{{Short description|English character actor (1885–1949)}} {{Use British English|date=January 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Moore Marriott | image = | image_size = | caption = Marriott in his "old man" character | birth_name = George Thomas Moore Marriott | birth_date = {{birth date|1885|09|14|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Yiewsley]], [[Middlesex]], England | death_date = {{death date and age|1949|12|11|1885|09|14|df=y}} | death_place = [[Bognor Regis]], Sussex, England
| occupation = Character actor | years_active = 1912–1949 | spouse = }}
''' George Thomas Moore Marriott''' (14 September 1885<ref>GRO Register of Births: DEC 1885 3a 23 UXBRIDGE – George Thomas M. Marriott</ref> – 11 December 1949<ref>GRO Register of Deaths: DEC 1949 5h 530 CHICHESTER – George T. M. Marriott</ref>) was an English [[character actor]] best remembered for the series of films he made with [[Will Hay]]. His first appearance with Hay was in the film ''[[Dandy Dick (film)|Dandy Dick]]'' (1935), becoming a significant supporting performer in Hay's films from 1936 to 1940, during which time he played a character called "Harbottle" that was based on a character Marriott had been playing since the 1920s when the Harbottle character was first created by Hay for his "The fourth form at St. Michael's" sketches.
==Career==
Marriott was born at Alpha Place, [[Yiewsley]], [[Middlesex]], on 14 September 1885, the son of George Matthew Marriott (1859–1940), who was then a commercial traveller, and his wife, Edith Rousby, née Coleman (1864–1946). His parents were actors, and his father became a theatrical manager. Moore Marriott made his stage debut at the age of five. He had originally intended to train as an architect, but instead he became an actor in films.<ref name=Hay/> Rather like [[Wilfrid Brambell]] and [[Clive Dunn]] later, he became [[typecasting (acting)|typecast]] as playing old men when he was still relatively young. He had a special set of artificial teeth which he would put in to play his 'old man' characters. He had no teeth in real life and took four different sets of false teeth with him to achieve variety in his characters.
Although he made 131 film appearances from 1912, today he is best known as old "Harbottle" in a number of [[comedy films]] he made with [[Will Hay]] and [[Graham Moffatt]], including ''[[Oh, Mr Porter!]]'' (1937), ''[[Ask a Policeman]]'' (1939), and as Jerry the Mole in ''[[Convict 99]]'' (1938). It was during the filming of Hay's film ''[[Dandy Dick (film)|Dandy Dick]]'' (1935) - where Marriott played an uncredited stableboy - that he first suggested that Hay should be a straight man to his old-man Harbottle character, a dynamic which was introduced the following year in Hay's 1936 film ''[[Windbag the Sailor]]'' along with [[Graham Moffatt]].
Following the dissolution of the Will Hay/Graham Moffatt/Moore Marriott partnership, he continued to play his Harbottle-type character in films with the comedian [[Arthur Askey]] and [[Crazy Gang (comedy group)|the Crazy Gang]], e.g. ''[[I Thank You (film)|I Thank You]]'' (1941) and ''[[Back-Room Boy]]'' (1942). His other film appearances included ''[[Millions Like Us]]'' (1943) and ''[[Green for Danger (film)|Green for Danger]]'' (1946).
==Death== In his later years, Marriott kept a grocer's store in [[Bognor Regis]], and it is where he died on 11 December 1949; only eight months after the death of his comedy partner Will Hay. Cause of death was cardiac syncope, acute pulmonary oedema and chronic myocardiac degeneration caused by earlier pneumonia. He outlived his mother and his father by merely three years and nine years respectively.<ref name=Hay>{{cite web |url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/trevor.buckingham/moffmarrtest.htm |title=Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriott |access-date=2011-04-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514004027/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/trevor.buckingham/moffmarrtest.htm |archive-date=14 May 2011 |df=dmy-all }} Moore Marriott on the Will Hay Tribute Site</ref> He was cremated at [[Golders Green Crematorium]], where his ashes were also interred.
== Legacy == The Will Hay Appreciation Society was founded in 2009 by British artist [[Tom Marshall (artist)|Tom Marshall]], and aims to preserve the legacy of Will Hay, Moore Marriott and Graham Moffatt and to bring their work to a new generation of fans. As of October 2023, the organisation had over 8000 members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.photogra-fix.com/willhay|title=The Will Hay Appreciation Society|website=PhotograFix: Tom Marshall B.A. (Hons) Photo Colouriser|language=en|access-date=2019-06-19}}</ref> The society unveiled a memorial bench to Will Hay, Moore Marriott and Graham Moffatt in October 2018, in [[Cliddesden]], [[Hampshire]] the filming location for ''[[Oh, Mr. Porter!]]''. The bench was unveiled by [[Pete Waterman]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/16988533.mr-porter-returns-to-cliddesden-with-guests-in-tow/|title=Mr Porter returns to Cliddesden with guests in tow|website=Basingstoke Gazette|language=en|access-date=2019-06-19}}</ref>
On 14 September 2024, the 139th anniversary of Marriott's birth, the Will Hay Appreciation Society unveiled a memorial plaque to Moore Marriott on his final home in [[Bognor Regis]]. The plaque was unveiled by comic actor [[Bob Golding]] and the event was presented by society founder [[Tom Marshall (artist)|Tom Marshall]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/west-sussex-star-of-the-silver-screen-that-made-over-300-films-is-honoured-town-he-retired-in-4785371|title=Icon of the silver screen that made over 300 films is honoured in West Sussex town he retired in|date=17 September 2024|website=SussexWorld}}</ref>
[[File:Moore Marriott Plaque in Bognor Regis.jpg|thumb|The Will Hay Appreciation Society's plaque honouring comic actor Moore Marriott at his home in Bognor Regis.]]
==Selected filmography== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * ''A Maid of the Alps'' (1912, Short) * ''[[By the Shortest of Heads]]'' (1915, Short) - Capt. Fields * ''[[Grim Justice]]'' (1916) - Grandfather Transom * ''[[The Grip of Iron]]'' (1920) - Smiler * ''[[Mary Latimer, Nun]]'' (1920) - Dickey Stubbs * ''[[The Winding Road]]'' (1920) - Jed Sterrett * ''Three Men in a Van'' (1921) - Mudley * ''[[The Head of the Family (1922 film)|The Head of the Family]]'' (1922) - Mate * ''[[The Monkey's Paw (1923 film)|The Monkey's Paw]]'' (1923) - John White * ''[[Lawyer Quince (1924 film)|Lawyer Quince]]'' (1924, Short) - Quince * ''[[Dixon's Return]]'' (1924, Short) - Bob Dixon * ''[[The Conspirators (1924 film)|The Conspirators]]'' (1924) - Morris / Sydney Barnes * ''[[The Mating of Marcus]]'' (1924) - Reverend Cheffins * ''[[Ordeal by Golf]]'' (1924, Short) - Reverend Heeza Jones * ''[[Not for Sale (film)|Not for Sale]]'' (1924) - Solicitor * ''[[Afraid of Love (film)|Afraid of Love]]'' (1925) - Father * ''[[Confessions (1925 film)|Confessions]]'' (1925) - Hardy * ''[[King of the Castle (1926 film)|King of the Castle]]'' (1925) - Peter Coffin * ''[[The Gold Cure (1925 film)|The Gold Cure]]'' (1925) - Janbois * ''[[Every Mother's Son (1926 film)|Every Mother's Son]]'' (1926) - Nobby * ''[[The Qualified Adventurer]]'' (1926) - Bosun * ''[[London Love]]'' (1926) - Aaron Levinsky * ''[[Passion Island (film)|Passion Island]]'' (1927) - Beppo * ''[[Second to None (film)|Second to None]]'' (1927) - Bill Hyde * ''[[The Silver Lining (1927 film)|The Silver Lining]]'' (1927) - Gypsy * ''[[Carry On (film)|Carry On]]'' (1927) - Mick Trevorn * ''[[Huntingtower (film)|Huntingtower]]'' (1927) - Speidel * ''[[Victory (1928 film)|Victory]]'' (1928) - Seth Lee * ''[[Toni (1928 film)|Toni]]'' (1928) - Meyer * ''[[Sweeney Todd (1928 film)|Sweeney Todd]]'' (1928) - Sweeney Todd * ''[[Widecombe Fair (film)|Widecombe Fair]]'' (1928) - Uncle Tom Cobleigh * ''[[Kitty (1929 film)|Kitty]]'' (1929) - Workman (uncredited) * ''[[Mr. Smith Wakes Up]]'' (1929, Short) - Mr. Smith * ''[[The Lady from the Sea (1929 film)|The Lady from the Sea]]'' (1929) - Old Roberts * ''[[The Flying Scotsman (1929 film)|The Flying Scotsman]]'' (1929) - Bob White * ''[[Kissing Cup's Race (1930 film)|Kissing Cup's Race]]'' (1930) - Joe Tricker * ''[[Aroma of the South Seas]]'' (1931, Short) - The King * ''[[The Speckled Band (1931 film)|The Speckled Band]]'' (1931) - Member of Jury (uncredited) * ''[[The Lyons Mail]]'' (1931) - Choppard * ''[[Dance Pretty Lady]]'' (1931) - Mr. Raeburn * ''[[Up for the Cup (1931 film)|Up for the Cup]]'' (1931) - James Hardcastle * ''[[The Crooked Lady]]'' (1932) - Crabby * ''[[The Water Gipsies (film)|The Water Gipsies]]'' (1932) - Mr. Pewtar * ''[[Nine till Six]]'' (1932) - Doorman * ''[[Mr. Bill the Conqueror]]'' (1932) - Tom Turtle * ''[[The Sign of Four (1932 film)|The Sign of Four]]'' (1932) - Mordecai Smith (uncredited) * ''[[Heroes of the Mine (1932 film)|Heroes of the Mine]]'' (1932) - Gaffer * ''[[The Wonderful Story (1932 film)|The Wonderful Story]]'' (1932) - Zacky Richards * ''[[Little Waitress]]'' (1932) - Baron Halfsburg * ''[[The Crime at Blossoms]]'' (1933) - Driver * ''[[Money for Speed]]'' (1933) - Shorty * ''[[A Moorland Tragedy]]'' (1933, Short) - The Old Man * ''[[Dora (1933 film)|Dora]]'' (1933, Short) - Thomas Henry Jones * ''[[The House of Trent]]'' (1933) - Ferrier * ''[[Lucky Blaze]]'' (1933) - Sir James Benson * ''[[Love's Old Sweet Song (1933 film)|Love's Old Sweet Song]]'' (1933) - Old Tom * ''[[Hawley's of High Street]]'' (1933) - Mr. Busworth * ''[[A Political Party]]'' (1934) - Jim Turner * ''[[Faces (1934 film)|Faces]]'' (1934) - Robert Pelham * ''[[Girls, Please!]]'' (1934) - Oldest Inhabitant * ''[[Nell Gwynn (1934 film)|Nell Gwynn]]'' (1934) - Robin * ''[[The Scoop (film)|The Scoop]]'' (1934) - Jim Stewart * ''[[The Feathered Serpent (1934 film)|The Feathered Serpent]]'' (1934) - Harry Hugg * ''[[Dandy Dick (film)|Dandy Dick]]'' (1935) - Stableboy (uncredited) * ''[[Drake of England]]'' (1935) - Bright * ''[[The Man Without a Face (1935 film)|The Man Without a Face]]'' (1935) - Tinker John * ''[[Turn of the Tide (film)|Turn of the Tide]]'' (1935) - Tindal Fosdyck * ''[[Gay Old Dog]]'' (1935) - George Bliss * ''[[It's a Bet]]'' (1935) - Farmer (uncredited) * ''[[When Knights Were Bold (1936 film)|When Knights Were Bold]]'' (1936) - The Tramp * ''[[Strange Cargo (1936 film)|Strange Cargo]]'' (1936) - Captain Burch * ''[[Wednesday's Luck]]'' (1936) - Nobby * ''[[The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss]]'' (1936) - Edwards (uncredited) * ''[[As You Like It (1936 film)|As You Like It]]'' (1936) - Denis (uncredited) * ''[[Luck of the Turf]]'' (1936) - Mr. Jackson * ''[[Talk of the Devil]]'' (1936) - Dart Thrower (uncredited) * ''[[Accused (1936 film)|Accused]]'' (1936) - Dubec * ''[[Windbag the Sailor]]'' (1936) - Jeremiah Harbottle * ''[[Feather Your Nest]]'' (1937) - Mr. Jenkins * ''[[Fifty-Shilling Boxer]]'' (1937) - Tim Regan * ''[[The Fatal Hour (1937 film)|The Fatal Hour]]'' (1937) - Dixon * ''[[Night Ride (1937 film)|Night Ride]]'' (1937) - Miner (scenes deleted) * ''[[Victoria the Great]]'' (1937) - Train Driver * ''[[Oh, Mr Porter!]]'' (1937) - Jeremiah Harbottle * ''[[Intimate Relations (1937 film)|Intimate Relations]]'' (1937) - Toomley * ''[[Owd Bob (1938 film)|Owd Bob]]'' (1938) - Samuel * ''[[Held for Ransom (1938 film)|Held for Ransom]]'' (1938) - Hathaway * ''[[Convict 99]]'' (1938) - Jerry, The Mole * ''[[Old Bones of the River]]'' (1938) - Jerry Harbottle * ''[[A Girl Must Live]]'' (1939) - Bretherton Hythe * ''[[Ask a Policeman]]'' (1939) - Harbottle * ''[[Cheer Boys Cheer]]'' (1939) - Geordie * ''[[Where's That Fire?]]'' (1939) - Jeremiah Harbottle * ''[[The Frozen Limits]]'' (1939) - Tom Tiddler * ''[[Band Waggon (film)|Band Waggon]]'' (1940) - Jasper * ''[[Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt]]'' (1940) - Jerry * ''[[Gasbags]]'' (1941) - Jerry Jenkins * ''[[I Thank You (film)|I Thank You]]'' (1941) - 'Pop' Bennett * ''[[Hi Gang! (film)|Hi Gang!]]'' (1941) - Uncle Jerry * ''[[Back-Room Boy]]'' (1942) - Jerry (Jeremiah Percy Cecil Frobisher) * ''[[Millions Like Us]]'' (1943) - Jim Crowson * ''[[Time Flies (1944 film)|Time Flies]]'' (1944) - A Soothsayer * ''[[It Happened One Sunday]]'' (1944) - Hospital Porter * ''[[Don't Take It to Heart]]'' (1944) - Granfer * ''[[A Place of One's Own]]'' (1945) - George * ''[[I'll Be Your Sweetheart]]'' (1945) - George Le Brunn * ''[[The Agitator]]'' (1945) - Ben Duckett * ''[[Green for Danger (film)|Green for Danger]]'' (1946) - The Patients: Joseph Higgins * ''[[The Root of All Evil (1947 film)|The Root of All Evil]]'' (1947) - William Scholes * ''[[Green Fingers (1947 film)|Green Fingers]]'' (1947) - Pickles * ''[[The Hills of Donegal (film)|The Hills of Donegal]]'' (1947) - Old Jake * ''[[The History of Mr. Polly (film)|The History of Mr. Polly]]'' (1949) - Uncle Pentstemon * ''[[High Jinks in Society]]'' (1949) - Grandpa (final film role) {{div col end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Biography}} *{{IMDb name|0550195}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20170407101755/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9efdc399 Moore Marriott] at [[BFI]] *[https://www.allmovie.com/artist/moore-marriott-p45718 Moore Marriott] at [[AllMovie]]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Marriott, Moore}} [[Category:1885 births]] [[Category:1949 deaths]] [[Category:English male film actors]] [[Category:English male silent film actors]] [[Category:People from West Drayton]] [[Category:20th-century English male actors]] [[Category:People cremated at Golders Green Crematorium]] [[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Hillingdon]] [[Category:People from Yiewsley]]