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Moore Marriott
Moore Marriott
Moore Marriott
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George Thomas Moore Marriott (14 September 1885[1] – 11 December 1949[2]) 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 (1935), but he was a significant supporting performer in Hay's films from 1936 to 1940, and while he starred with Hay during this period he played a character called "Harbottle" that was based on a character Marriott usually played. His character Harbottle was originally created by Hay when he used the character in his "The fourth form at St. Michael's" sketches in the 1920s.

Key Information

Career

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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.[3] Rather like Wilfrid Brambell and Clive Dunn later, he became 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) and Ask a Policeman (1939), as well as Jerry the Mole in Convict 99 (1938), again with Hay and Moffatt. During the filming of Hay's film Dandy Dick (1935), Marriott played an uncredited stableboy. During the filming of Dandy Dick, Marriott said to Hay he thought he should be a straight man to him in his old-man character. His first role as a straight man using this character was in Hay's film Windbag the Sailor (1936) 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 the Crazy Gang, e.g. I Thank You (1941) and Back-Room Boy (1942). His other film appearances included Millions Like Us (1943) and Green for Danger (1946).

Death

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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.[3] He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium, where his ashes were also interred.

Legacy

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The Will Hay Appreciation Society was founded in 2009 by British 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.[4] 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.[5]

On 14th 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.[6]

The Will Hay Appreciation Society's plaque honouring comic actor Moore Marriott at his home in Bognor Regis.

Selected filmography

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References

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Moore Marriott

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Moore Marriott (14 September 1885 – 11 December 1949) was an English and film renowned for his prolific career spanning silent cinema to post-war British features, often portraying eccentric elderly rustics and comic sidekicks. Born George Thomas Moore Marriott in Yiewsley, , into a theatrical , he began performing on at the age of five and made his screen debut in silent films around 1906, appearing in up to 300 productions over his lifetime. Marriott transitioned seamlessly to sound films in , gaining lasting fame as the toothless, bumbling Harbottle in a series of comedies starring and , including Windbag the Sailor (1936), Oh, Mr. Porter! (1937), and Ask a Policeman (1939). Beyond comedy, he demonstrated versatility in dramatic roles, such as the retiring in The Flying Scotsman (1929), the ghostly servant George in (1945), and a grumpy hospital patient in Green for Danger (1946), while also serving as a dispatch rider during the First World War. Marriott's career reflected the evolution of British cinema, from early silents to wartime propaganda and Ealing-style dramas, before his death in , , at age 64.

Early life

Birth and family background

George Thomas Moore Marriott was born on 14 September 1885 in , , , . He was the son of George Matthew Marriott, who initially worked as a commercial traveller before transitioning into a career as a theatrical manager, and Rousby Coleman, an . The Marriott family was deeply embedded in the performing arts, with both parents actively involved in the theater world, providing a vibrant environment steeped in entertainment traditions. George Thomas, known professionally as Moore Marriott, grew up alongside three siblings, including his sister Florence S. Marriott, all of whom participated in the family profession to varying degrees. Raised in a district of , young Moore was immersed from an early age in the lively scene of local music halls and variety shows, which were staples of late Victorian entertainment in the area. This proximity to popular performance venues fostered his innate affinity for , setting the foundation for his lifelong career in acting.

Entry into theatre

Moore Marriott, born into a family with deep roots in the British theatre world, began his performing career at a remarkably young age. He made his stage debut at five years old, appearing in family-led productions that introduced him to the stage. This early start provided an informal apprenticeship, shaped by his family's involvement in theatrical activities and the vibrant variety circuits of the era. Marriott was actively participating in local and family performances in his youth, honing his skills in comedic timing and character work. His first professional engagements came in the late and early , with appearances in provincial theatres and touring companies across Britain. These roles immersed him in the traditions of British pantomime and comedy, where he absorbed the exaggerated styles and ensemble dynamics that would define his later contributions to .

Career

Stage career

Moore Marriott's stage career, spanning the early through the 1930s, built on his early entry into and established him as a prominent in British live performance. Born into a theatrical in 1885, he began appearing on as a youngster, performing with family members in various productions that provided his initial training. By 1906, at age 21, Marriott was actively involved in professional , leveraging his familial connections to secure roles in provincial repertory companies. Throughout the and , Marriott toured extensively in music hall and variety shows, where he refined his skills as a and character performer. These engagements took him across the , including appearances in stage productions that showcased his versatility. His work in pantomimes and during this peak period allowed him to develop a signature style: portraying irascible, elderly comic figures with a distinctive accent, despite being only in his 30s and 40s at the time. Early collaborations in variety acts and pantomimes, often with emerging s, honed his timing and , contributing to his reputation as a reliable supporting player. Marriott's stage success in the led to increasing offers from the burgeoning in the late decade, signaling a gradual shift toward cinema while he maintained a busy theatre schedule into . His strong stage foundation, rooted in live audience interaction, proved invaluable for his later screen transition.

Film career

Moore Marriott made his film debut in 1912 with the short silent A Maid of the Alps, a British production directed by Alf Collins in which he also contributed to the under his full name, George Moore Marriott. This early entry into cinema built on his stage-honed character acting skills, allowing him to portray eccentric supporting roles in the silent era. Throughout the and , Marriott appeared in numerous British silent films, often in minor comedic or character parts that showcased his distinctive gnomish appearance and work. His roles during this period included supporting turns in features like The Grip of Iron (1920) and The Clicking of Cuthbert (1924), as well as shorts such as By the Shortest of Heads (1915). By the late and into , he transitioned to sound films, frequently cast in low-budget "quota quickies"—inexpensive British productions designed to meet cinematic import quotas—where he provided reliable comic relief in titles like Heroes of the Mine (1932) and (1935). Marriott's screen career reached its zenith through his collaboration with comedian from 1935 to 1941, appearing in eight films together, including the initial unbilled role in Dandy Dick (1935). In these comedies, Marriott played the doddering, mumbling Harbottle, a loyal but hapless sidekick to Hay's pompous authority figures like schoolmasters or officials, often alongside the youthful, cheeky Albert portrayed by . This trio dynamic drove the humor in hits such as Windbag the Sailor (1936), Oh, Mr. Porter! (1937), Ask a Policeman (1939), and The Ghost of St. Michael's (1941), establishing Marriott as a key figure in . Following the Hay partnership, which ended amid wartime disruptions, Marriott continued in diverse 1940s roles, leveraging his versatility across genres from comedy to . Notable appearances included the elderly Uncle Pentstemon in the literary adaptation (1949), directed by Anthony Pelissier, and the humorous old porter in the suspense thriller Green for Danger (1946), where his provided levity amid tension. He also featured in ensemble comedies like Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt (1940) and wartime s such as (1943), amassing over 100 film credits by emphasizing character depth in , efforts, and period pieces. Marriott's career peaked in the with the Hay films, which solidified his status in British cinema, but it tapered in the late due to declining health, culminating in his final role in . Despite the brevity of his most famous collaborations, his consistent portrayals of endearing eccentrics across more than three decades left a mark on the era's .

Personal life

Marriages and family

Moore Marriott married Annie Rose Elizabeth Beavis on 2 January 1908 in , . The couple had four children: daughters Jean (born 1910), Elaine (born 1911), and Camilla (born 1913), and son George Stone (born 1914). Marriott's extensive and film commitments, often involving national tours, limited detailed public records of his life, which he maintained with relative despite his theatrical upbringing. No verified accounts of additional marriages or partnerships exist in available historical records, underscoring the scarcity of personal documentation amid his professional demands.

Health and later years

Following the conclusion of his prominent collaborations with in 1940, Moore Marriott's film roles diminished in prominence, shifting to parts amid the physical demands of his aging and the evolving demands of performance. He appeared in fewer features during the decade, including the role of Jerry in Back-Room Boy (1942) and Jim Crowson, the father, in (1943), reflecting a gradual semi-retirement from the screen while maintaining selective engagements. In his later years, Marriott experienced significant health challenges, including and related chronic respiratory conditions and fatigue, exacerbated by years of professional exertion. These issues limited his capacity for demanding comedic roles, leading to a more subdued pace of work as he navigated ongoing physical decline. Marriott spent his later years in semi-retirement at his home in , , where he operated a modest grocer's store, enjoying a stable but unassuming lifestyle supported by his established reputation in the industry. Despite his health setbacks, he returned for occasional supporting appearances, culminating in his final role as Uncle Penstemon in the drama (1949), undertaken amid persistent ailments.

Death and legacy

Circumstances of death

Moore Marriott died on 11 December 1949 in , , , at the age of 64, from complicated by . Following a decline in health marked by respiratory issues, his condition worsened rapidly in the final months of 1949. A private funeral ceremony was held shortly after his passing, and he was cremated on 14 December 1949 at in , with his ashes interred in the West Central Bed A section.

Enduring influence

Moore Marriott's portrayal of the doddering, malapropism-prone Harbottle in the comedy films established him as an iconic figure in British , where the trio of Hay, Marriott, and embodied incompetent authority and regional humor that resonated with audiences during the era. This dynamic, with Marriott's shrill, toothless old man contrasting Hay's pompous schemer and Moffatt's cheeky youth, became a template for ensemble comedy, influencing subsequent character actors in and television who specialized in eccentric, regional archetypes. The trio's films, such as Oh, Mr. Porter! (1937), highlighted a blend of and that echoed in later works by comedians like , whose verbal banter and physical gags drew from the Hay-Marriott-Moffatt interplay. Today, Marriott's work enjoys modern recognition through the availability of his key films on platforms like the BFI Player, where titles including Oh, Mr. Porter! are offered for rental, preserving access for new audiences. DVD releases from distributors like Network Distributing have made collections of the Will Hay trio accessible to home viewers, fostering a among enthusiasts of who appreciate the era's lowbrow wit and historical charm. His contributions are also referenced in histories and retrospectives, underscoring the trio's role in pre-war entertainment as a counterpoint to Hollywood imports. Commemorations of Marriott include a memorial plaque unveiled on September 14, 2024—his 139th birthday—at his former home in , , organized by the Appreciation Society to honor his over 300 film appearances and status as a leading . His films are preserved in the British Film Institute's National Archive, with early works like The Two Obadiahs (1911) available online, ensuring his early career contributions remain documented for scholarly and public access. Occasional 21st-century tributes, such as screenings at , highlight the enduring appeal of his performances in the Hay series. Despite these efforts, Marriott remains relatively obscure compared to , overshadowed by typecasting as the "old man" character—despite being in his forties during the films—and his early death at age 64 in 1949, which limited post-war opportunities and cemented his legacy within the trio rather than as a solo star.

References

  1. https://www.silversirens.co.uk/people/moore-marriott/
  2. https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/peace-on-the-western-front-britains-first-anti-war-documentary
  3. http://www.britishpictures.com/stars/Marriott_Moore.htm
  4. https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/0223b350-5e00-57ac-a0ec-2613bed7d9bd/ask-a-policeman
  5. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/M79M-ZLR/george-thomas-moore-marriott-1885-1949
  6. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0550195/bio/
  7. https://www.myheritage.com/names/moore_marriott
  8. https://anneramsden.wordpress.com/silent-film-people/silent-film-companies/moore-marriott/
  9. https://www.famousfix.com/topic/moore-marriott
  10. https://alchetron.com/Moore-Marriott
  11. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0550195/
  12. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1276403/
  13. https://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/1361819/index.html
  14. https://www.ranker.com/list/will-hay-movies-and-films-and-filmography/ranker-film
  15. https://en.notrecinema.com/communaute/stars/stars.php3?staridx=100733
  16. https://letterboxd.com/actor/moore-marriott/
  17. 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
  18. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/moore_marriott
  19. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?basicsearch=moore%20marriott%20died&retrievecountry=england&sortorder=dayearly
  20. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10065331/moore-marriott
  21. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/yours-uk/20180327/288497253524123
  22. https://player.bfi.org.uk/rentals/film/watch-oh-mr-porter-1937-online
  23. https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/oh-mr-porter
  24. http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/516270/index.html
  25. https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/memorial-plaque-to-be-unveiled-for-west-sussex-actor-that-appeared-in-300-films-4773882
  26. https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-vivaphone-film-the-two-obadiahs-1911-online
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