Renée Houston (born Katherina Rita Murphy Gribbin; 24 July 1902 – 9 February 1980) was a Scottish comedy actress and revue artist who appeared in television and film roles.

Biography Born in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, into a theatrical family who performed as James Houston and Company,Roy Hudd and Philip Hindin, Roy Hudd's Cavalcade of Variety Acts, Robson Books, 1998, , pp.84-85 she toured music halls and revues with her sister Billie Houston (born Sarah McMahon Gribbin; 1906–1972) as the "Houston Sisters". They became a leading variety act in the 1920s, sometimes performing as two children in over-sized furniture; Billie played the part of a boy.

In 1926, the sisters made a short musical film, the script of which Renée had written. It was produced by Lee De Forest, whose process, Phonofilm, enabled a soundtrack to be played alongside the film (a year before The Jazz Singer). The sisters ended their working partnership in 1936, when Billie reportedly became ill, although it has been suggested that the split may have been due to the sisters' frequent disagreements.Richard Anthony Baker, Old Time Variety: an illustrated history, Pen & Sword, 2011, , pp.28-30

Renee Houston continued as a solo comedienne and actress, appearing in the Noel Gay revue Love Laughs!. She eventually revived her double act, this time with her third husband, the actor Donald Stewart, until his death in 1966.

In her later years, she specialised in "battleaxe" roles, notably as shop steward Vic Spanner's (Kenneth Cope) formidable mother in Carry On at Your Convenience (1971). She also worked for director Roman Polanski in Repulsion (1965) and Cul-de-sac (1966). She published her autobiography in 1974 which was entitled Don't Fence Me In.

Houston was also in early episodes of radio's The Clitheroe Kid, playing his Scottish mother in half a dozen 1958 broadcasts (but the role was quickly recast to use an English actress instead), and was a regular guest on radio panel show Petticoat Line chaired by Anona Winn. According to entertainment historian Richard Anthony Baker: "So many listeners found her forthright language unacceptable that she was eventually limited to two swear words per show."

She died in London at the age of 77 on 9 February 1980. Houston was married three times. The second was to the actor Pat Aherne, the brother of Brian Aherne. Her third husband was the actor Donald Stewart.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes1932Come Into My ParlourJenny MacDonald1933Their Night OutMaggie Oliphant 1933Radio Parade Herself 1934Lost in the LegionMary McFee1934Mr. CindersMrs. Phipps1935No Monkey BusinessJessie1936Happy Days RevueKitty Seymour1937Fine FeathersTeenie McPherson1939Gloria Lind1941Old Bill and SonStella Malloy1943Lady Margaret1944Two Thousand WomenMaud Wright1951Lady Godiva Rides AgainBeattieAKA, Bikini Baby1954Miss Brimmer1955Track the Man DownPat Sherwood1956Ebbey1956Bobbie1957Time Without PityMrs. Harker1958Sara Monday1958Them Nice AmericansMrs. Adams1960Helen Burke1960And the Same to YouMildred Pomphret1961Three on a SpreeMrs. Gray1961Watch It, Sailor!Mrs. Mottram1961No My Darling DaughterMiss Yardley1962Mrs. Tucker1962Fog for the KillerMa Johnson1963Nurse on WheelsMrs. Beacon1963Mrs. Manse1963Tomorrow at TenMasie Maddox1963Carry On CabbyMolly1964Carry On SpyingMadame1965RepulsionMiss Balch1966Cul-de-sacChristopher's Mother1966Secrets of a Windmill GirlMolly1966Lady Blanchflower1967River RivalsMrs. Fredericks1971Carry On at Your ConvenienceAgatha Spanner1975Legend of the WerewolfChou-Chou

Television Year Title Role Notes1956–57ITV Television PlayhouseMrs. MacDonald, MarthyEpisodes: "The Blood Is Strong", "Anna Christie"1957Mrs. BridieEpisode: "Take the High Road"1957Armchair TheatreEthel WattsEpisode: "Rappaport Always Pays"1957Anna ChristieMarthyTV film1957–58Sunday Night TheatreVi Vining, BessieEpisodes: "The Day's Mischief", "A Nest of Robins"1958The Adventures of Robin Hood (TV series)Little John's MotherEpisode: "Little Mother"1960MaigretMadame Ja JaEpisode: "Liberty Bar"1960–61No Hiding PlaceGrannie Wheedon, Mrs. LaceyEpisodes: "Footsteps on the Ceiling", "Fever"1961Doctor KnockMadame RemyEpisode: "Act 3"1962Dinner with the FamilyMadame de MontrachetTV film1962KorablevaTV film1962Man of the WorldMrs. Van KempsonEpisode: "The Runaways"1963Z-CarsBig RosieEpisode: "Scare"1963Taxi!Gig LambertEpisode: "Barricades in Bailey Street"1963–64Ida Warshed, Mrs. McAlisterEpisodes: "The Gentle Ladies", "The Wonderful War"1964, 1967Dr. Finlay's CasebookMrs. Bright, Mrs. JohnstonEpisodes: "My Late Dear Husband", "Over My Dead Body"1966Dixon of Dock GreenMrs. LomanEpisode: "Death of a Donkeyman"1966ITV Play of the WeekMother BrinicombeEpisode: "The First Thunder"1966Knock on Any DoorMarion ScoullarEpisode: "The Dear Ones"1967TrappedIvyEpisode: "Goodnight Mrs Dill"1967River RivalsMrs. FredericksTV series1969W. Somerset Maugham"Frank" HicksonEpisode: "The Three Fat Women of Antibes"1969Doctor in the HouseMrs. MuirEpisodes: "Peace and Quiet", "If In Doubt - Cut It Out!"1969ITV Sunday Night TheatreOliveEpisode: "The Comic"1973Special BranchScotswomanEpisode: "You Won't Remember Me"

References

Bibliography Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies HarperCollins Renée Houston: Spirit of the Irresistibles by Miranda Brooke Tempest Time

External links