Benny Hill. Comic Heritage - Blue Plaques on Waymarking.com

Alfred Hill( Benny Hill) was born in Southampton and grew up in Wilton Road, Upper Shirley, where he and his brother attended Taunton's School. During World War II, Hill was one of the students evacuated with the school to Bournemouth School, East Way, Bournemouth. After leaving Bournemouth School, Hill worked variously as a milkman in Eastleigh, a bridge operator, a driver and a drummer before he finally got a foot in the door of the entertainment industry by becoming an assistant stage manager. Inspired by the 'star comedians' of British music hall shows, Hill set out to make his mark in show business. For the stage, he changed his first name to 'Benny', in homage to his favourite comedian, Jack Benny. Hill began appearing at working men's clubs and Masonic dinners before graduating to nightclub and theatre jobs. Hill auditioned for Soho's famed Windmill Theatre (home of Revudeville, a popular show of singers, comedians and nude girls), but he was not hired. Hill's first job in professional theatre as a performer was as Reg Varney's straight man, beating a then unknown Peter Sellers for the role.

Hill spent many happy time Teddington Studios a large British television studio complex located in Teddington, South-West London, providing studio facilities for programmes airing on BBC television, ITV, and Channel 4. The complex also provides studio space for channel continuity.

Hill's health began to decline in the mid-1980s. He suffered heart problems, and on 24 February 1992, doctors told him he needed to lose weight and recommended a heart bypass. He declined and a week later was found to have renal failure. Benny Hill died at the age of 68 on 19 April 1992, Easter weekend. On 21 April, neighbours called the police, who then found Hill, dead, sitting in his armchair in front of the television. Ironically, on the day Hill died, a new contract arrived in the post from Central Independent Television. Hill's cause of death was officially called natural causes. His death nearly coincided with that of Frankie Howerd, who had died at the age of 75, on 18 April 1992, only one day before Hill's death.

Blue Plaque managing agency: Comic Heritage Individual Recognized: Benny Hill Physical Address: Teddington Studios Broom Road Teddington, UK Middlesex TW11 9BE Web Address: Not listed

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