Tom Walls

Born in 1883, this English gent was a former constable and jockey before making his stage debut in 1905. As the star and producer of a succession of witty spoofs typically denigrating society's uppercrust, he often played the slick cad. Written expertly by Ben Travers and in tandem with fellow comic extraordinaires Ralph Lynn and Robertson Hare, the shows were chock full of sight gags, puns, double entendres and slapstick.

His first stage appearance was in the pantomime "Aladdin" in Glasgow in 1905 under the managership of Robert Courtneidge.

Toured America in 1906/7 and on his return to England (1907) he made his London debut at The Empire Theatre playing Ensign Ruffler in "Sir Roger de Coverley". He remained at the Empire (as well as touring) in musical comedy for the next two years.

Comedy farceur Tom Walls is indelibly associated with the popular Aldwych Theatre farces of the 1920s and 1930s.

In 1927 he assumed control of the Fortune Theatre before concentrating his energies on the cinema from 1929, often in collaboration with Robertson Hare.

With Walls at the helm as director, a number of their successes were transferred to the 30s silver screen, beginning with One Embarrassing Night (1930).

The madcap nonsense seemed to be just what the doctor ordered, so an assembly-line of their classic stage shows were filmed, including Plunder (1930), A Night Like This (1932), Thark (1932), Turkey Time (1933), A Cuckoo in the Nest (1933), Dirty Work (1934) (directed only), and A Cup of Kindness (1934), more or less all of them presented as photographed plays.

His great passion outside of show business was horses. He moved to Ewell, Epsom, home of The Epsom Derby and triumphed there in 1932 with his colt April the Fifth which he trained himself. In all he trained about 150 winners (total wins) up until 1948. He was also a regular rider with his local foxhounds.

Father of Tom Walls Jr.., with whom he made two on-screen appearances, Spring in Park Lane (1948) and Maytime in Mayfair (1949).