George Davy Burnaby (7 April 1881 – 18 April 1949) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

actor who appeared in more than thirty films between 1929 and 1948. He was born in Buckland,

Hertfordshire Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and one of the home counties. It borders Bedfordshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Essex to the east, Greater London to the ...

and made his screen debut in the 1929 film ''The Devil's Maze''. He died on 18 April 1949, age 68, the same date as comedian

Will Hay William Thomson Hay (6 December 1888 – 18 April 1949) was an English comedian who wrote and acted in a schoolmaster sketch that later transferred to the screen, where he also played other authority figures with comic failings. His film '' O ...

with whom he had previously acted.

Career

Burnaby attended

Haileybury College Haileybury is a co-educational public school (fee-charging boarding and day school for 11- to 18-year-olds) located in Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire. It is a member of the Rugby Group and enrols pupils at the 11+, 13+ and 16+ stages of edu ...

before reading law at

Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

but failed his first exam - so he turned to the Stage. He made his professional debut at a command performance for

King Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria and ...

. He formed

The Co-Optimists ''The Co-Optimists'' was a stage variety revue that opened in London on 27 June 1921. The show was devised by Davy Burnaby. The piece was a co-operative venture by what ''The Times'' called "a group of well-known musical comedy and variety arti ...

a London concert party which was very successful. Burnaby was renowned on the London Stage and on wireless. His films include '' Calling All Stars'', ''

Song of the Forge ''Song of the Forge'' is a 1937 British musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or dev ...

'', ''

Talking Feet ''Talking Feet'' is a 1937 British musical film directed by John Baxter and starring Hazel Ascot, Enid Stamp-Taylor and Jack Barty.It was written by Geoffrey Orme, Jack Francis and H. Fowler Mear. Plot Hazel, the daughter of an East L ...

'' and ''

Leave It to Me Leave may refer to: * Permission (disambiguation) ** Permitted absence from work *** Leave of absence, a period of time that one is to be away from one's primary job while maintaining the status of employee *** Annual leave, allowance of time away ...

''.

Partial filmography

* ''

The Devil's Maze ''The Devil's Maze'' is an all-talking 1929 sound British drama film directed by Gareth Gundrey and starring Renee Clama, Trilby Clark and Ian Fleming. The film was made at the Lime Grove Studios. A cut down edited silent version with intert ...

'' (1929) * ''

Three Men in a Boat ''Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)'',The Penguin edition punctuates the title differently: ''Three Men in a Boat: To Say Nothing of the Dog!'' published in 1889, is a humorous novel by English writer Jerome K. Jerome describing ...

'' (1933) * '' A Shot in the Dark'' (1933) * '' That's My Wife'' (1933) * '' Strike It Rich'' (1933) * '' Cleaning Up'' (1933) * ''

The Wishbone ''The Wishbone'' is a 1933 British comedy film directed by Arthur Maude and starring Nellie Wallace, Davy Burnaby and A. Bromley Davenport. It was made at Shepperton Studios as a quota quickie for release by MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Stu ...

'' (1933) * ''

Keep It Quiet ''Keep it Quiet'' is a 1934 British crime film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Bertha Belmore, Frank Pettingell, Cyril Raymond and Davy Burnaby. It was made at Beaconsfield Studios as a quota quickie. Plot summary Joe Puddlefoot ...

'' (1934) * '' Are You a Mason?'' (1934) * '' The Diplomatic Lover'' (1934) * ''

Murder at the Inn ''Murder at the Inn'' is a 1934 British crime film directed by George King and starring Wendy Barrie, Harold French and Jane Carr. It was a quota quickie, made at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.Wood p.78 Cast * ...

'' (1934) * ''

The Man I Want ''The Man I Want'' is a 1934 British comedy film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Henry Kendall, Wendy Barrie and Betty Astell. The screenplay concerns a man who accidentally comes across some stolen jewels. The film was made at Beac ...

'' (1934) * ''

On the Air On the Air may refer to: * ''On the Air'' (album), 1984, by Billy Preston * ''On the Air'' (TV series), an American sitcom * ''On the Air'' (film), a 1934 British musical comedy * On the Air (band), an English rock band * On the Air (radio play),a ...

'' (1934) * ''

Radio Parade of 1935 ''Radio Parade of 1935'' (1934), released in the US as ''Radio Follies'', is a British comedy film directed by Arthur B. Woods and starring Will Hay, Clifford Mollison and Helen Chandler. It followed on from the 1933 film '' Radio Parade''. P ...

'' (1934) * '' Stormy Weather'' (1935) * ''

While Parents Sleep ''While Parents Sleep'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Adrian Brunel and starring Jean Gillie, Enid Stamp Taylor and Romilly Lunge. The film is a screen adaptation of a 1932 play of the same name by Anthony Kimmins, which had been a ...

'' (1935) * '' Boys Will be Boys'' (1935) * ''

'' (1937) * ''

Feather Your Nest ''Feather Your Nest'' is a 1937 British musical comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring George Formby, Polly Ward and Enid Stamp-Taylor. It contains Formby's signature tune, Leaning on a Lamp-post. Plot A worker at a gramophon ...

'' (1937) * ''

The Song of the Road ''The Song of the Road'' is a 1937 British drama film directed by John Baxter and starring Bransby Williams, Ernest Butcher and Muriel George. It was made at Shepperton Studios Shepperton Studios is a film studio located in Shepperton, ...

'' (1937) * ''

Second Best Bed ''Second Best Bed'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Tom Walls and starring Walls, Jane Baxter and Veronica Rose. The screenplay was by Ben Travers, based on an earlier story of his. The screenplay concerns a newly married couple who ...

'' (1938) * '' Woman Hater'' (1948)

References

External links

* 1881 births 1949 deaths English male film actors Actors from East Hertfordshire District Male actors from Hertfordshire 20th-century English male actors People educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College {{england-film-actor-stub