Babe London (born Jean Glover, August 28, 1901 – November 29, 1980) was an American actress and comedian, most remembered for her one-time partnership with Oliver Hardy in the 1931 Laurel and Hardy two-reeler Our Wife.
Career London was born in 1901 in Des Moines, Iowa. Her parents were Dr. David James Glover and Ruth Glover. After the family moved to California, London attended San Diego High School.
London began her screen career as a teenager making her film debut in The Expert Eloper in 1919. She then appeared in A Day's Pleasure, performing opposite Charlie Chaplin. The two played seasick tourists on an excursion boat. She had the role of Rosy Leadbetter in Merely Mary Ann (1920).
London appeared in more than 50 silent films, including The Perfect Flapper, The Boob and the 1928 version of Tillie's Punctured Romance starring W. C. Fields. She worked with many of the funny men of the day, including Harry Langdon and Chester Conklin.
At the height of her career, London weighed 255 pounds. Later, a heart condition necessitated a loss of 100 pounds, and her movie offers declined along with her weight. She never regained her earlier success. Her last most notable role was that of the toothless nurse Nora that Shemp Howard has eyes for in the Three Stooges film Scrambled Brains. Her last film appearance was in 1960's Sex Kittens Go to College.
Later years
In the late 1950s, London began a second career as a painter and devoted the last 20 years of her life to depicting on canvas the early years of Hollywood. She titled the series The Vanishing Era.
Personal life and death In 1975, London married Hollywood musical director Phil Boutelje. Both were retired and living at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, when they met. They continued to live there until Boutelje died on July 29, 1979. London willed 75 of her paintings to the University of Wyoming's American Heritage Center, along with her personal belongings.
Selected filmography
Year Title Role Notes 1919 When the Clouds Roll by Switchboard Operator Uncredited 1919 A Day's Pleasure Man's Seasick Wife Uncredited 1920 Merely Mary Ann Rosie Leadbatter 1921 Why Worry? 1922 The Weak-End Party Party guest 1923 The Balloonatic Fat Girl at The House of Trouble Uncredited 1923 The Handy Man A house guest 1924 Jonah Jones Girlfriend 1925 Go West Woman in department store Uncredited 1926 Is That Nice? Winnie Nash 1927 The Princess from Hoboken Princess Sonia Alexandernova Karpoff 1927 Long Pants Wedding Guest Uncredited 1927 The Fortune Hunter Waitress 1928 The Awakening Uncredited 1930 New Moon Buxom peasant girl on ship Uncredited 1931 Our Wife Dulcy, the bride 1933 Hell Below Fat girl on passing boat Uncredited 1941 Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga Dance student Uncredited 1942 Jackass Mail Dancehall Girl Uncredited 1943 The Crystal Ball Tandem Rider Uncredited 1944 Here Come the Waves Window washer Uncredited 1945 The Clock Laboratory Nurse Uncredited 1946 No Leave, No Love Melissa, a WAC Uncredited 1947 Road to Rio Woman Uncredited 1948 Hollow Triumph Hotel Lady with Orchid Uncredited 1948 The Snake Pit Attendant Uncredited 1948 Joan of Arc Camp follower Uncredited 1948 The Paleface Woman on wagon train Uncredited 1949 Anna Lucasta Woman in bar Uncredited 1950 Mother Didn't Tell Me Mrs. Hadley Uncredited 1951 Pleasure Treasure 1951 Scrambled Brains Nora Three Stooges short 1956 Bundle of Joy Fat Woman Uncredited 1957 The Unholy Wife Customer Uncredited 1955 Sergeant Preston of the Yukon Mrs. Martin Episode: "Trouble at Hogback" 1959 The Bob Cummings Show Episode: "Bob Clashes with Ken" 1960 Sex Kittens Go to College Miss Cadwallader Alternative titles: The Beauty and the RobotTeacher Versus Sexpot 1960 The Best of Post Shopper Episode: "The Little Terror"
References
External links