Cast

Irene Handl

Acting

Cast

Irene Handl

Known for

Acting

Born

1901-12-27

From

Maida Vale, London, England, UK

Died

1987-11-29

Biography

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.

Irene Handl

Irene Handl

Biography

Brief Encounter

The Italian Job

Come Play with Me

Stage Fright

The Wrong Box

The Last Remake of Beau Geste

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

Night Train to Munich

Absolute Beginners

Carry On Nurse

A French Mistress

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

"Pimpernel" Smith

Adventures of a Private Eye

I'm All Right Jack

The Key

The Rebel

The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle

Watch It, Sailor!

Doctor in Trouble

The Belles of St Trinian's

Smashing Time

The Light Princess

The Shop at Sly Corner

Girl in the News

School for Scoundrels

Upstairs and Downstairs

Confessions of a Driving Instructor

Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment

Adam and Evelyne

On the Night of the Fire

Two-Way Stretch

The Silken Affair

The Weak and the Wicked

Happy Is the Bride

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Temptation Harbour

The Pure Hell of St Trinian's

No Kidding

Millions Like Us

Cardboard Cavalier

Doctor in Love

English Without Tears

A Weekend with Lulu

It's Your Move

Stand up, Virgin Soldiers

For Them That Trespass

Mad About Men

Who Done It?

You Must Be Joking

The Perfect Woman

Brothers in Law

A Kid for Two Farthings

Carry On Constable

Make Mine Mink

Meet Mr. Lucifer

Double Bunk

Top Secret

Law and Disorder

The Importance of Being Earnest

Young Wives' Tale

One Wild Oat

Medal for the General

Hotel du Lac

Left Right and Centre

Treasure Hunt

Wonderwall

The Night We Got the Bird

The Night We Dropped a Clanger

The Flemish Farm

Uncensored

Get Cracking

Desert Mice

Carlton-Browne of the F.O.

Gasbags

The Wedding of Lilli Marlene

Heavens Above!