Max Wall and Me!

Max Wall, who is buried in Highgate Cemetery East, is one of the great British comedians of the 20th century, as anyone who saw his character Professor Wallofski will attest.

Born Maxwell George Lorimer in Brixton, he made his stage debut as Jack in Mother Goose, going on to appear in many musicals and stage comedies in the 1930s. His distinctive facial expressions and mournful voice led to many parts in films after the war including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He played serious parts, too: Vladimir in Beckett’s Waiting for Godot being perhaps the best known.

Max’s close friend Michael Pointon, who is writing a personal memoir about him, will regale the audience with anecdotes and insights. Max was a friend of another star buried at Highgate, Leslie ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson, and Michael will tell us about that friendship and play music Max and Hutch recorded together. The talk will be illustrated with film clips and excerpts from Max’s performances.