Danny La Rue

Danny La Rue born Daniel Patrick Carroll, in Cork in July 1927, was an exceptionally successful female impersonator. His family moved to England when he was six and he was brought up at Earnshaw Street in Soho, central London. When the family home was destroyed during the Blitz, his mother, a seamstress, moved her children to Kennford, a Devon village where young Daniel developed an interest in dramatics. In the 1960s, he was among Britain's highest-paid entertainers. In the 1970s, he owned the Swan, a noted inn at Streatley on the River Thames.

In 1982 he played Dolly Levi in the musical Hello, Dolly!. He was until his death still a regular performer in traditional Christmas pantomime shows in Britain.

La Rue lived years with his manager and life partner of 37 years, Jack Hanson, until Hanson's death in 1984. They had met following World War II in 1947. In 1984 La Rue was the star of 'This is Your Life'. He was appointed OBE in the 2002 Queen's Birthday Honours List. He died shortly before midnight on 31 May 2009 at the age of 81.