Lupino Lane
b. Henry George Lupino, 16 June 1892, London, England, d. 10 November 1959, London, England. An actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, author, and director. Lane was born into a theatrical family which could trace its connections with the stage back to 1632—one of his famous ancestors was the clown Grimaldi. At the age of four he was performing in theatres, and soon earned the nickname Nipper. He developed his own individual style of extremely skilful, and sometimes dangerous comic acrobatic dancing, and appeared in many English and American two-reelers. However, his greatest impact was made in stage musicals where his trademark bowler hat and Cockney persona endeared him to audiences, especially those in London. From 1915 through to 1934 he appeared in the West End in musical productions such as WATCH YOUR STEP, FOLLOW THE CROWD, EXTRA SPECIAL, AFGAR, LEAGUE OF NOTIONS, PUSS-PUSS (1920), BRIGHTER LONDON, TURNED UP, SILVER WINGS (1930), THE ONE GIRL, and THE GOLDEN TOY. In 1935, TWENTY TO ONE, a musical with a plot about horse racing, was Lane's first show as director and producer as well as actor. Two years later he had the biggest hit of his career with Me And My Girl(1937) in which he introduced the enormously popular Lambeth Walk. In the '40s Lane continued on the London stage with LA-DI-DA-DI-DA, MEET ME VICTORIA, and SWEETHEART MINE (1946). Although he had enjoyed success in silent films during the '20s, he was unable to recreate his later stage appeal in talkies. However, he and Lillian Roth were acclaimed for their performances as second leads in THE LOVE PARADE (1929), which starred Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald. Another well-known member of Lane's show business family was Stanley Lupino (b. 15 May 1894, London, England, d. 10 June 1942, London England), who was also an athletic dancer and a talented all-round performer. He appeared in London musical shows from 1913 until 1941, and introduced several amusing songs including Leslie Sarony's I Lift Up My Finger And I Say Tweet Tweet in LOVE LIES (1929). Stanley Lupino was the father of the actress Ida Lupino, who went to Hollywood and starred in numerous films from the '30s through to the '80s, including THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT, HIGH SIERRA, and ROADHOUSE. Lupino Lane's only child, Lauri Lupino Lane, who appeared with his father in ME AND MY GIRL, was a regular performer in UK variety theatres until television closed them down in the early '60s. He died at the age of 64 in 1986, and is reckoned to be the last in the line of the celebrated family of entertainers. 
Further reading: BORN TO STAR—THE LUPINO LANE STORY, J.D. White. FROM THE STOCKS TO THE STARS, Stanley Lupino.