Babe London
London in 1921
Born
Jean Glover

(1901-08-28)August 28, 1901
DiedNovember 29, 1980(1980-11-29) (aged 79)
Other namesRuth Glover
Years active1919 1960
Spouse
(m. 19751979)

Babe London (born Jean Glover,[1] August 28, 1901 – November 29, 1980) was an American actress and comedian, most remembered for her one-time partnership with Oliver Hardy in the 1931 Laurel and Hardy two-reeler Our Wife.

Career

London was born in 1901 in Des Moines, Iowa. Her parents were Dr. David James Glover and Ruth Glover. After the family moved to California, London attended San Diego High School.[2]

London began her screen career as a teenager making her film debut in The Expert Eloper in 1919. She then appeared in A Day's Pleasure, performing opposite Charlie Chaplin. The two played seasick tourists on an excursion boat. She had the role of Rosy Leadbetter in Merely Mary Ann (1920).[3]

London appeared in more than 50 silent films, including The Perfect Flapper, The Boob and the 1928 version of Tillie's Punctured Romance starring W. C. Fields. She worked with many of the funny men of the day, including Harry Langdon and Chester Conklin.

At the height of her career, London weighed 255 pounds. Later, a heart condition necessitated a loss of 100 pounds, and her movie offers declined along with her weight. She never regained her earlier success. Her last most notable role was that of the toothless nurse Nora that Shemp Howard has eyes for in the Three Stooges film Scrambled Brains. Her last film appearance was in 1960's Sex Kittens Go to College.

Later years

In the late 1950s, London began a second career as a painter[1] and devoted the last 20 years of her life to depicting on canvas the early years of Hollywood. She titled the series The Vanishing Era.[2]

Personal life and death

In 1975, London married Hollywood musical director Phil Boutelje. Both were retired and living at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, when they met. They continued to live there until Boutelje died on July 29, 1979. London willed 75 of her paintings to the University of Wyoming's American Heritage Center, along with her personal belongings.[2]

Selected filmography

Poster for the American comedy short film Jonah Jones (1924) with Lloyd Hamilton and Babe London.
Year Title Role Notes
1919 When the Clouds Roll by Switchboard Operator Uncredited
1919 A Day's Pleasure Man's Seasick Wife Uncredited
1920 Merely Mary Ann Rosie Leadbatter
1921 Why Worry?
1922 The Weak-End Party Party guest
1923 The Balloonatic Fat Girl at The House of Trouble Uncredited
1923 The Handy Man A house guest
1924 Jonah Jones Girlfriend
1925 Go West Woman in department store Uncredited
1926 Is That Nice? Winnie Nash
1927 The Princess from Hoboken Princess Sonia Alexandernova Karpoff
1927 Long Pants Wedding Guest Uncredited
1927 The Fortune Hunter Waitress
1928 The Awakening Uncredited
1930 New Moon Buxom peasant girl on ship Uncredited
1931 Our Wife Dulcy, the bride
1933 Hell Below Fat girl on passing boat Uncredited
1941 Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga Dance student Uncredited
1942 Jackass Mail Dancehall Girl Uncredited
1943 The Crystal Ball Tandem Rider Uncredited
1944 Here Come the Waves Window washer Uncredited
1945 The Clock Laboratory Nurse Uncredited
1946 No Leave, No Love Melissa, a WAC Uncredited
1947 Road to Rio Woman Uncredited
1948 Hollow Triumph Hotel Lady with Orchid Uncredited
1948 The Snake Pit Attendant Uncredited
1948 Joan of Arc Camp follower Uncredited
1948 The Paleface Woman on wagon train Uncredited
1949 Anna Lucasta Woman in bar Uncredited
1950 Mother Didn't Tell Me Mrs. Hadley Uncredited
1951 Pleasure Treasure
1951 Scrambled Brains Nora Three Stooges short
1956 Bundle of Joy Fat Woman Uncredited
1957 The Unholy Wife Customer Uncredited
1955 Sergeant Preston of the Yukon Mrs. Martin Episode: "Trouble at Hogback"
1959 The Bob Cummings Show Episode: "Bob Clashes with Ken"
1960 Sex Kittens Go to College Miss Cadwallader Alternative titles: The Beauty and the Robot
Teacher Versus Sexpot
1960 The Best of Post Shopper Episode: "The Little Terror"

References

  1. 1 2 Ingraham, Roberta (February 21, 1974). "Actress of Silent Era Paints Great Comics". Valley News. California, Van Nuys. p. 105. Retrieved July 21, 2018 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. 1 2 3 Longden, Babe. "Babe London". Des Moines Register-News DataCentral. Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  3. "A 'Dear Little Picture' Just Describes It". Chicago Tribune. Illinois, Chicago. September 24, 1920. p. 18. Retrieved July 21, 2018 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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