| Ben Warriss | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ben Holden D Warriss 29 May 1909 Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 14 January 1993 (aged 83) Twickenham, London, England |
| Resting place | Streatham Park Cemetery, London |
| Occupation | Comedian |
| Spouse | Virginia Vernon |
Ben Holden Driver Warriss (29 May 1909 – 14 January 1993), known as Ben Warriss, was an English comedian, and the first cousin of fellow comedy actor Jimmy Jewel - allegedly being born in the same bed (at different times) and brought up in the same household at 52 Andover Street, Sheffield. He was the son of Benjamin Holden Joseph Warriss, insurance company's inspector, and his wife, Mary Ann, née Driver, Jewel's mother's sister. He first performed on the stage in 1930. For the early part of their careers, the two cousins formed a double act, achieving seven Royal Variety Performances, 12 Blackpool summer seasons, a successful radio series and a film of the series. Around 1966, the two went their separate ways, with Warriss performing solo and Jewel moving into television.
In the 1970s Warriss was the resident compere at the Cala Gran club in Fleetwood, Lancashire. He was still performing in pantomime in his 80s.
His first wife, whom he married on 22 September 1934, was Grace Mary Skinner (b. 1910/11), a dancer and teacher of dancing and daughter of Henry Arthur James Skinner, master mariner. This marriage had ended by about 1940 and two years later Warriss married the entertainer Meggie Easton. His third marriage, which took place about 1960, was to Virginia Vernon. He died in 1993 at Brinsworth House, Staines Road, Twickenham, and is buried in the same section of Streatham Park Cemetery, London, as comedian Will Hay.