Beatrice Lillie

Canadian-born British actress, singer, showgirl and comedic performer, who won a Tony Award in 1953 for her revue An Evening with Beatrice Lillie. Her films range from Exit Smiling (1927) to Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967). Lillie wrote an autobiography, Every Other Inch a Lady.

She debuted at 15, singing with her concert-singer mother, becoming the top showgirl and stage actress with her zany comedic flair. A star of musical revues since 1920, she chalked up more than 40 musical shows in the following two decades.

In 1920 she married Sir Robert Peel and became officially known as Lady Peel, adding to her sense of humor. Robert Peel died in 1934. Their only child, Sir Robert Peel, 6th Baronet (1920–1942), was killed in action aboard HMS Tenedos (H04) in Colombo Harbour, Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka) in 1942.

In 1948, while touring in the show Inside USA, she met singer/actor John Philip Huck. He was a former US Marine, almost three decades younger, who became her friend and companion for the rest of their lives, and she boosted his career.

Lillie retired from the stage due to Alzheimer's disease. She died on 20 January 1989, aged 94, at Henley-on-Thames, England. Huck died of a heart attack the next day.