Geoffrey Kerr
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Geoffrey Kerr (born Geoffrey Kemble Grinham Keen; 26 January 1895 – 1 July 1971) was a British stage and film actor and writer during the middle of the 20th century.


Early life

Geoffrey Kemble Grinham Keen was born on 26 January 1895, in
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, the son of character actor and theatrical manager
Frederick Kerr Frederick Kerr (born Frederick Grinham Keen, 11 October 1858 – 3 May 1933) was an English actor who appeared on stage in both London and New York and in British and American films; he also worked as a major theatrical manager in London. Early ...
and his wife Lucy Houghton Keen, ''née'' Dowson. His younger sister was the actor
Molly Kerr Molly Kerr (28 May 1904 – 31 May 1942) was an actress and theatre producer who was the first person to play the role of Bunty Mainwaring in Noël Coward's play ''The Vortex''. Early life Kerr was born Frances Keen on 28 May 1904 in Kensingt ...
. He was educated at
Charterhouse School Charterhouse is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English independent boarding school for pupils aged 13–18) in Godalming, Surrey, England. Founded by Thomas Sutton in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian monastery in Charter ...
, where his father had been a pupil, and was intending to join the Civil Service until he wrote and appeared in a very successful school play and decided on a career in the theatre.Frederick Kerr (1930). ''Recollections of a Defective Memory''. London: Thornton Butterworth. At the start of
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, he obtained a commission in the Shropshire Light Infantry, and saw active service in the
trenches A trench is a type of excavation or depression in the ground that is generally deeper than it is wide (as opposed to a swale or a bar ditch), and narrow compared with its length (as opposed to a simple hole or pit). In geology, trenches res ...
. A friend from his theatre days before the war arranged for him to receive training in the
Royal Flying Corps The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the air arm of the British Army before and during the First World War until it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force. During the early part of the war, the RFC sup ...
but he was wounded when his plane crashed and spent the remainder of the war as an instructor in aerial gunnery with the rank of Captain."FRED—THE KERRS—GEOFFREY" New York Times Drama/Music/Fashion/Screen, 7 November 1920, page 88 (available online at th
New York Times archive
/ref> In 1920, he travelled to the United States for the first time to appear with his father on Broadway. From that point on for the remainder of the 1920s, he travelled back and forth across the Atlantic quite often, appearing on Broadway in New York City, and making silent films back home in
Britain Britain most often refers to: * Great Britain, a large island comprising the countries of England, Scotland and Wales * The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a sovereign state in Europe comprising Great Britain and the north-eas ...
.


Stage career

On Broadway, as Geoffrey Kerr, he performed in such plays as ''The Stork'' (1925) and ''London Calling'', the latter which he wrote. He also directed occasionally, and co-starred with wife
June Walker : ''For the American activist and former Hadassah leader, see June Walker (Hadassah)'' June Walker (June 14, 1900 – February 3, 1966) was an American stage and film actress. Early years Walker was born in New York City on June 14, 1900, an ...
on Broadway in ''The Bachelor Father'' (1928). He ended his acting career in 1934, though he did appear in a play on Broadway in 1949–50, to celebrate the silver Broadway anniversary of the two stars
Alfred Lunt Alfred David Lunt (August 12, 1892 – August 3, 1977) was an American actor and director, best known for his long stage partnership with his wife, Lynn Fontanne, from the 1920s to 1960, co-starring in Broadway theatre, Broadway and West End thea ...
and
Lynn Fontanne Lynn Fontanne (; 6 December 1887 – 30 July 1983) was an English actress. After early success in supporting roles in the West End theatre, West End, she met the American actor Alfred Lunt, whom she married in 1922 and with whom she co-starred i ...
."Broadway Openings/I Know My Love" (review) Billboard, 12 November 1949, page 46 (available online a
Online Google Books archive
/ref> * ''Just Suppose'', playing George (1 November 1920 – January ?, 1921) * ''East of Suez'', playing Harold Knox (21 September 1922 – December ?, 1922) * ''You and I'', playing Roderick White (19 February 1923 – June ?, 1923) * ''The Changelings'', playing Wicky Faber (17 September 1923 – January ?, 1924) * ''In His Arms'', playing Ernest Fairleigh (13 October 1924 – November ?, 1924) * ''The Stork'', playing Lionel Deport (26 January 1925 – February ?, 1925) * 'First Love", playing Jean (8 November 1926 – December ?, 1926) * ''The Bachelor Father'', playing John Ashley (28 February 1928 – October ?, 1928) * ''Ada Beats the Drum'', directed by Geoffrey Kerr (8 May 1930 – June ?, 1930) * ''
London Calling ''London Calling'' is the third studio album by the English rock band the Clash. It was originally released as a double album in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1979 by CBS Records, and in the United States in January 1980 by Epic Records. ...
'', written by Geoffrey Kerr, playing George Craft (18 October 1930 – October ?, 1930) * ''This is New York'', playing Joseph Gresham Jr. (28 November 1930 – January ?, 1931) * ''Collision'', playing Dr. Gestzi (16 February 1932 – February ?, 1932) * ''We Are No Longer Children'', playing Jean Servin (31 March 1932 – April ?, 1932) * ''Domino'', playing Cremone (16 August 1932 – August ?, 1932) * ''Foolscap'', staged by Geoffrey Kerr, playing Shakespeare (11 January 1933 – January ?, 1933) * ''
Yellow Jack The yellow jack (''Carangoides bartholomaei''), also known as coolihoo, is a species of marine (ocean), marine fish in the jack family, Carangidae. It is one of only two representatives of its genus present in the Atlantic Ocean, inhabiting wate ...
'', playing Stackpoole (6 March 1934 – May 1934) * ''I Know My Love'', playing Frederic Chanler (2 November 1949 – 3 June 1950)


Film career

Geoffrey Kerr became known in the film industry when he co-starred with his father in the British silent film ''12.10'' (1919), although he did appear in several other silent films prior to that. Most of his silent films were British productions; the "talkies" in 1931 were US productions. * ''The Profligate'' (1917) .... Wilfred * '' 12.10'' (1919) .... Geoffrey Brooke * ''The Usurper'' (1919) .... Bonamy Tredgold * ''
Torn Sails ''Torn Sails'' is a 1920 British silent drama film directed by A. V. Bramble and starring Milton Rosmer, Mary Odette and Geoffrey Kerr. It was based on the 1897 novel ''Torn Sails'' by Allen Raine. Like much of her work, it is set in a small W ...
'' (1920) .... Ivor Parry * ''
The Great Day ''The Great Day'' is a 1920 British drama film directed by Hugh Ford (director), Hugh Ford. Alfred Hitchcock is credited as a Main title designer, title designer. On 17 April 1921, Paramount Pictures released the film in the US at five reels ( ...
'' (1920) .... Dave Leeson * ''
The Mirage The Mirage is a defunct casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States. The 65-acre property included a casino and 3,044 rooms. Mirage Resorts, Golden Nugget, Inc., led by developer Steve Wynn, purchased the future lan ...
'' (1920) .... Richard Dalziell * '' Love's Boomerang'' (1922) .... Saville Mender * '' The Man from Home'' (1922) .... Horace Granger-Simpson * '' Just Suppose'' (1926) .... Count Anton Teschy * ''
Women Love Once ''Women Love Once'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Edward Goodman and written by Zoë Akins. The film stars Paul Lukas, Eleanor Boardman, Juliette Compton, Geoffrey Kerr, Judith Wood and Marilyn Knowlden. The film was release ...
'' (1931) .... Allen Greenough * '' The Runaround'' (1931) .... Fred * ''
Once a Lady ''Once a Lady'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code drama film directed by Guthrie McClintic and starring Ruth Chatterton, Ivor Novello and Jill Esmond. The film, produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures, is a remake of the Pola Negri silent f ...
'' (1931) .... Jimmy Fenwick (final film role)


Writing career

From 1935 until the late 1940s, Kerr was a screenwriter and playwright; he also wrote several British television productions in the early 1950s. His best-known film credits include Rene Clair's ''Break the News'' (1938), the wartime comedy/melodrama ''Cottage to Let'' (1941), and the period drama ''Jassy'' (1947). One of Kerr's screenplays from 1936 resurfaced in 1988 as the British TV production, ''The Tenth Man''. His 1947 play '' The Man in the Street'' was staged in the West End. His credits include: * ''
The Ghost Goes West ''The Ghost Goes West'' is a 1935 British romantic comedy/fantasy film directed by René Clair and starring Robert Donat, Jean Parker, and Eugene Pallette. It was Clair's first English-language film. The story concerns an Old World ghost deali ...
'' (1935) (scenario) * ''Weekend Millionaire'' (1935) (writer) ... aka ''
Once in a Million ''Once in a Million'' is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Arthur B. Woods and starring Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, Mary Brian and Jimmy Godden. It was shot at the Welwyn Studios of British International Pictures near London.Wood p.87 The ...
'' (UK original title) * '' The Tenth Man'' (1936) (writer) * '' A Star Fell from Heaven'' (1936) (writer) * ''
Living Dangerously Living Dangerously was a pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Extreme Championship Wrestling Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) was an American professional wrestling promotion that was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and operated b ...
'' (1936) (writer) * '' Break the News'' (1938) (writer) * ''
Sweet Devil ''Sweet Devil'' is a 1938 British musical comedy film directed by René Guissart and starring Bobby Howes, Jean Gillie and William Kendall. It was made at Pinewood Studios.Wood p.97 Cast * Bobby Howes as Tony Brent * Jean Gillie as Jill Turne ...
'' (1938) (writer) * ''
Under Your Hat ''Under Your Hat'' is a 1940 British musical comedy spy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Jack Hulbert, Cicely Courtneidge and Austin Trevor. It was written by Rodney Ackland, Anthony Kimmins, Arthur Macrae, Geoffrey Kerr and Hulbert. ...
'' (1940) (his play adapted for film) * ''Bombsight Stolen'' (1941) (his play adapted for film) ... aka '' Cottage to Let'' (UK original title) * '' Jassy'' (1947) (writer) * '' The Calendar'' (1948) (writer) * '' Fools Rush In'' (1949) (writer) * ''The Monster of Killoon'' (1952) (British television play) * '' My Husband and I'' (1956) British TV series (writer of an unknown number of episodes) In addition, Kerr wrote a fantasy novel, ''Under the Influence'' (1954), about a London bank cashier who can read people's minds, but only when drunk. Kerr attempted to co-write a screenplay with George S. Kaufman based on that novel, but the screenplay remained unfinished.George S. Kaufman biodata
at th
Tome website
/ref>


Personal life

He married
June Walker : ''For the American activist and former Hadassah leader, see June Walker (Hadassah)'' June Walker (June 14, 1900 – February 3, 1966) was an American stage and film actress. Early years Walker was born in New York City on June 14, 1900, an ...
in 1926. They had one child in 1931, a son, John Kerr, who also became an actor but later qualified as a lawyer, like his grandfather. He separated from his wife in 1938, and they divorced in 1943.


Death

Geoffrey Kerr died 1 July 1971, in
Aldershot Aldershot ( ) is a town in the Rushmoor district, Hampshire, England. It lies on heathland in the extreme north-east corner of the county, south-west of London. The town has a population of 37,131, while the Farnborough/Aldershot built-up are ...
,
Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Berkshire to the north, Surrey and West Sussex to the east, the Isle of Wight across the Solent to the south, ...
, England, aged 76.


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kerr, Geoffrey 1895 births 1971 deaths English male stage actors English male film actors English male silent film actors British Army personnel of World War I Writers from Aldershot Male actors from London Male actors from Aldershot King's Shropshire Light Infantry officers Royal Flying Corps officers 20th-century English male actors Military personnel from London