Rita Webb

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Rita Webb
Born Olive Webb
February 25, 1904(1904-02-25)
Willesden, Middlesex
Died August 30, 1981 (aged 77)
Westminster, London, England
Occupation Comedy actress
Spouse Lionel Stanley "Thommie" Thompson (separated)

Rita Webb (25 February 1904 - 30 August 1981 [1]) was a British character actress, mainly in comedy roles.

Born Olive Webb in Willesden, London, she is best known for her appearances as a stooge for Benny Hill in his long-running Thames Television series. At under five feet tall, with a booming voice and dyed flame-red hair, she was often cast as a blowzy mother-in-law or Cockney type character. Her vital statistics were 48 inch bust, 46 inch waist and 52 inch hips and she weighed 15 stone and was four feet ten inches tall. She was called "Podge" by her husband and was proud that she still had all her own teeth. She signed her letters: "Dame Rita Webb" and had refused to be on the This is Your Life TV show.

In the 1960s she made a number of television appearances with Billy Cotton and alongside Arthur Haynes. Her many television credits include several appearances in Spike Milligan's Q series, Dixon of Dock Green, Till Death Us Do Part, and Up Pompeii! with Frankie Howerd. She also appeared in supporting roles in many films including To Sir, with Love (1967), The Magic Christian (1969), Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy (1972) and Confessions of a Pop Performer (1975).

[edit] References

  1. ^ GRO Register of deaths: SEP 1981 15 1754 WESTMINSTER - Olive Rita Thompson, DoB = 25 Feb 1904

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME Webb, Rita
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Webb, Olive
SHORT DESCRIPTION Comedy actress
DATE OF BIRTH 1904-02-25
PLACE OF BIRTH Willesden, Middlesex
DATE OF DEATH 1981-08-30
PLACE OF DEATH Westminster, London, England