Betty Baskcomb
Birth nameBetty Violet Marie Baskcomb
Birth date30 May 1914
Birth placeSt John's Wood, London
United Kingdom
Death date15 April 2003 (aged 88)
Death placeWest Wratting, Cambridgeshire
United Kingdom
Alma materRADA
Spouse
  • Anthony Lehmann (m. 1940; died 1944)
  • Ronald Ward (m. 1948; died 1978)
OccupationActor
Years active1931–1975

Betty Violet Marie Baskcomb (30 May 1914 – 15 April 2003) was a British actress who appeared in roles for theatre, film, television and radio productions.[1][2] She was born in London in 1914 and made her stage debut as a stooge opposite her father, the comedian A.W. Baskcomb, in 1931.[3] Her screen debut was in the Hitchcock film The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934). Hitchcock insisted she played a part in the remake (released in 1956), and she was flown over to Hollywood for the role, although she was uncredited in both versions.[3] On the radio, she was a member of the BBC Drama Repertory Company from the 1940s through to the 1970s.[4] In 1956 she appeared on stage in Ring For Catty at the Lyric Theatre in London.[5]

Baskcomb was widowed twice, she was married to Anthony Lehmann (1940–1944) and the actor Ronald Ward (1948–1978).[3] She made her last television appearance in 1975, and died in 2003.[2]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1934The Man Who Knew Too MuchThe Lawrences' MaidUncredited
1935The Passing of the Third Floor BackMinor RoleUncredited
1947It Always Rains on SundayBarmaid of the 'Two Compasses'
1952Tread SoftlyOlivia Winter
1954Father BrownFrench Widow
1956The Man Who Knew Too MuchEdna, the Church OrganistUncredited
1960Your Money or Your WifeJanet Fry
1963Dr. CrippenMrs. StrattonUncredited

References

  1. ^ "Betty Baskcomb - Theatricalia". theatricalia.com
  2. ^ "Betty Baskcomb". Archived from the original on 2009-01-24.
  3. ^ Adrian, Jack (28 April 2003). "Betty Baskcomb". The Independent. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  4. ^ Lentz, Harris M. III (2004). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2003: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. Jefferson, North Carolina & London: McFarland. p. 23. ISBN 9780786417568.
  5. ^ Wearing, J. P. (2014). The London Stage 1950-1959: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. Plymouth, UK: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 414. ISBN 9780810893085.