Talbot O'Farrell


Talbot O'Farrell was an English music hall singer and film actor.

Biography

He was born in the north of England, and worked as a policeman in Hull prior to a career in entertainment. and achieved moderate success as Jock McIver, before adopting an Irish persona as Talbot O'Farrell around 1912. He was billed as "The greatest Irish entertainer of all time".
He possibly took part of his stage name from his wife, Minnie O'Farrell, who was born in Batley into a prominent West Riding of Yorkshire family, the daughter of Joseph Talbot and Ann Talbot. She was apparently widowed from William Lindley with three young daughters when she married O'Farrell. They were married for approximately four decades.
In 1922, he performed in Sydney, Australia.
He appeared at the Royal Variety Performance in 1925, 1938 and 1948.
In 1930, he had the honour of serving as King Rat of the Grand Order of Water Rats.
He acted in several films; notably, Born Lucky, Rose of Tralee and Little Dolly Daydream.
He made recordings, and appeared on radio. In 1938, he appeared in two episodes of the BBC Television live variety show Cabaret.
He made a successful living prior to 1928, when he was worth £10,000. The worldwide depression crippled his income from the theatre, and he was bankrupt by 1933. During the Second World War, he worked for the Entertainments National Service Association. He was able to regain his footing after the formation of the "Thanks for the Memory" company, a group of music hall veterans in the 1940s.
By the time of his wife's death in 1947, the two were living in a flat at Gordon Mansions, Fitzrovia. He died at University College Hospital, London, age 74.

Partial discography