Illness and Death
Formby had, over his career, struggled with chronic bronchitis and tuberculosis, which sometimes caused violent coughing fits while on stage. Although it was very painful for him, and would eventually be the cause of his death, he joked about it, with lines like, "That was a good cough, best one I've done this year. I'll cough anybody 'ere for five shillin's. And I'll give'm five coughs up to start with. Nobody accept me challenge? Right". This was something to which his audiences could relate, because a number of them would be suffering from the same condition. In 1916 he was too ill to appear on the first night of a Drury Lane revue, Razzle Dazzle in which he had star billing.
In 1917, in a court action against Formby for failing to fulfil a theatrical engagement as contracted, his lawyer said that Formby was dying of consumption and was working for the short time left to him for the benefit of his large family. His health was further damaged in the influenza pandemic of 1918, when he contracted the disease. He was taken ill during runs of pantomimes in both 1918 and 1919, and at a performance in Newcastle upon Tyne in the 1920–21 pantomime season, he collapsed on stage. He died on 8 February 1921, aged 45, leaving over £21,000 in his will (equivalent to at least £667,686 in 2007 value) and a diary booked solidly for the next five years. His wife Eliza outlived both her husband and their son, George, who died in 1961. He is buried in a family plot in Warrington Cemetery, Cheshire, England.
Read more about this topic: George Formby, Sr., Biography
Famous quotes containing the words illness and, illness and/or death:
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