Florence Dawson (31 May 1905 – 16 January 1993), better known by her stage name Florence Desmond , was an English actress, comedian and impersonator .
Florence desmond and binkie stuart you ve got me standing on the tip of my toes Early life and career Born in London in 1905, Desmond was educated at the Dame Alice Owen's School in Islington . Her brother, Fred Desmond, was a comedy acrobat from the "Desmond and Marks" double act.
She began her stage career at the age of ten. Upon leaving school in 1920, she embarked on a long and successful career in the theatre , especially as an impersonator of famous stars. She appeared extensively in radio, theatre and occasionally in the cinema.
She was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1959 when she was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at London's Adelphi Theatre.
She was married twice, first to the aviator Tom Campbell Black from 1935–1936, after his death to aviator and insurance broker Charles Hughesdon from 1937 with whom she lived at Dunsborough Park in Ripley, Surrey . She died in Guildford, Surrey in 1993 aged 87, where a Ward was named for her at St.Luke's Hospital.
Still Dancing , 1925–1926This Year of Grace Why Not To-night? , 1933–1934Funny Side Up , 1939–1940Apple Sauce , 1940–1941If the Shoe Fits , 1946Actress
1969
Some Girls Do as
Lady Manderley
1956
Charley Moon as
Mary Minton
1950
Three Came Home as
Betty Sommers
1949
Cabaret Cruise (TV Series) - Episode dated 15 October 1949 (1949)
1940
Hoots Mon as
Jenny MacTavish
1938
The Playboy as
Flo Hadley
1936
Accused as
Yvette Delange
1936
Keep Your Seats, Please! as
Florrie
1935
No Limit as
Florrie Dibney
1934
Gay Love as
Gloria Fellowes
1933
I Am Suzanne! (voice, uncredited)
1933
Mr. Skitch as
Florence Desmond
1933
My Lucky Star as
Mlle. de Capo
1933
Long Live the King (Short) as
Florie
1932
The River House Ghost as
Flo
1932
The Marriage Bond as
Elsie
1932
Murder on the Second Floor as
Lucy
1931
Sally in Our Alley as
Florrie Small
1930
The Road to Fortune as
Toots Willoughby
Soundtrack
2022
Rogue Heroes (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode #1.5 (2022) - (performer: "Oh! What a Surprise For the Duce!")
1936
Keep Your Seats, Please! (performer: "You've Got Me Standing on the Tip of My Toes", "Goodnight Binkie" - uncredited)
1935
No Limit (performer: "Riding Around On A Rainbow", "Your Way Is My Way" - uncredited)
Self
1986
Wogan (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #6.51 (1986) - Self
1959
This Is Your Life (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Henry Cotton (1986) - Self
- Florence Desmond (1959) - Self
1984
Looks Familiar (TV Series) as
Self - Guest
- Episode #13.8 (1984) - Self - Guest
1983
The Time of Your Life (TV Series) as
Self
- Dame Vera Lynn (1983) - Self
1974
Just a Nimmo (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.8 (1974) - Self
1956
Alan Melville Takes You from A-Z (TV Series) as
Self
- D (1958) - Self
- D (1956) - Self
1954
This Is Show Business (TV Series) - Episode #3.1 (1954)
1952
The Arthur Murray Party (TV Series) as
Self - Impressionist / Self - Impersonator Comedienne
- Episode #4.9 (1953) - Self - Impressionist
- Episode #4.8 (1953) - Self - Impressionist
- Episode #3.13 (1952) - Self - Impressionist
- Episode #3.11 (1952) - Self - Impressionist
- Episode #3.3 (1952) - Self - Impersonator Comedienne
1948
The Milton Berle Show (TV Series) as
Self - Impressionist / Self - Comedian / Impressionist / ...
- Episode #5.18 (1953) - Self - Impressionist
- Episode #4.28 (1952) - Self - Impressionist
- Episode #3.19 (1951) - Self - Impressionist
- Episode #1.33 (1949) - Self - Comedian / Impressionist
- Florence Desmond, Joe Phillips, Maxie Rosenbloom (1948) - Self - Impersonator
1951
Your Show of Shows (TV Series) as
Self - Guest Performer
- Episode #3.15 (1951) - Self - Guest Performer
1951
The Saturday Night Revue with Jack Carter (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #2.38 (1951) - Self
1951
Showtime, U.S.A. (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.19 (1951) - Self
1951
Cavalcade of Stars (TV Series) as
Self - Guest Impressionist
- James Gleason, Maureen Cannon, Florence Desmond (1951) - Self - Guest Impressionist
1934
Hollywood on Parade No. B-9 (Short) as
Self
1932
Impromptu (Short) as
Self
Archive Footage
2010
The Vera Lynn Story (TV Movie documentary) as
Self
2006
The Story of Light Entertainment (TV Mini Series documentary) as
Various
- Impressionists (2006) - Various
1964
Highlight: The Singing Cinema
