Benny Hill. The Story of a comedian (18 photos) Bashny.Net

Benny Hill (Alfred Hawthorne) - 21/01/1924 Year, Southampton - 20.04.1992 year, Teddington London suburb.

Dangerous child.

He sat in his small apartment in front of the TV on, surrounded by dirty dishes. Even at home, he was not, in spite of the ten million pounds in the bank. How Come? And who knows? And what does it matter now? He does not care about the money, however, as to the rest ever since as the "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher imposed censorship on his "The Benny Hill Show" and then closed the program altogether. Could he, a boy of sixteen who had come to London to conquer the theatrical stage, know that it's over this way? And it all began quite rosy.



His birthplace was Southampton, a large port city where the family Hill was nothing more except that Alfred Breakfast with Scot. Yes, while he was still Alfred Hawthorne Hill - Benny alias he would take later in honor of the beloved American comedian Jack Benny. In the meantime, he's only Alfred. "Stupid name and some royal" - expressed himself Hill. While there is nothing royal in a red and freckled tomboy was not in sight. He made faces, portraying friends parents told her friend mother blurts out secrets to why Hill stopped to drop guests, arranged jokes that only liked his grandfather, a former entertainer. However, the old man and he did not depart from his grandson - somehow they Alfred slipped into the stuffing for the Christmas turkey whole pack of red pepper - a joke, in general, it is harmless, but it fill up the cup of his father, and he told Alfred to leave. Grandfather, feeling guilty, presented grandson familiar artists, and those who took the boy to the troupe. And what could be better for him, a childhood dream of a scene? It does not matter, as long as it acts only "opening act" with famous artists. Because he is only 16, and the world in front of him open and full of wonders. Then he thought so.



Milkman - TV star:

SOON performances had to be interrupted - to serve in the army Alfred Hill No one is exempt. But even there he continued to find ideas for speeches - later in "The Benny Hill Show" will be a lot of "military" sketches.

After the Army, Benny returned to the artistic milieu and soon landed a role in a movie. He played private detective - the role was small, weak, but Benny did not think immediately conquer Hollywood. He starred in a pair of paintings, which are also not earned much success, and in the theater of the young actor was disappointed - his antics seemed directors too "fat" and his voice never suited for the stage. "Entertainer - no more!" - That was the diagnosis Hill.

But Benny could not accept: he's so talented, so purposeful! Not so, he left home at age 16 to be a milkman (and in hard times and had to earn it)! Forty-nine luck finally deigned spotted thick boy - thanks to a friend Reggie Warnie he got on the radio and then moved into television. Finally.



Finally came the first "The Benny Hill Show", to conquer the whole country. The program was a phenomenal success, if only because it was a completely new genre. Hill just figured that out unpretentious jokes and sketches can make entertaining stories. But there was one thing, Hill did not decorate. The fact that he did not write stories. He simply their "borrowed". Traveling in Europe, he watched performances of French comedians and memorize their numbers so that after use in your program. Went to the old American comedy and napkins from the cafeteria recorded scenes. A huge number of scenarios he bought from his friend the humorist Dave Freeman's only a thousand dollars, and then included in the "Show" earned them millions. However, "forgot" to mention in the credits of the author and pay him.

Those who wanted to see only those with dubious moral deeds Hill and considered him a monster that exists. In fact, not everything was so simple. Over the years, along with Hill in the "Show" worked little-known actors who starred in small roles. Among them was Jackie Wright - bald old man who always got into trouble. When Jackie was already seriously ill and could no longer be removed, Benny inserted into the new episodes of the old movies to an elderly actor continued to pay.



And what are the famous "Angels Hill" - a group of charming half-dressed girls, for whom the male half of the audience was ready to forgive Hill anything. Spectators were confident that with all the "angels" Hill maintains informal relations, but he was not going to deny these rumors. On the contrary, supported them, creating an image of loving macho. He invited the girls from the corps de ballet home and held them for a long time on the doorstep to all the neighbors could see his lovely guests. Questions why he is not married, Benny cynically replied: "Why buy a book when you can enjoy the whole library?»

In real life, Hill was a notorious man deeply and women did not know how to communicate. Twice he proposes to his and both times was refused. Then, perhaps, he thought: why buy a book?

All work is replaced. In the eighties, the scope of this country "bennimaniya": his speech, gait, grimaces Copy all. Hill adored, but soon gave way to outright derision adoration. The actor complained that he could not walk the streets, because it shows a finger, seeing it only hero sketches - silly, ever anxious klutz with a ridiculous grin on his face amused. It did not see the actor, and it was for him the most important.



Benny started drinking. But calm the soul does not become. And then he decided to take revenge. In the course went all - evil and hurtful jokes, political parody, never been present in the "show". Thus, he signed his creativity sentence: "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher "wrapped nuts" and ordered to expose all of its programs to censorship. The result was cut more than 150 hours of screen time.

And Benny, meanwhile, continued to drink. He is, as before, went to the cheap eatery, dressed on sales and gave the girls, who drove home, huge bottles of perfume disgusting purchased stock at a discount. What did he see to it that the account had more than ten million? Why are they to him, if the Puritan English public has turned against him, if he no longer needed to those who cheered for 20 years? Not even reassuring recognition of the great Charlie Chaplin - in the last years of his life a great actor always kept a cassette programs Hill.



Soon the company «Thames Television» Benny announced that his services were no longer needs no continuing nevertheless earn decent money from the sale of its programs to the United States and other countries. In contrast to the conservative British liberal New World admired Hill. And what could I do to comedian deprived of their offspring?

He did not even make a will. Let heirs fighting over money alone, without his participation. Spending all day watching television, Hill amused himself immoderate eating and drinking. Were not slow to appear and heart problems. When the disease began to progress, doctors suggested Benny do coronary bypass surgery, but he refused, thus deciding for themselves to live it or not ... Two months before his death at the hospital visited Michael Jackson. As assured the singer himself, he came only to Hill said that he believes his comedian N1 worldwide. Did not become an actor in 1992.



The actor refused the operation, thus deciding for themselves - live or die

A few years after the death of the Hill in the UK demonstrated the very materials that dipped the censorship of the program in the mid-eighties. The British did not follow the rule of "the dead or good, or nothing," and on the Hill again poured a bucket of dirt. "Bennimaniya" was forgotten - there was "bennifobiya." So fiercely all mortal sins in an intelligent and prim England accused seems anyone. Even British Prime Minister Tony Blair called the comedian "ugly phenomenon" and expressed the hope that "the work of Benny Hill - the man who had insulted his nation" will be consigned to oblivion.