifacts and photographs associated with her life and the era in which she lived, providing visitors with insight into her origins and impact. Further commemorating her, a blue plaque was erected at her former home in Withernsea on September 6, 2014, to mark the 55th anniversary of her death. This commemorative plaque was unveiled by the Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America.

6.2. Charitable initiatives

In tribute to her struggle with the disease that claimed her life, the Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund was established. This charitable initiative is dedicated to supporting scientific research into leukaemia, aiming to advance understanding and treatment of the condition and ultimately prevent similar tragedies.