Jean Cadell Explained

Jean Cadell
Birth Date:13 September 1884
Birth Place:Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
Death Place:London, England
Yearsactive:1912 - 1962
Spouse:Perceval Perceval-Clarke
Children:1
Occupation:Actress

Jean Dunlop Cadell (13 September 1884 – 29 September 1967) was a Scottish character actress.[1] Although her married name was Jean Dunlop Perceval-Clark she retained her maiden name in the context of acting.

Life and career

She was born at 4 Buckingham Terrace[2] in Edinburgh, the daughter of Dr Francis Cadell (1844-1909), a wealthy surgeon, and his wife, Mary Hamilton Boileau (1853-1907).[3] The family moved to 22 Ainslie Place, a huge Georgian house on the Moray Estate, in her youth.[4]

She performed in the cinema and on the stage.[5] [6] Among her best-known cinema roles was in the Ealing Studios comedy Whisky Galore! (1949), as well as Pygmalion (1938) and I Know Where I'm Going! (1945). She once performed opposite W.C. Fields in Hollywood, cast as Mrs. Micawber to his Wilkins Micawber in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's 1935 production of David Copperfield.[7] Although Cadell remains in the released version of the film, her biggest scene (when the Micawber family prepare to emigrate) was deleted from the release prints.

Jean Cadell died in London on 29 September 1967, aged 83.[5]

She is buried with her family in Dean Cemetery in western Edinburgh. The grave lies against the southern wall.

Family

Her brother, Francis Cadell, was one of the Scottish Colourists.[8] She married actor Perceval Perceval-Clark.[9] Jean and Perceval both appeared in the play The Man Who Stayed at Home.[10]

Her son, born John Cadell Perceval-Clark in 1915, changed his name to John Cadell and became a theatrical agent.[11] [12] Her grandson Simon Cadell and her granddaughter Selina Cadell also became actors.[13]

Complete filmography

Notes and References

  1. http://asp6new.alexanderstreet.com/atho/atho.detail.people.aspx?personcode=per0036829 Jean Cadell; North American Theatre Online
  2. Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1884
  3. Cadell grave, Dean Cemetery
  4. Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1890
  5. Web site: Jean Cadell. https://web.archive.org/web/20120722000633/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2ba53b7310. dead. 2012-07-22. BFI.
  6. Web site: Jean Cadell movies, photos, movie reviews, filmography, and biography - AllMovie. AllMovie.
  7. Web site: The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, & Observations of David Copperfield the Younger (1935) - BFI. https://web.archive.org/web/20120712181423/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b6a87ef4a. dead. 2012-07-12. BFI.
  8. News: Lost work by Scottish colourist Cadell found on back of painting. BBC News. 2015-01-27.
  9. https://books.google.com/books?id=995YDwAAQBAJ&dq=jean+cadell+married+Perceval+Perceval-Clark&pg=PT112 Simon Cadell
  10. Book: The Man Who Stayed at Home . J. E. Harold . Terry . Lechmere . Worrall . Samuel French . 1916. 19 July 2016.
  11. https://books.google.com/books?id=995YDwAAQBAJ&q=1939+john+Perceval+Perceval-Clark&pg=PT11 Simon Cadell
  12. https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/interviews/2015/selina-cadell-having-a-big-budget-makes-me-nervous/ The Stage
  13. Web site: Obituary: Simon Cadell. The Independent. 1996-03-08.