Dorothy Katherine Standing, Lady Clements (18 February 1909 – 4 May 1980), known professionally as Kay Hammond, was an English stage and film actress.
Kay Hammond | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Dorothy Katherine Standing 18 February 1909 London, England |
| Died | 4 May 1980 (aged 71) Brighton, East Sussex, England |
| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1927–1961 |
| Spouse(s) | Sir Ronald Leon 3rd Bt (m.1932–div.1946) Sir John Clements (m.1946) |
| Children | 2, including John Standing |
| Parent(s) | Guy Standing Dorothy Hammond |
| Relatives | Joan Standing (cousin) Wyndham Standing (uncle) Jack Standing (uncle) Percy Standing (uncle) Herbert Standing (grandfather) |
Family edit
Kay Hammond was born in London, England as Dorothy Katherine Standing, the daughter of Sir Guy Standing and his wife, Dorothy Hammond (Dorothy Plaskitt).[1] Her grandfather was Herbert Standing (1846–1923) and her uncles were Wyndham, Jack, and Percy Darrell Standing.[2][3]
Career edit
She studied at RADA and first appeared on the London stage in 1927.[4] Her most famous role was that of Elvira in Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit, which she played in the original stage production. She reprised her role in the 1945 film version opposite Rex Harrison, Margaret Rutherford and Constance Cummings.
She appeared as a guest of Roy Plomley on Desert Island Discs on 25 February 1951.[5]
Personal life edit
This section needs additional citations for verification. (July 2023) |
Hammond's first husband was baronet Sir Ronald George Leon.[6] Their sons were John Ronald Leon (the actor John Standing) and Timothy George Leon. Her second husband was the stage actor Sir John Clements.
Death edit
Kay Hammond died in Brighton, aged 71, from undisclosed causes, on 4 May 1980.[7] She was cremated and her ashes scattered in the memorial garden at Downs Crematorium, Brighton, East Sussex[7]
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Children of Chance | Joyce | |
| 1931 | Fascination | Kay | |
| A Night in Montmartre | Margot | ||
| Almost a Divorce | Maisie | ||
| Carnival | Helen | ||
| Out of the Blue | Angela Tucker | ||
| 1932 | The Third String | Hebe Tucker | |
| A Night Like This | Mimi - Cocktail Shaker | uncredited | |
| Nine till Six | Beatrice | ||
| Money Means Nothing | Angel | ||
| Sally Bishop | Janet Hallard | ||
| 1933 | Yes, Madam | Pansy Beresford | |
| Bitter Sweet | Gussi | ||
| Sleeping Car | Simone | ||
| Britannia of Billingsgate | Pearl Bolton | ||
| The Umbrella | Mabel | ||
| 1934 | Bypass to Happiness | Dinah | |
| 1936 | Two on a Doorstep | Jill Day | |
| 1941 | Jeannie | Margaret | |
| 1945 | Blithe Spirit | Elvira Condomine | |
| 1949 | Call of the Blood | Dr. Anne Lester | |
| 1953 | Henry V | Princess Katherine | TV movie |
| 1961 | Five Golden Hours | Martha | final film role |
Selected stage credits edit
- Can the Leopard...? by Ronald Jeans (1931)
- Hollywood Holiday by John Van Druten (1931)
References edit
- ^ University of Kent: Theatre collections
- ^ "SIR GUY STANDING, 63, ENGLISH ACTOR, DIES: Veteran Star of Stage and Screen Drops Dead in Hollywood". The Atlanta Constitution. 25 February 1937. p. 45. ProQuest 502877180.
Sir Guy was the eldest son of Herbert Standing, member of a leading English theatrical family. Three other sons also became actors—Wyndham, Darrell [sic] and Jack Standing.
- ^ "Unusual Modesty". Manchester Evening News. 2 January 1913. p. 7. Retrieved 24 January 2024. "An actor who actually thought he wasn't good enough for his part has won an action against his manager in the Supreme Court of the United States. [...] The actor is Percy Darrell Standing, brother of Guy Standing, who is an Englishman."
- ^ Morley, Sheridan (1986). The Great Stage Stars : Distinguished Theatrical Careers of the Past and Present. New York: Facts on File Publications. p. 155. ISBN 0816014019.
- ^ "Desert Island Discs". BBC Radio 4. BBC. 28 February 1951. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
- ^ TIMES, Wireless to THE NEW YORK (10 November 1932). "KAY HAMMOND MARRIED.; Actress, Daughter of Sir Guy Standing, Wed to Ronald Leon". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ a b Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. p. 313. ISBN 978-1-4766-2599-7.
- Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies - John Walker (editor), 14th edition, 2001, ISBN 0-06-093507-3
External links edit
- Kay Hammond at IMDb
- Kay Hammond at the Internet Broadway Database
- Cine Morgue Archived 20 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- sultry portrait
