Michael Howard (4 March 1916 – 18 February 1988) was a British actor and comedian. His parents were the Scottish

Congregational Congregationalism (also Congregational Churches or Congregationalist Churches) is a Reformed Christianity, Reformed Christian (Calvinist) tradition of Protestant Christianity in which churches practice Congregationalist polity, congregational ...

minister, psychologist and academic John Grant McKenzie and Margaret Ann née Murray."Dr. J. G. McKenzie", ''The Times'' (London), 20 May 1963, p. 16. He trained at the

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, also known by its abbreviation RADA (), is a drama school in London, England, which provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in Bloomsbury, Central London ...

and performed at various theatres in Britain and America. He became a resident comic at the

Windmill Theatre The Windmill Theatre in Great Windmill Street, London, was a variety and revue theatre best known for its nude ''tableaux vivants'', which began in 1932 and lasted until its reversion to a cinema in 1964. Many prominent British comedians of t ...

in London in 1941. He wrote and starred in a number of comedy shows for

BBC Radio BBC Radio is an operational business division and service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a royal charter since 1927. The service provides national radio stations cove ...

including ''For the Love of Mike'', ''Leave it to the Boys'', ''The Michael Howard Show'' and ''Here's Howard''. The last was adapted for

BBC Television BBC Television is a service of the BBC. The corporation has operated a Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television service in the United Kingdom, under the terms of a royal charter, since 1 January 1927. It p ...

and was transmitted from 14 March to 20 June 1951. He married Betty Kelly in 1938, with whom he had one child, Harriet. They later divorced and in 1949 he married the actress Peggy Evans, with whom he had two children, Annabelle Howard and Ian Howard. The 1956 'Picture Show Who's Who on the Screen' Annual gives, on Page 71, the following titles of Howard's then most recent "Films": ''

I See a Dark Stranger ''I See a Dark Stranger'' (U.S. title: ''The Adventuress'') is a 1946 British World War II spy comedy film directed by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat and starred Deborah Kerr and Trevor Howard. Plot Ireland, 1937. Young Bridie Quilty ha ...

''; '' It Always Rains on Sunday''; '' A Sister to Assist 'Er''; '' Front Page Story''; and, '' Out of the Clouds''.

Partial filmography

* ''

A Canterbury Tale ''A Canterbury Tale'' is a 1944 British film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger starring Eric Portman, Sheila Sim, Dennis Price and Sgt. John Sweet; Esmond Knight provided narration and played two small roles. For the post-war Americ ...

'' (1944) *''

'' (1946) * '' It Always Rains on Sunday'' (1947) * '' A Sister to Assist 'Er'' (1948) * '' Front Page Story'' (1954) * '' Out of the Clouds'' (1955) * '' The Baby and the Battleship'' (1956) * ''

Golden Rendezvous ''Golden Rendezvous'' is a 1977 South African action thriller film directed by Ashley Lazarus and starring Richard Harris, Ann Turkel and David Janssen. It was based on the 1962 novel '' The Golden Rendezvous'' by Alistair MacLean. Plot The ' ...

'' (1977)

References

External links

Mark Lewisohn, BBC Comedy Guide
* 1916 births 1988 deaths British male comedians 20th-century British comedians English male stage actors English male film actors Actors from Calderdale Male actors from West Yorkshire Comedians from West Yorkshire {{UK-comedian-stub