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Irene Handl (27 December 1901 – 29 November 1987) was a British character actress who appeared in more than 100 British films; she also wrote novels. Irene Handl was born in Maida Vale, London, the younger of two daughters of an Austrian-born father—Friedrich (later Frederick) Handl (1874–1961) and German mother, Marie (née Schiepp or Schuepp; 1875 – before 1924). Both of Handl's parents became naturalised British citizens. Her father came to England via Switzerland and started as a bank clerk, before becoming a stockbroker, then became a private banker. The Handls lived a comfortable middle-class life, with a German cook and housekeeper living in the family home. From 1907 to 1915, Handl attended the Paddington and Maida Vale High School. In the 1920s Handl travelled several times to New York with her father, with the ship's log listing her on each occasion as having no occupation and residing in the family home. Handl studied at an acting school run by a sister of Dame Sybil Thorndike, and then made her stage debut in London in February 1937, at the relatively advanced age of 36. In 1939, and by now an actress, she was living with her widower father in London. She continued to live with her father until his death in 1961. Her elder sister Liane (1898–1977) had married Russian electrical engineer and photographer Victor Kraminsky (born Viktor Azar'evich Kraminskii; later known as Victor Kennett; 1894–1980) in 1920 in Marylebone, Middlesex (now London). They had at least one child, a son, Charles Kennett. Handl appeared in supporting roles in more than 100 British films, mostly comedy character parts such as slightly eccentric mothers, grannies, landladies and servants. She was a passionate lover of rock and roll, especially the work of Elvis Presley, and was president of the Lewisham branch of the Elvis Presley fan club. She was also a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and one of Britain's most avid champions of Chihuahuas, being inseparable from the pair that she owned. Handl had minor roles in such landmark films as Night Train to Munich and Brief Encounter. Her other notable roles included the wife of the union activist Fred Kite (played by Peter Sellers) in I'm All Right Jack (1959); Mrs Gammon, the formidable cook, opposite Gordon Harker in Small Hotel (1957); Tony Hancock's landlady in The Rebel (1961); Sherlock Holmes's housekeeper, Mrs Hudson, in The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970); and Morgan's Communist mother, Mrs Delt, in Morgan – A Suitable Case for Treatment (1966). She also had small roles in two of the Carry On films, Carry On Nurse and Carry On Constable), and played Miss Peach in the original version of The Italian Job. She worked until 1987, the year of her death. Her last role was released posthumously the following year. Handl died in her flat in Kensington, West London, on 29 November 1987, aged 85, reportedly from cancer. She never married. She was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium, North London.
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- wc Gender: Female
- calendar_month Birth Date: 1901-12-27
- event Death Date 1987-11-29
- school Known for: Acting
- star Popularity: 1.6
- info Birth Place Maida Vale, London, England, UK
- visibility Views: 4 views
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star User Ratings:
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smart_display Movies and TV shows by Irene Handl
7
The Italian Job
1969-06-02
6.2
The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's
1960-12-22
6.3
Carry On Constable
1960-02-22
6.7
I'm All Right Jack
1959-08-18
5.9
Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
1959-03-10
6.9
School for Scoundrels
1960-03-24
6.2
Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment
1966-04-03
6.8
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
1970-06-17
6.4
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
1980-09-11
5.2
Wonderwall
1968-05-17
6.9
Stage Fright
1950-02-23
0
The Mini-Affair
1967-01-01
5.6
No Kidding
1960-11-01
0
Uncensored
1942-08-24
8.2
It's Your Move
1982-10-18
4.7
Come Play with Me
1977-04-28
4.8
Stand up, Virgin Soldiers
1977-04-04
6
The Perfect Woman
1949-05-23
5.4
A Weekend with Lulu
1961-04-10
6
Top Secret
1952-11-10
7.3
Silent Dust
1949-02-01
0
For You Alone
1945-05-28
4.5
The Night We Got the Bird
1960-11-03
6.8
Mr. Emmanuel
1944-08-02
6.5
Watch It, Sailor!
1961-08-14
6.2
Give Us the Moon
1944-07-31
5.7
Cardboard Cavalier
1949-03-31
6.3
Heavens Above!
1963-05-20
6.2
The Shop at Sly Corner
1947-03-10
7.3
For the Love of Ada
1972-01-01
4.1
Adventures of a Private Eye
1977-03-04
6.2
Happy Is the Bride
1958-03-04
5.2
You Must Be Joking
1965-08-03
0
The Importance of Being Earnest
1964-11-15
5
I'll Turn to You
1946-06-17
6.6
A Kid for Two Farthings
1955-08-15
6.7
Two Way Stretch
1960-12-20
6
Left Right and Centre
1959-06-23
5.1
Temptation Harbour
1947-02-27
5.1
Kiss the Bride Goodbye
1945-01-28
5.2
On the Night of the Fire
1939-10-26
0
George and Margaret
1940-11-30
0
Strange Boarders
1938-05-01
5.5
The Flemish Farm
1943-09-06
7.1
Make Mine Mink
1960-08-09
6
Desert Mice
1959-01-05
5.2
For Them That Trespass
1949-04-21
5.7
Double Bunk
1961-05-06
6.5
Nothing Barred
1961-10-10
6.5
Inn for Trouble
1960-01-31
6.5
Girl in the News
1940-08-28
6.5
Small Hotel
1957-10-14
8
Next to No Time
1958-08-04
6.2
Law and Disorder
1958-06-09
6.6
Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard
1940-04-13
5.2
Doctor in Love
1960-07-12
6.5
Rhythm Serenade
1943-10-11
7.8
Brief Encounter
1945-11-24
7.8
The Rebel
1961-03-07
6.4
Carry On Nurse
1959-01-30
5.2
It's in the Bag
1944-02-07
6
Lionheart
1968-01-01
6.8
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
1970-10-29
6.5
The Wrong Box
1966-06-19
5
The Spell of Amy Nugent
1941-05-10
0
Room to Let
1976-01-01
5.5
Absolute Beginners
1986-04-04
0
Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light
1941-12-30
5.5
Gasbags
1941-02-01
7.1
'Pimpernel' Smith
1941-07-28
6.5
Medal for the General
1944-11-06
5
I'll Walk Beside You
1943-08-16
6.2
Smashing Time
1967-12-20
4.2
Doctor in Trouble
1970-06-16
6
The Key
1958-05-28
5.6
Millions Like Us
1943-06-01
4
Hotel du Lac
1986-03-02
5.4
Treasure Hunt
1952-06-01
4.5
The Hound of the Baskervilles
1978-08-01
6.3
The Belles of St. Trinian's
1954-09-28
7
The Light Princess
1978-12-24
4
Riding High
1981-05-01
6.1
Mad About Men
1954-11-16
0
Partners in Crime
1942-06-02
6.5
Get Cracking
1943-05-17
5.5
Burnt Evidence
1954-07-05
6.4
The Weak and the Wicked
1954-02-02
7.1
Brothers in Law
1957-03-04
0
The Crowning Touch
1959-06-01
1
The Silken Affair
1956-10-02
6
It's Never Too Late
1956-05-07
6.3
The Terror
1938-05-02
5.3
The Night We Dropped a Clanger
1959-10-10
6
The Wedding of Lilli Marlene
1953-11-30
4.5
The Hills of Donegal
1947-09-01
7.2
Night Train to Munich
1940-08-31
7.3
Great Day
1945-07-09
3.7
Just for Fun
1963-02-01
5.7
English Without Tears
1944-07-28
7
Woman Hater
1948-10-13
5.7
The Last Remake of Beau Geste
1977-06-15
4.5
Confessions of a Driving Instructor
1976-09-01
0
Dark Secret
1949-10-30
6.6
Adam and Evelyne
1949-05-31
5.6
Upstairs and Downstairs
1959-11-02
5.2
Who Done It?
1956-03-20
5.1
Meet Mr. Lucifer
1953-11-30
5.7
A French Mistress
1960-08-25
0
Look at Life: Saturday Special
1969-01-01
4.5
One Wild Oat
1951-05-16
7.3
For the Love of Ada
1970-04-20
5.2
Metal Mickey
1980-09-06
7.5
Hancock's Half Hour
1956-07-06
6.1
The Adventures of Robin Hood
1955-09-26
0
Never Say Die
1987-11-16
0
Mum's Boys
1968-04-03
7
Maggie and Her
1976-08-13
0
Stryker of the Yard
1961-11-02
7
The Kenny Everett Television Show
1982-02-25
0
The Cannon & Ball Show
1979-07-28
6.5
Super Gran
1985-01-20
0
World in Ferment
1969-06-23
0
Theatre Night
1985-09-15
0
Legacy of Murder
1982-02-16