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Ernest Butcher

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Ernest Butcher
1936 Spotlight photo
Born
Edward Ernest Butcher

(1885-04-07)7 April 1885
Burnley, Lancashire, England
Died8 June 1965(1965-06-08) (aged 80)
London, England
OccupationActor
Spouse(s)Muriel George
Edna Brough

Edward Ernest Butcher (7 April 1885 – 8 June 1965) was a British actor, on stage from 1935, and with many film and TV appearances.[1][2][3]

Early life and career

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Edward Ernest Butcher was born on 7 April 1885 in Cliviger, Burnley, Lancashire, England to teacher father, John Thomas, and shopkeeper mother, Margaret (nee Garlick).[4] He was educated at Walk Mill School, where his father taught.[4] Butcher worked as an electrical engineer and auctioneer before studying at the Royal Academy of Music.[5] He served in the first world war with the Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment.[6][7]

Butcher formed his own company, The Bunch of Keys, with his wife, Muriel George. The couple sang duets and appeared at the Royal Variety Performance in 1922. He made his first broadcast in 1924 and his first film in 1934.[5]

He appeared in the original production of J.B. Priestley's play When We Are Married at St. Martin's Theatre London, in 1938;[8] and reprised his performance in the film version, in 1943.[1] During the second world war, he played in Front Line Family, a BBC overseas soap opera, broadcast daily.[5]

Butcher was on the bill when Gracie Fields made her debut.[7]

Personal life and death

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Butcher was the second husband of the actress Muriel George, and stepfather to her son, the critic John Davenport.[9][10] Butcher and George married in 1921 in Fulham, west London.[11] By 1939, the couple were living in Torrington Park, North Finchley.[12] However, in 1943, the marriage ended in divorce.[13]

In 1948, he married Edna Brough, sister of ventriloquist Peter Brough, in Wood Green, London.[6]

Butcher latterly lived in Friary Road, Friern Barnet. On 22 May 1965 Butcher was admitted to Brompton Hospital in Kensington, London with heart and chest trouble.[7] He died on 8 June 1965, aged 80, in hospital.[6][14]

Selected filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Ernest Butcher". Archived from the original on 4 September 2009. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  2. ^ McFarlane, Brian (16 May 2016). The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9781526111968 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Ernest Butcher". www.aveleyman.com.
  4. ^ a b "Mr Ernest Butcher dies at 80". Lancashire Telegraph. 9 June 1965. p. 7.
  5. ^ a b c "Ernest Butcher is Dead". Western Daily Press. 9 June 1965.
  6. ^ a b c "Obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 9 June 1965. p. 18.
  7. ^ a b c "Music Hall Star Dies". Daily Post. 9 June 1965.
  8. ^ "Production of When We Are Married - Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  9. ^ The New Review, vol. 3, issue 31, 1976, pg 69
  10. ^ McFarlane, Brian (16 May 2016). The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9781526111968 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ "FreeBMD Entry Info". www.freebmd.org.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  12. ^ 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/7706B 1939 England and Wales Register Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of TNA, London England. 1939 Register (Series RG101), The National Archives, Kew, London, England.
  13. ^ "Star Of The Music Hall Ernest Butcher Dies, Aged 79". Liverpool Echo. 8 June 1965. p. 1.
  14. ^ Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England.
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