Porter!, Convict 99, Old Bones of the River, Ask a Policeman and Where's That Fire?. [11], Hay had become interested in film making while touring in the United States in the 1920s, although, at the time he doubted he had a future in this field. Potts is flown into Nazi Germany to impersonate the spy and instructed to seek out and bring back details of a new German secret weapon.

An old friend, Dr. W.H.

[37] Following his separation from Gladys in 1935, he was in a long-term relationship with Randi Kopstadt, a native of Norway. The acts in which Hay performed the schoolmaster sketch became known as "The Fourth Form at St. Michael's".

Page 2", "Jimmy Perry obituary: Creator of Dad's Army who used his own life experiences in much-loved sitcom", "The Essay, British Film Comedians: Will Hay", "Will Hay: the lost master of British comedy", "Top 100 Movie Lists – BFI's 360 Classic Feature Films", "Will Hay: Britain's bumbling star of the screen and skies.

The series lasted for four months and was cancelled, it is said, due to Hay's dispute with the BBC over the quality of the scripts. Which Is the Most Suspenseful Film of Alfred Hitchcock? He was a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) and a member of the British Astronomy Association. With him in his schoolmaster role, were his pupils, Charles Hawtrey playing the cheeky Smart, John Clark as the class swot D'arcy Minor, and Billy Nicholls playing the dumb Beckett. [21] In many of his films, Hay wore a wig, which made it appear as if he was balding.

Hay's film was widely seen as subversive towards authority, and it was granted an 'A' (adult) certificate by the British Board of Film Classification. The Goose Steps Out (1942) for Ealing was an effective piece of anti-Nazi slapstick.

Claude Hulbert and Charles Hawtrey were Hay's sidekicks in his first film for Ealing, The Ghost of St Michael's (1941). [11], Hay was scheduled to star in another film for Ealing in 1943, Bob's Your Uncle, but his diagnosis of cancer prevented him from proceeding. 'The Will Hay Appreciation Society' was founded in 2009 by British artist Tom Marshall and aims to preserve Hay's legacy and bring his work to a new generation of fans.

If we were all astronomers, there'd be no more war.

In 1942, he starred in a short information film, Go to Blazes alongside Thora Hird and Muriel George. His films are often characterised as exhibiting traits of anti-authoritarianism and having a satirical approach towards how authority figures are portrayed.

Official Sites. [10] He is often compared to W. C. Fields, who typically portrayed characters similar to those of Hay, being misanthropic, self-centered scoundrels who nevertheless remain sympathetic. In 1942 joined the R.N.V.R.

He was an actor, known for Saturday Night at the Palace (1947). Choose an adventure below and discover your next favorite movie or TV show. Hay published a magazine piece entitled Philosophy of Laughter, in which he discussed the psychology of comedy. [4] He first performed his schoolmaster character in 1910 which he based upon a colleague of his sister, who was a teaching mistress. [31], Just before Hay died, a few items of his equipment were donated to the British Astronomical Association. (1937), perhaps his masterpiece).

[28][29] He is noted for having discovered a Great White Spot on the planet Saturn in 1933.

He was not only a character comedian of the first rank, but was also an astronomer of high repute - he discovered the spot on the planet Saturn in 1933 - and a fully qualified air pilot; he was once an engineer. Being largely unsuccessful, this meant young Hay and his family kept changing address. Began playing his bumbling, seedy schoolmaster character on stage in the late 1920s.