profile image

Babe London

Aug 28, 1901 - Nov 29, 1980 (79 years old) in Des Moines, Iowa, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Babe London (born Jean Glover, August 28, 1901 – November 29, 1980) was an American actress and comedian, most remembered for her onetime-only partnership with Oliver Hardy, in the 1931 Laurel and Hardy two-reeler Our Wife.

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. 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.

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. London willed 75 of her paintings to the University of Wyoming's American Heritage Center, along with her personal belongings.

Known For

poster
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
poster
Hollow Triumph
Hotel Lady with Orchid (uncredited)
poster
Go West
Woman in Department Store (uncredited)
poster
The Good Humor Man
Inmate (uncredited)
poster
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Fat Woman (uncredited)
poster
Public Pigeon No. 1
Heavy Woman (uncredited)
poster
Hazard
Matron (uncredited)
poster
Dancing in the Dark
Hula Girl
poster
The Best of Laurel and Hardy
Dulcy (archive footage) (uncredited)
poster
This Time for Keeps
Fat Lady in Theater Balcony

Credits