Biography for
Benny Hill More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

21 January 1924, Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK (some sources say 1925)

Date of Death

20 April 1992, Teddington, Middlesex, England, UK (heart attack)

Birth Name

Alfred Hawthorn Hill

Nickname

King Leer

Height

5' 9½" (1.77 m)

Mini Biography

He was born Alfred Hawthorn Hill in 1925. It was his grandfather who introduced him to Burlesque Shows and the theatre from where the young Benny Hill was to draw much of his comic inspiration. After his national service with the army during WW2, Benny came to London, adopted the stage name Benny Hill (in homage to his all time favourite comedian Jack Benny) and began appearing in variety shows. He briefly formed a double act with Reg Varney and did radio shows. But it was his talent for impressions and comic timing that were to give him his first big break on TV with the show "Hi There" in 1949. "The Benny Hill Show" (1955) began in 1955. Its pioneering combination of cheeky humour, songs and impressions were to make it a hit for the next 40 years.

Benny also broadened his career with cameo appearances in films such as The Italian Job (1969), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) and Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 hours 11 minutes (1965). He also had a hit record in 1971 with "Ernie The Fastest Milkman In The West". In 1979 "The Benny Hill Show" (1955) was shown in America for the first time and Benny went on to become one of the biggest stars on US TV. The show itself has been seen in 109 countries and won a BAFTA as well as Golden Rose Of Montreaux Award. Benny Hill's TV career came to an end in 1989, when his show was dropped, but his popularity continued and he completed a US TV special, Benny Hill's World Tour: New York! (1991) (TV) shortly before his death in 1992.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Al Crow

Trade Mark

Expert in featuring in fast moving, mute comic short subjects, with funny music, and massive persecutions at the end.

Reverse salute called the "Benny Hill salute".

His inimitable smirk in close-up looking directly into the camera

Trivia

Comedian.

Was one of only a handful of TV comedians (the others being Milton Berle and Jackie Gleason) who had control over the circumstances of production of their respective TV shows.

Died in his favorite chair while watching television.

At the time of his death, a large box was found in his apartment. The many awards and honours he had earned throughout his career had been placed in the box as if they were unimportant to him.

Despite his wealth and success, he never owned a car, did his own shopping, lived in a two room apartment, but never used the second floor. According to one of his obituaries, he once refused to repair the leaky roof in his mother's home because it was "too expensive".

After complaints that his television comedy sketches were too sexual, he began casting children to appear on his shows. But instead of hiring professional child actors, he hired the children of the television crew, stating that their laughing to his sight gags were genuine.

When Hill died in April 1992, his estate was worth an estimated £10 million. The only will Hill created left his estate to his parents who both died years ago. Next in line were his brother and sister, neither of whom he had a close relationship with, but like his parents are also dead. As a result, Hill's estate was divided among his seven nieces and nephews.

His father and uncle were circus clowns, performing in the circus until they both left for military service during WWI.

Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 216-217. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387.

Related to Holly Valance. His cousin is her grandfather.

Born on the same day as Telly Savalas, whose "Kojak" (1973) character he impersonated on his 1969-1989 Thames TV show.

Was born on the same day that V.I. Lenin died.

He was the star of Genesis' music video for "Anything She Does" in 1986 (from the "Invisible Touch" album). It was the band's idea to cast him. He played his "Fred Scuttle" character who is the new head of backstage security. Needless to say his incompetence - due mainly to his wandering eye for the ladies (including Page 3 Model Linda Lusardi) - lets all manner of people into the bands dressing room. The video used many of Benny's trademark gags (smoke out of the ears, speed-ed up film..) and a separate, customized, version was shot to use as the opening to the group's world tour.

Died of a heart attack while sitting in front of his television inside his apartment. He was found by a producer friend of his who had to climb through a window to let police in. Benny was in his pajamas (what he normally wore around his home). Sitting next to him on a small stand was an unsigned contract which Benny was considering to begin a new series with his friend.

Appeared on the cover of TV Times for the week that ITV started broadcasting in colour.

His simple but ingenious film-tricks are copied by many, for example "Austin Powers".

After one of their stars died in 1966 (Arthur Haynes), ATV, a rival company to the BBC, tried to re-snatch Benny, but the liaison was short lived when he discovered he would be required to do other things (rather than just his comedy show), such as presenting other programmes. ATV contracts were reputedly just word of mouth and a handshake so it was easy for him to return to the BBC.

Appears as "Max" in the Adam Ant music video for "Apollo Nine".

Personal Quotes

[When asked to comment on rumours that he had sexual affairs with women who appeared on his shows]: I never yell, I never tell, but I'm grateful as hell.

"Girls are like pianos. When they're not upright, they're grand."

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