Charles Victor

Charles Victor (10 February 1896 – 23 December 1965) was a British actor who appeared in many film and television roles between 1931 and 1965. He was born Charles Victor Harvey. Born in Southport, Lancashire, England, Victor was a fourth-generation English music hall entertainer. He left school when he was 15 to team with his father in a song-and-dance act for five years. After leaving that act, he briefly worked with his brother in an automobile agency before going into English musical comedy. In 1929, he joined the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, which was headed by Barry Jackson, and stayed with it for 10 years. Victor appeared in just over 100 films between 1938 and 1966. The size and importance of his roles varied greatly. For example, in 1957 he played the lead role, with top billing, in the comedy There's Always a Thursday, whilst in the same year he had a bit part in the biopic After the Ball. Late in life, Victor toured internationally in the role of Alfred Doolittle in My Fair Lady, performing the role on The Ed Sullivan Show on 19 March 1961 during a tribute to Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe.