Biography

Born in Shepherd's Bush, West London, the son of a concert tenor, Martyn was the third of four children. The family spent summer holidays in Blackpool, vividly described by Martyn in his memoirs. The family experienced upheaval in 1910, when Martyn's older brother, Alexander died. In 1913, Martyn left school, getting a job in a linen drapers, and in 1914, when World War I broke out, lied about his age, and tried to join up. After being caught twice, enlisting under age, Martyn was accepted into the army as a musician. When he finally saw action, he was wounded through the left knee and sent home, as a stretcher case. Confounding the doctor's prediction he'd never walk again, Martyn did. Setting his mind on a career on the stage, Martyn took theatre jobs here and there, until he received his big break and was accepted by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1922. This company which performed Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas, was the perfect home for Martyn - he quickly became understudy to the principle comedian, Henry Lytton, taking over the "comic baritone" parts when Lytton retired in 1934. In 1939, Martyn played Ko-Ko in the film version of "The Mikado". Leaving the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1939, when World War II broke out, spending the war, serving in an administrative role in the RAF, Martyn rejoined the D'Oyly Carte Company in 1947. He left for good in 1951, beginning a new life in America, where he stayed until his death in 1975. There, Martyn had a successful theatre career, also appearing in two films - "A Lovely Way to Die" (1969) as the Imposter Finchley and "The Iceman Cometh" as Cecil Lewis. Martyn was always accident prone and in 1959, lost his leg in a New York car elevator, while trying to park his car. While he was recovering in Knickerbocker Hospital, his friends clubbed together to buy him a prosthetic. Martyn told journalists, "I'll dance on my new leg for you," and he did. Following his accident, Martyn directed Groucho Marx in "The Mikado" for "The Bell Telephone Hour" and married his third wife, the opera singer, Yvonne Chauveau. He juggled work as an actor, comedian, singer, writer, director, and musician, until his death in 1975.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Nicky Vere-Compton