Ivor Novello
Known for

Acting

Credits

37

Gender

Man

Birthday

15 Jan 1893

Day of death

6 Mar 1951 (58)

Place of birth

Cardiff, Wales, UK

Also known as
David Ivor Davies
David L'Estrange

Ivor Novello

Biography

Ivor Novello (born David Ivor Davies; 15 January 1893 – 6 March 1951) was a Welsh composer and actor who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century, on both screen and stage. He was born into a musical Cardiff family and his mother, Clara Novello Davies, was an internationally known singing teacher and choral conductor. As a child, Novello was a successful singer in various eisteddfodau throughout the country. He was educated privately in Cardiff and then in Gloucester and later won a scholarship to Magdalen College School in Oxford. The family moved to London in 1913 and here Novello's career flourished. In 1914, at the start of World War II, he wrote the words to his most popular song, "Keep the Home Fires Burning". Novello lived in a flat above the Strand Theatre, where he remained until his death in 1951. Since 1955 the internationally prestigious The Ivor Novello Awards ("The Ivors") for songwriting and composing are annually awarded by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA).

Known for
Acting roles
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
1955Alfred Hitchcock PresentsThe Lodger (archive footage) (uncredited)
1934Autumn CrocusAndreas Steiner
1933I Lived with YouPrince Felix Lenieff
1933Sleeping CarGaston
1932The LodgerMichel Angeloff
1931Once a LadyBennett Cloud
1930Symphony in Two FlatsDavid Kennard
1929The Return of the RatPierre Boucheron
1928The VortexNicky Lancaster
1928The Constant NymphLewis Dodd
1928A South Sea BubbleVernon Winslow
1928The Gallant HussarLieutenant Stephen Alrik / Feri von Noszty
1927The Lodger: A Story of the London FogThe Lodger Jonathan Drew
1927DownhillRoddy Berwick
1926The Triumph of the RatPierre Boucheron, 'the Rat'
1925The RatPierre Boucheron
1923The White RoseJoseph
1923The Man Without DesireCount Vittorio Dandolo
1923Bonnie Prince CharliePrince Charles Stuart
1922The Bohemian GirlThaddeus
1921CarnivalCount Andrea Scipione
1920The Call of the BloodMaurice Delarey
Credits
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
1955King's RhapsodyWriter
1950The Dancing YearsTheatre Play
1941Free and EasyTheatre Play
1937The RatTheatre Play
1937Glamorous NightTheatre Play
1933I Lived with YouTheatre Play
1932Tarzan the Ape ManWriter
1932But the Flesh Is WeakTheatre Play
1932But the Flesh Is WeakWriter
1930Symphony in Two FlatsTheatre Play
1929The Return of the RatTheatre Play
1927DownhillOriginal Story
1925The RatWriter
1923The Man Without DesireProducer
1923Bonnie Prince CharlieMusic