Jimmy Jewel
Encyclopedia
James Arthur Thomas J. Marsh, known as Jimmy Jewel, (3 December 1909 – 4 December 1995) was a British television and film actor.
The son of a comedian and actor who also used the stage name Jimmy Jewel, the youngster made his stage debut in Robinson Crusoe
in Barnsley
, South Yorkshire
, at the age of four, performed with his father from the age of 10 and subsequently became stage manager for the family show.
When young Jimmy started his own act, his father refused to let him use his stage name 'Jimmy Jewel', so he performed as Maurice Marsh; the name was chosen because he was often seen doing Maurice Chevalier
impressions. He made his first London stage appearance at the Bedford Music Hall, Camden Town
in 1925 and worked as a solo act until 1934.
Jewel's early career was as part of a double act with Ben Warriss
(1909–93), who together made regular television appearances in the 1950s after a popular radio comedy series Up the Pole in the post-war years. The premise of Up the Pole was that Jewel and Warriss maintained a residence at the North Pole, although it was never explained why they chose to live there. The pair, who were reputed to be Britain's leading double-act in variety, were top of the bill in two London Palladium
shows - 'Gangway' and 'High Time'. They toured Australia
and America
, as well as appearing in the 1946 Royal Variety Performance
and five pantomime
s for Howard and Wyndham at the Opera House, Blackpool
, Lancashire
.
Jewel and Warriss were first cousins and were brought up in the same household, even being born in the same bed (a few months apart). A persistent rumour - difficult to substantiate or to disprove, at this late date - maintains that, when Jewel and Warriss appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show
, Sullivan mistakenly introduced them as "Jules and his Walrus".
After splitting from Warriss in 1966, and having done a stint working as a joiner
and bricklayer
, Jewel starred in the sitcom Nearest and Dearest
with Hylda Baker
as pickle factory owner Eli Pledge from 1968 to 1973. The two actors were rumoured to row constantly.
Jewel starred in the comedy series Spring and Autumn (1972–76) as retired railway worker Tommy Butler. He made a guest appearance in an episode of Lovejoy
(1993), as well as appearances in the children's classic Worzel Gummidge
(1980) and the comedy series Thicker than Water. His film appearances included The Krays
(1990).
In 1981 he starred in Funny Man (1981), a touching series about a family music hall
act, written by Adele Rose
and based on Jewel's father's company in the 1920s and 1930s. Also that year he performed as Al Lewis in Neil Simon
's The Sunshine Boys
at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley, Kent.
Later in his life Jewel appeared in one episode of the comedy series One Foot in the Grave (1990), as well as the medical drama series Casualty
(1991). In the 1990 ITV
play, Missing Persons (the pilot for the later BBC
series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates
), he played Frank Cross.
He was married to Belle Bluett and had "2 children one son and a daughter". In 1985 He won a Variety Club of Great Britain Special Award. Jewel died in December 1995 the day after his 86th birthday, and was cremated and interred at the Golders Green Crematorium
, in London.
The son of a comedian and actor who also used the stage name Jimmy Jewel, the youngster made his stage debut in Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe is a novel by Daniel Defoe that was first published in 1719. Epistolary, confessional, and didactic in form, the book is a fictional autobiography of the title character—a castaway who spends 28 years on a remote tropical island near Trinidad, encountering cannibals, captives, and...
in Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, at the age of four, performed with his father from the age of 10 and subsequently became stage manager for the family show.
When young Jimmy started his own act, his father refused to let him use his stage name 'Jimmy Jewel', so he performed as Maurice Marsh; the name was chosen because he was often seen doing Maurice Chevalier
Maurice Chevalier
Maurice Auguste Chevalier was a French actor, singer, entertainer and a noted Sprechgesang performer. He is perhaps best known for his signature songs, including Louise, Mimi, Valentine, and Thank Heaven for Little Girls and for his films including The Love Parade and The Big Pond...
impressions. He made his first London stage appearance at the Bedford Music Hall, Camden Town
Camden Town
-Economy:In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in...
in 1925 and worked as a solo act until 1934.
Jewel's early career was as part of a double act with Ben Warriss
Ben Warriss
Ben Holden Driver Warriss , 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 and brought up in the same household at 52 Andover Street, Sheffield...
(1909–93), who together made regular television appearances in the 1950s after a popular radio comedy series Up the Pole in the post-war years. The premise of Up the Pole was that Jewel and Warriss maintained a residence at the North Pole, although it was never explained why they chose to live there. The pair, who were reputed to be Britain's leading double-act in variety, were top of the bill in two London Palladium
London Palladium
The London Palladium is a 2,286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. From the roster of stars who have played there and many televised performances, it is arguably the most famous theatre in London and the United Kingdom, especially for musical variety...
shows - 'Gangway' and 'High Time'. They toured Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, as well as appearing in the 1946 Royal Variety Performance
Royal Variety Performance
The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince of Wales have alternately attended the performance...
and five pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
s for Howard and Wyndham at the Opera House, Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
.
Jewel and Warriss were first cousins and were brought up in the same household, even being born in the same bed (a few months apart). A persistent rumour - difficult to substantiate or to disprove, at this late date - maintains that, when Jewel and Warriss appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
, Sullivan mistakenly introduced them as "Jules and his Walrus".
After splitting from Warriss in 1966, and having done a stint working as a joiner
Joiner
A joiner differs from a carpenter in that joiners cut and fit joints in wood that do not use nails. Joiners usually work in a workshop since the formation of various joints generally requires non-portable machinery. A carpenter normally works on site...
and bricklayer
Bricklayer
A bricklayer or mason is a craftsman who lays bricks to construct brickwork. The term also refers to personnel who use blocks to construct blockwork walls and other forms of masonry. In British and Australian English, a bricklayer is colloquially known as a "brickie".The training of a trade in...
, Jewel starred in the sitcom Nearest and Dearest
Nearest and Dearest
Nearest and Dearest is a British television sitcom that ran from 1968 to 1973. A total of 46 episodes were made, 18 in monochrome and 28 in colour...
with Hylda Baker
Hylda Baker
Hylda Baker was a British comedienne, actress and music hall star.-Early life and career:Baker was born in Farnworth, near Bolton, Lancashire, the first of seven children. Her father, Harold Baker, was a painter and signwriter, who also worked part-time in the music halls as a comedian...
as pickle factory owner Eli Pledge from 1968 to 1973. The two actors were rumoured to row constantly.
Jewel starred in the comedy series Spring and Autumn (1972–76) as retired railway worker Tommy Butler. He made a guest appearance in an episode of Lovejoy
Lovejoy
Lovejoy is a TV series about the adventures of Lovejoy, a British antiques dealer and faker based in East Anglia, a less than scrupulous yet likeable rogue. The episodes were based on a series of picaresque novels by John Grant...
(1993), as well as appearances in the children's classic Worzel Gummidge
Worzel Gummidge
Worzel Gummidge is a British children's fictional character who originally appeared in a series of books by the novelist Barbara Euphan Todd. A walking, talking scarecrow, Gummidge has a set of interchangeable turnip, mangel worzel and swede heads, each of which suit a particular occasion or endow...
(1980) and the comedy series Thicker than Water. His film appearances included The Krays
The Krays (film)
The Krays is a 1990 film based on the lives and crimes of the British gangsters Ronald and Reginald Kray, twins who are often referred to as The Krays...
(1990).
In 1981 he starred in Funny Man (1981), a touching series about a family music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
act, written by Adele Rose
Adele Rose
Adele Rose was a prolific writer on Coronation Street, UK television's longest running soap opera, penning around 500 scripts between 1961 and her eventual departure from the programme in 1998. In addition, she also co authored the popular children's series, Byker Grove.-References:...
and based on Jewel's father's company in the 1920s and 1930s. Also that year he performed as Al Lewis in Neil Simon
Neil Simon
Neil Simon is an American playwright and screenwriter. He has written numerous Broadway plays, including Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and The Odd Couple. He won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Lost In Yonkers. He has written the screenplays for several of his plays that...
's The Sunshine Boys
The Sunshine Boys
The Sunshine Boys is a play by Neil Simon that was produced on Broadway in 1972 and later adapted for film and television.-Plot:The play focuses on aging Al Lewis and Willy Clark, a one-time vaudevillian team known as "Lewis and Clark" who, over the course of forty-odd years, not only grew to hate...
at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley, Kent.
Later in his life Jewel appeared in one episode of the comedy series One Foot in the Grave (1990), as well as the medical drama series Casualty
Casualty (TV series)
Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
(1991). In the 1990 ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
play, Missing Persons (the pilot for the later BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates
Hetty Wainthropp Investigates
Hetty Wainthropp Investigates is a genteel British crime–comedy drama television series which aired from 1996 to 1998 on BBC One. The series starred Patricia Routledge as the title character , Derek Benfield as her patient husband Robert, Dominic Monaghan as their lodger Geoffrey Shawcross...
), he played Frank Cross.
He was married to Belle Bluett and had "2 children one son and a daughter". In 1985 He won a Variety Club of Great Britain Special Award. Jewel died in December 1995 the day after his 86th birthday, and was cremated and interred at the Golders Green Crematorium
Golders Green Crematorium
Golders Green Crematorium and Mausoleum was the first crematorium to be opened in London, and one of the oldest crematoria in Britain. The land for the crematorium was purchased in 1900, costing £6,000, and was opened in 1902 by Sir Henry Thompson....
, in London.