This Is Your Life: Ben Lyon

Ben LYON (1901-1979)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Ben Lyon, American actor, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews outside the BBC Television Theatre.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Ben entered films in 1918 after a successful appearance on Broadway. He attracted attention in the highly successful 1923 film Flaming Youth, and steadily developed into a leading man. He had success as an actor in the 1930 film Hell's Angels. For the next decade he was constantly in demand, but his popularity began to wane by the early 1940s.

During the Second World War, Ben and his wife, actress Bebe Daniels, settled in London. The couple starred in the radio series Life with the Lyons, which also featured their real life son Richard and daughter Barbara, and had a run on BBC and independent television from 1954 until 1960.

programme details...

Edition No: 218
Subject No: 219
Broadcast: Tue 12 Mar 1963
Broadcast time: 7.55-8.25pm
Recorded: Mon 4 Mar 1963 8.00pm
Venue: BBC Television Theatre
Series: 8
Edition: 23

on the guest list...

Anna Neagle
Colonel Roscoe Turner
Bebe Daniels - wife
Rita Andre
Vic Oliver
May Goldsmith
Janette Scott
Molly Weir
Doris Rogers
Barbara - daughter
Richard - son
Mrs Richard Lyon – daughter-in-law
Penelope Lyon
Gloria Swanson
General Ira C Eaker

production team...

Director: Vere Lorrimer
Producer: T Leslie Jackson

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

An Actor's Life For Me

spotlight on the stars

Eamonn Looks Back

first-hand recollections

Anna Neagle

Series 8 subjects