Kirkwood, Pat (1921–)

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Kirkwood, Pat (1921–)

English actress and singer. Name variations: Patricia Kirkwood. Born Feb 24, 1921, in Pendleton, Manchester, England; m. John Lister (theater manager, div.); m. Spiro de Spero Gabriele, 1952 (died 1954); m. Hubert Gregg (producer, writer, composer), 1956 (div. c. 1977); m. Peter Knight (lawyer), 1981.

Considered the queen of West End musicals, was the highest-paid English musical star of 1940s–50s; made London stage debut as Dandini in Cinderella (1937), followed by Black Velvet (singing "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" and "Oh Johnny" for 2-year run), Top of the World, Lady Behave, Let's Face It, Starlight Roof, Ace of Clubs, Wonderful Town, Chrysantheum and Noel/Cole, among others; on tv, appeared in "Our Marie" (as Marie Lloyd, 1953), "The Pat Kirkwood Show" (1954), "The Great Little Tilley" (as Vesta Tilley, 1956), and the series "Pat" (1968); films include Save a Little Sunshine, Come on George, Me and My Gal, The Band Wagon and After the Ball.

See also autobiography The Time of My Life.

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