Beatrice Gladys "Bea" Lillie (May 29, 1894 – January 20, 1989) was an actress and comedic performer. Following her 1920 marriage to Sir Robert Peel in England, she was known in private life as Lady Peel. Sheridan Morley noted in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography that "Lillie's great talents were the arched eyebrow, the curled lip, the fluttering eyelid, the tilted chin, the ability to suggest, even in apparently innocent material, the possible double entendre".
Special Tony Award, Outer Critics Circle Award for Other Awards
Nominations
Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical
Movies
Thoroughly Modern Millie, Around the World in 80 Days, On Approval, Doctor Rhythm, The Show of Shows, Exit Smiling, Are You There?
Star Sign
Gemini
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Trademark
1
String of pearls and a long cigarette holder
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Quote
1
[In answer to an interviewer's question 'Miss Lillie, what lies at the bottom of your art?'] There are fairies at the bottom of my art.
2
[To a pigeon who flew into her apartment and perched on a nearby chair] Any messages?
3
I was born because my mother needed a fourth for meals.
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Fact
1
She was having her hair coiffed at the Elizabeth Arden Salon in New York City when the wife of the founder of the Armour meat-packing company entered, noticed her, and complained loudly that she didn't realize there would be "chorus girls" present or she would not have come. Soon thereafter, as Lillie--who was married to the British Sir Robert Peel--was leaving and saying goodbye to the manageress in the waiting room, she said, "You may tell the butcher's wife that Lady Peel has finished".
2
According to Axel Madsen in "The Sewing Circle", she was considered for the role of "The Good Witch" in The Wizard of Oz (1939) in 1936, but was thought too funny for the role.
In 1948, at age 54, she met singer/actor John Philip Huck, 28 years her junior. Despite their huge age difference, he became her manager and her companion for the rest of her life. Huck died of a heart attack the day after Bea passed away. They were buried side by side near her mother and sister in a small cemetery near Peel Fold.
7
She married Robert Peel in 1920, the extravagant heir of Lord Peel. When her father-in-law died in the mid-'20s, she and Robert became Lord and Lady Peel. When husband Robert died of peritonitis in 1934, he left behind huge debts which forced Bea to continue working non-stop for years to come.
8
Her son, who had enlisted in the Royal Navy, was killed in 1942 during a Japanese air raid on the port of Colombo, Ceylon.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Before the Fringe
1967
TV Series
Thoroughly Modern Millie
1967
Mrs. Meers
Around the World in Eighty Days
1956
Leader of London Revivalist Group
All Star Revue
1950
TV Series
Guest Vocalist
On Approval
1944
Maria Wislack
Dotor Rhythm
1938
Mrs. Lorelei Dodge-Blodgett
Are You There?
1930
Shirley Travis (as Beatrice Lilly)
The Show of Shows
1929
Performer in 'Recitations' Number
Exit Smiling
1926
Violet
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Around the World in Eighty Days
1956
performer: "Have Courage to Say No" - uncredited
The Show of Shows
1929
performer: "Your Mother and Mine" 1929 - uncredited
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962-1969
TV Series
Herself - Guest / Herself
Juke Box Jury
1961-1967
TV Series
Herself - Panellist
The Joey Bishop Show
1967
TV Series
Herself
The Linkletter Show
1967
TV Series
Herself
Today
1967
TV Series
Herself
Gypsy
1967
TV Series
Herself
The Bob Hope Show
1965
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The Jack Paar Program
1964-1965
TV Series
Herself / Herself (on film)
The Eamonn Andrews Show
1964
TV Series
Herself
What's My Line?
1952-1964
TV Series
Herself - Mystery Guest
The Jack Paar Tonight Show
1961-1962
TV Series
Herself
The Tonight Show
1962
TV Series
Herself - Actress
The 15th Annual Tony Awards
1961
TV Special
Herself - Accepting Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
The Ed Sullivan Show
1952-1960
TV Series
Herself / Sketch Actor
The Bell Telephone Hour
1960
TV Series
Herself - Singer
G.P.O. Telephone Personality Girl
1959
TV Movie
Herself - Performer
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1958
TV Series
Herself
The 11th Annual Tony Awards
1957
TV Special
Herself - Presenter
The Pat Boone-Chevy Showroom
1957
TV Series
Herself
The Arthur Murray Party
1950-1957
TV Series
Herself
The Walter Winchell Show
1956
TV Series
Herself
Person to Person
1956
TV Series documentary
Herself
This Is Show Business
1952
TV Series
Herself
This Is Show Business
1950-1952
TV Series
Herself
The Ezio Pinza Show
1951
TV Series
Herself
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1951
TV Series
Herself
The Star-Spangled Revue
1950
TV Movie
Herself
Star Spangled Revue
1950
TV Movie
Herself
Texaco Star Theatre
1949
TV Series
Herself - Actress
A Welcome to Britain
1943
Documentary
Herself (uncredited)
Broadway Highlights No. 2
1935
Short
Herself
Beatrice Lillie
1929
Short
Herself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
American Masters
1997
TV Series documentary
Herself
Bob Hope's Birthday Memories
1994
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Paramount Headliner: Broadway Highlights No. 1
1935
Short
Bea Lillie (as Bea Lillie)
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1960
Star on the Walk of Fame
Walk of Fame
Motion Picture
On 8 February 1960. At 6404 Hollywood Blvd.
Known for movies
Beatrice Lillie (1929) as Herself
Star Spangled Revue (1950) as Herself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962-1969) as Herself - Guest / Herself
$1.4 Million
