Bill Kerr

William Henry Kerr (10 June 1922 – 28 August 2014), credited as Bill Kerr, was a South African-born Australian actor, comedian and vaudevillian. Beginning as a child performer in Australia, he moved to Britain after World War II and developed a career as a performer in comedy, especially gaining notice in the radio version of Hancock's Half Hour. In 1979 Kerr returned to Australia and developed a second career as a character actor.

Early life in Australia

Kerr was born William Henry Kerr in Cape Town, South Africa, on 10 June 1922 to an Australian performing arts family, growing up in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. His career in show business began when he was very young. Wilton, his son, recalled: "His mum used him instead of using a prop, a baby prop, she actually used her son, her newborn son, so he was literally kind of born to do it."

Kerr began to work in radio for ABC in 1932, and continued performing child parts for about 8 years. His first screen appearance was in Harmony Row (1933), where he gives a feisty performance as a juvenile delinquent alongside the great Australian vaudeville comedian George Wallace. Kerr's first dramatic role on screen was a high-profile one in the Cinesound film The Silence of Dean Maitland (1934), where he displays striking presence as a blind child. Kerr is one of the most important child performers in early Australian film. He saw service in the Australian army during the Second World War, and performed in theatrical shows at home and abroad and toured with his friend, the actor Peter Finch.

Bill Kerr (footballer)

Bill Kerr (1 September 1882 – 16 February 1911) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon and South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He died from typhoid fever at the age of 28.

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Bill Kerr (American football)

William Howard "Bill" Kerr (November 10, 1915 – April 9, 1964) was a professional American football player. He played for the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference.

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