Biography of Moira Lister

MOIRA LISTER

1923 - 2007

MOIRA LISTER

Moira Lister was born in Cape Town, South Africa on 6th August 1923. She started her acting career on the stage in South Africa at the age of just 6 years old. She appeared on the London stage at the age of 14 and started work in films in 1945. Always popular, she is usually seen in the role of a "posh" lady.

In 1954, Moira first teamed up with Tony Hancock in the second series of "Star Bill". She was brought into "Star Bill" to replace Hancock's previous lady foil of the first series, Geraldine McEwan. With considerable film experience behind her, Moira's strong personality proved her to be an ideal match for Hancock.

Denis Main Wilson, producer of both shows, asked Moira to join the cast for the first series of "Hancock's Half Hour". She left the cast at the end of the first series, to continue her film career.

She married the Vicomte d'Orthez, a French officer, in 1951 and the marriage lasted until his death in 1989.

Moira Lister Died at the age of 84 in Cape Town on 27th October 2007. She is survived by her two daughters Chantal and Christobel.

Moira Lister in the Theatre

No. Year Play Title Theatre / Tour

1 1929 The Vikings of Helgeland [aged 6] South Africa

2 1935 Vintage Wine South Africa

3 1937 Post Road Queen's Theatre, London

4 1938 Puppet's Party South Africa

5 1940 When We Are Married South Africa

6 1941 Passport To Limbo South Africa

7 1941 Our Flat South Africa

8 1941 Quiet Wedding South Africa

9 1941 Tons Of Money South Africa

10 1942 Escape From The Past South Africa

11 1942 The Women South Africa

12 1942 Victoria Regina South Africa

13 1945 [Stratford On Avon Season] Stratford On Avon, England

14 1946 Kingmaker St. James's Theatre, London

15 1947 Marriage a la Mode St. James's Theatre, London

16 1947 Present Laughter Haymarket Theatre, London

17 1949 French Without Tears Vaudeville Theatre, London

18 1949 Don't Listen Ladies Booth Theatre, New York

19 1950 Sauce Piquante Cambridge Theatre, London

20 1951 The Love Of Four Colonels Wyndhams Theatre, London

21 1953 Birthday Honours Criterion Theatre, London

22 1954 The Sleeping Prince South Africa

23 1956 King Lear Palace Theatre, London

24 1956 Much Ado About Nothing Palace Theatre, London

25 1956 The Long Echo St. James's Theatre, London

26 1957 Paddle Your Own Canoe Criterion Theatre, London

27 1958-9 People In Love [One Woman Show] World Tour

28 1960 The Gazebo Savoy Theatre, London

29 1963 Devil May Care Strand Theatre, London

30 1963 See You Inside London

31 1964 The First Fish Savoy Theatre, London

32 1965 Any Wednesday Apollo Theatre, London

33 1966 Bedtime Story South Africa

34 1967 Getting Married Strand Theatre, London

Moira Lister in the Cinema

No. Year Film Title Role

1 1945 The Shipbuilders Rita

2 1945 Don Chicago Telephone Operator

3 1946 Wanted for Murder Miss Willis

4 1946 So Evil My Love Kitty Feathers

5 1947 Love Story Carol

6 1948 My Ain Folk Joan Mackenzie

7 1949 Another Shore Jennifer

8 1950 Uneasy Terms Corinne Alardyse

9 1950 Files From Scotland Yard Joanna Goring

10 1950 Mon Phoque et Elle Diana

11 1950 Once a Jolly Swagman Dotty Liz

12 1950 A Run for Your Money Jo

13 1950 Pool of London Maisie

14 1951 White Corridors Dolly Clark

15 1952 Something Money Can't Buy Diana Haverstock

16 1953 Trouble in Store Peggy Drew

17 1953 The Cruel Sea Elaine Morell

18 1954 Grand National Night Babs Coates

19 1955 The Deep Blue Sea Dawn Mitchell

20 1955 John and Julie Dora

21 1956 Seven Waves Away Edith Middleton

22 1958 The Agitator

Joan Shackleton

23 1960 In Praise Of Mary Jo

24 1962 The Limping Man Pauline French

25 1964 Joey Boy Lady Thameridge

26 1965 The Yellow Rolls-Royce Lady St. Simeon

27 1966 Stranger In The House

28 1967 Cop-Out Mrs. Flower

29 1967 The Double Man Mrs. Carrington

30 1973 Not Now Darling Maude Bodley

31 1989 Ten Little Indians Mrs. Rodgers

Moira Lister - Television Appearances

No. Year Show / Series Title

1 1948 His and Hers

2 1949 And So To Bed

3 1950 Bridge of Estaban

4 1950 French Without Tears

5 1951 Frieda

6 1954 The Bear

7 1954 Flotsam and Jetsam

8 1955 Necklace

9 1956 The Golden Cuckoo

10 1957 The Relapse

11 1958 Dramatised Stories [Own Series]

12 1958 Dorothy Parker Stories [Own Series]

13 1959 The Jack Benny Show

14 1960 The Bob Hope Show

15 1961 Gilt and Gingerbread

16 1962 The Applecart

17 1962 Find The Link

18 1962 What's My Line?

19 1962 Juke Box Jury

20 1962 The Eamonn Andrews Show

21 1962 Zero One

22 1962 Danger Man

23 1963 The Golden Silence

24 1964 Simon and Laura

25 1964 This Is Your Life

26 1964 Call My Bluff

27 1966 Danger Man

28 1966 Major Barbara

29 1966 The Mallarde Imaginaire

30 1966 Going For A Song

31 1966 Call My Bluff

32 1966 Juke Box Jury

33 1967 The Avengers

34 1967 The Whitehall Worrier

35 1967 World Of One-Man Shows

36 1967 The Very Merry Widow [Own Series]

37 1968 The Sex Game: "The Lovemakers"

38 1968 A Touch Of Venus [One-Woman Play]

39 1968 The Very Merry Widow [Second Series]

40 1968 The Eamonn Andrews Show

41 1968 Dee Time

42 1968 The Monday Show

43 1969 The Dolly Spike

44 1967 The Very Merry Widow and How [Third Series]

45 1990 The Finding

Moira Lister - Radio Appearances

No. Year Show / Series Title

1 1943 Reading own story on Wartime Experiences

2 1943 Just What The Doctor Ordered

3 1947 Insect World

4 1951 Joseph Proctor's Money

5 1951 Simon and Laura [Series]

6 1951 Life Of Bliss [Series]

7 1954 Star Bill [Second Series - with Tony Hancock]

8 1954-55 Hancock's Half Hour [First Series]

9 1959 Blanco Posnet

10 1960 Reading Book of "The Inn Of The Sixth Happiness"

11 1962 Five To Ten [Religious broadcasts]

12 1965 The Merry Wives Of Windsor

13 1966 Deep Blue Sea [South Africa]

14 1966 Rain [South Africa]

15 1966 The Millionairess [South Africa]

16 1966 Another Opening, Another Show [Own Series]

17 1967 Be My Guest

18 1969 Private Lives

Go back to Who's Who Index Page

No.	Year	Play Title	Theatre / Tour
1	1929	The Vikings of Helgeland [aged 6]	South Africa
2	1935	Vintage Wine	South Africa
3	1937	Post Road	Queen's Theatre, London
4	1938	Puppet's Party	South Africa
5	1940	When We Are Married	South Africa
6	1941	Passport To Limbo	South Africa
7	1941	Our Flat	South Africa
8	1941	Quiet Wedding	South Africa
9	1941	Tons Of Money	South Africa
10	1942	Escape From The Past	South Africa
11	1942	The Women	South Africa
12	1942	Victoria Regina	South Africa
13	1945	[Stratford On Avon Season]	Stratford On Avon, England
14	1946	Kingmaker	St. James's Theatre, London
15	1947	Marriage a la Mode	St. James's Theatre, London
16	1947	Present Laughter	Haymarket Theatre, London
17	1949	French Without Tears	Vaudeville Theatre, London
18	1949	Don't Listen Ladies	Booth Theatre, New York
19	1950	Sauce Piquante	Cambridge Theatre, London
20	1951	The Love Of Four Colonels	Wyndhams Theatre, London
21	1953	Birthday Honours	Criterion Theatre, London
22	1954	The Sleeping Prince	South Africa
23	1956	King Lear	Palace Theatre, London
24	1956	Much Ado About Nothing	Palace Theatre, London
25	1956	The Long Echo	St. James's Theatre, London
26	1957	Paddle Your Own Canoe	Criterion Theatre, London
27	1958-9	People In Love [One Woman Show]	World Tour
28	1960	The Gazebo	Savoy Theatre, London
29	1963	Devil May Care	Strand Theatre, London
30	1963	See You Inside	London
31	1964	The First Fish	Savoy Theatre, London
32	1965	Any Wednesday	Apollo Theatre, London
33	1966	Bedtime Story	South Africa
34	1967	Getting Married	Strand Theatre, London

No.	Year	Film Title	Role
1	1945	The Shipbuilders	Rita
2	1945	Don Chicago	Telephone Operator
3	1946	Wanted for Murder	Miss Willis
4	1946	So Evil My Love	Kitty Feathers
5	1947	Love Story	Carol
6	1948	My Ain Folk	Joan Mackenzie
7	1949	Another Shore	Jennifer
8	1950	Uneasy Terms	Corinne Alardyse
9	1950	Files From Scotland Yard	Joanna Goring
10	1950	Mon Phoque et Elle	Diana
11	1950	Once a Jolly Swagman	Dotty Liz
12	1950	A Run for Your Money	Jo
13	1950	Pool of London	Maisie
14	1951	White Corridors	Dolly Clark
15	1952	Something Money Can't Buy	Diana Haverstock
16	1953	Trouble in Store	Peggy Drew
17	1953	The Cruel Sea	Elaine Morell
18	1954	Grand National Night	Babs Coates
19	1955	The Deep Blue Sea	Dawn Mitchell
20	1955	John and Julie	Dora
21	1956	Seven Waves Away	Edith Middleton
22	1958	The Agitator	Joan Shackleton
23	1960	In Praise Of Mary	Jo
24	1962	The Limping Man	Pauline French
25	1964	Joey Boy	Lady Thameridge
26	1965	The Yellow Rolls-Royce	Lady St. Simeon
27	1966	Stranger In The House
28	1967	Cop-Out	Mrs. Flower
29	1967	The Double Man	Mrs. Carrington
30	1973	Not Now Darling	Maude Bodley
31	1989	Ten Little Indians	Mrs. Rodgers

No.	Year	Show / Series Title
1	1948	His and Hers
2	1949	And So To Bed
3	1950	Bridge of Estaban
4	1950	French Without Tears
5	1951	Frieda
6	1954	The Bear
7	1954	Flotsam and Jetsam
8	1955	Necklace
9	1956	The Golden Cuckoo
10	1957	The Relapse
11	1958	Dramatised Stories [Own Series]
12	1958	Dorothy Parker Stories [Own Series]
13	1959	The Jack Benny Show
14	1960	The Bob Hope Show
15	1961	Gilt and Gingerbread
16	1962	The Applecart
17	1962	Find The Link
18	1962	What's My Line?
19	1962	Juke Box Jury
20	1962	The Eamonn Andrews Show
21	1962	Zero One
22	1962	Danger Man
23	1963	The Golden Silence
24	1964	Simon and Laura
25	1964	This Is Your Life
26	1964	Call My Bluff
27	1966	Danger Man
28	1966	Major Barbara
29	1966	The Mallarde Imaginaire
30	1966	Going For A Song
31	1966	Call My Bluff
32	1966	Juke Box Jury
33	1967	The Avengers
34	1967	The Whitehall Worrier
35	1967	World Of One-Man Shows
36	1967	The Very Merry Widow [Own Series]
37	1968	The Sex Game: "The Lovemakers"
38	1968	A Touch Of Venus [One-Woman Play]
39	1968	The Very Merry Widow [Second Series]
40	1968	The Eamonn Andrews Show
41	1968	Dee Time
42	1968	The Monday Show
43	1969	The Dolly Spike
44	1967	The Very Merry Widow and How [Third Series]
45	1990	The Finding

No.	Year	Show / Series Title
1	1943	Reading own story on Wartime Experiences
2	1943	Just What The Doctor Ordered
3	1947	Insect World
4	1951	Joseph Proctor's Money
5	1951	Simon and Laura [Series]
6	1951	Life Of Bliss [Series]
7	1954	Star Bill [Second Series - with Tony Hancock]
8	1954-55	Hancock's Half Hour [First Series]
9	1959	Blanco Posnet
10	1960	Reading Book of "The Inn Of The Sixth Happiness"
11	1962	Five To Ten [Religious broadcasts]
12	1965	The Merry Wives Of Windsor
13	1966	Deep Blue Sea [South Africa]
14	1966	Rain [South Africa]
15	1966	The Millionairess [South Africa]
16	1966	Another Opening, Another Show [Own Series]
17	1967	Be My Guest
18	1969	Private Lives