DIED OF BROKEN HEART

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19519, 29 December 1937, Page 10

DIED OF BROKEN HEART

ENGLISH ACTOR FAME ARRIVES TOO LATE LONDON, Oct. 26. They paid William Dewhurst about £8 a week for 25 years while he toured the provinces with touring theatrical companies. Then, suddenly, when he was 50, somebody discovered he was a first-class actor for the films, and his money jumped to Aiuu a week. , ... And yesterday morning, with mm fame and fortune on the doorstep of his modest £2-a-week Bloomsbury flat, William Dewhurst died. The doctor said he died from heart disease, friends believe he died from a broken heart through grief for lus son who was killed fighting in Spam. William Dewhurst, charming old trouper —you could not mistake .him,, he always sported a foot long ette holder —adored lus 23-ycai-old son Paul. He slaved his way around the country as a small-time actor, always hoping that one day he would make enough money to give Paul the chance in life he thought, he deserved. Made Show Hit Two years ago he got his opportunity in “Nina” at the Criterion Theatre. Quite a small part it was, but William Dewhurst made it one ol tiie hits of the show. Luck turned. Offers came for other productions, film producers began to ask for him. Dewhurst was delighted. It meant he would at last be able to do something for his Paul who was showing ability as a composer. Alfred Hitchcock, the film producer, saw the makings of a first-class supporting actor in Dewhurst. He employed him in the film “Sabotage.” You remember the anarchist canary fancier? —that was Billy Dewhurst.