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Edward Rigby

1879 – 1951

British actor

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About Edward Rigby

Lived 1879 – 1951 (aged 72). Edward Rigby was a British actor and theatre director.

Edward Coke MC (5 February 1879 – 5 April 1951), known professionally as Edward Rigby, was a British character actor.

Early life Rigby was born at Ashford, Kent, England, the second son of Dr William Harriott Coke and his wife, Mary Elizabeth. He was educated at Haileybury, and Wye Agricultural College. Under his real name, Edward Coke (Rigby was his mother's maiden name),

In 1912, Rigby married Phyllis Muriel Mary Austin,

Stage and screen career

He made his first stage appearance in 1900 at the Grand Theatre in Fulham and later toured Australia, United States and Canada. He followed his first film appearance, the 1910 silent The Blue Bird, with roles in more than 150 films from 1933 to 1951.

Death He collapsed after a heart attack in the street at Richmond upon Thames and when taken to Richmond upon Thames Hospital was found to be dead. He was cremated at Mortlake Crematorium on 11 April 1951.

Selected filmography

The Blue Bird (1910, Short) – Bread Lorna Doone (1934) – Reuben 'Uncle Ben' Huckaback Windfall (1935) – Sam Spooner No Limit (1935) – Grandfather Gay Old Dog (1935) – Tom Bliss Queen of Hearts (1936) – Perkins This Green Hell (1936) – Dan Foyle Land Without Music (1936) – The Maestro Crime Over London (1936) – (uncredited) The Heirloom Mystery (1936) – Charles Marriott Accused (1936) – Alphonse de la Riveire Irish for Luck (1936) – Hon. Denis Maguire Jump for Glory (1937) – Sanders The Show Goes On (1937) – Mr. Scowcroft, Sally's Father The Fatal Hour (1937) – Cready Under a Cloud (1937) – Jimmy Forbes Mr. Smith Carries On (1937) – Mr. Smith Young and Innocent (1937) – Old Will A Yank at Oxford (1938) – Scatters Kicking the Moon Around (1938) – Prof. Scattlebury Yellow Sands (1938) – Tom Major The Ware Case (1938) – Tommy Bold Keep Smiling (1938) – Silas Gray The Four Just Men (1939) – (uncredited) There Ain't No Justice (1939) – Pa Mutch Poison Pen (1939) – Badham Young Man's Fancy (1939) – Gray The Stars Look Down (1940) – Robert Fenwick The Proud Valley (1940) – Bert Convoy (1940) – Mr. Matthews Girl in the News (1940) – Hospital Secretary (uncredited) Sailors Don't Care (1940) – Joe Clark The Farmer's Wife (1941) – Tom Gurney Fingers (1941) – Sam Bromley Major Barbara (1941) – Man on Quayside (uncredited) Kipps (1941) – Buggins The Common Touch (1941) – 'Tich' Penn of Pennsylvania (1941) – Bushell Flying Fortress (1942) – Dan Billings (uncredited) Let the People Sing (1942) – Timmy Tiverton Salute John Citizen (1942) – Mr. Bunting Went the Day Well? (1942) – Bill Purvis Get Cracking (1943) – Sam Elliott They Met in the Dark (1943) – Mansel A Canterbury Tale (1944) – Jim Horton Don't Take It to Heart (1944) – Butler I Live in Grosvenor Square (1945) – Innkeeper The Agitator (1945) – Charlie Branfield Perfect Strangers (1945) – Charlie Murder in Reverse (1945) – Spike The Years Between (1946) – Postman Quiet Weekend (1946) – Sam Pecker Piccadilly Incident (1946) – Judd Temptation Harbour (1947) – Tatem The Courtneys of Curzon Street (1947) – Mr. R (Stock Exchange Sweeper / Cleaner) (uncredited) Green Fingers (1947) – Albert Goodman The Loves of Joanna Godden (1947) – Stuppeny Easy Money (1948) – Teddy (segment The Teddy Ball Story) The Three Weird Sisters (1948) – Waldo Daybreak (1948) – Bill Shackle Noose (1948) – Slush It's Hard to Be Good (1948) – Parkinson All Over the Town (1949) – Grimmett Christopher Columbus (1949) – Pedro Don't Ever Leave Me (1949) – Harry Denton A Run for Your Money (1949) – Beefeater Rover and Me (1949) – Mr. Maggott Poet's Pub – Pageant watching villager (uncredited) The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950) – Rainbow Double Confession (1950) – The Fisherman Tony Draws a Horse (1950) – Grandpa What the Butler Saw (1950) – The Earl The Mudlark (1950) – The Watchman (uncredited) Into the Blue (1950) – Bill, the Skipper Circle of Danger (1951) – Idwal Llewellyn (final film role)

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
Haileybury and Imperial Service College
Awards
Military Cross
Also known as
Edward Coke

People in Edward Rigby's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Edward Rigby's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Edward Rigby?

British actor (1879-1951)

When was Edward Rigby born?

Edward Rigby was born on 5 February 1879 in Ashford.

When did Edward Rigby die?

Edward Rigby died on 5 April 1951 in Richmond.

What was Edward Rigby's occupation?

Edward Rigby was an actor and theatre director.

What nationality was Edward Rigby?

Edward Rigby was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Edward Rigby

· Wikidata: Q3048659

· DBpedia: Edward Rigby

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Edward Rigby. https://biography.guide/edward-rigby-actor/

MLA: "Edward Rigby." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/edward-rigby-actor/.

Chicago: "Edward Rigby." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/edward-rigby-actor/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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