Hazel Court died she was 82

Hazel Court, born on February 10, 1926, in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, was a talented English actress best known for her roles in horror films during the 1950s and early 1960s. Her father, G.W. Court, was a renowned cricketer who played for Durham CCC. From an early age, Hazel showed a keen interest in acting and, at the age of fourteen, began studying drama at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and the Alexander Theatre, both located in Birmingham.

At the age of sixteen, Hazel's acting career took off when she met director Anthony Asquith in London. This encounter led to her landing a brief role in the 1944 film Champagne Charlie. Over the years, Hazel continued to hone her craft and gained recognition for her performances, ultimately winning a British Critics Award for her portrayal of a crippled girl in Carnival (1946).

Her early career also saw her appear in films like Holiday Camp (1947) and Bond Street (1948). However, her first foray into the realm of fantasy and horror films came with her role in Ghost Ship (1952). Hazel continued to build a name for herself in the genre, taking on memorable roles in campy films such as Devil Girl from Mars and Doctor Blood's Coffin.

In the 1957-1958 television season, Hazel co-starred in a CBS sitcom filmed in Britain called Dick and the Duchess, playing the role of Jane Starrett, a refined British woman married to an insurance claims investigator (Patrick O'Neal). Throughout her career, she traveled frequently between North America and Britain, even making appearances in four episodes of the critically acclaimed series Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Hazel Court's career was marked by her ability to take on diverse roles in different genres, although she always maintained a special connection to horror films. In 1957, she starred in the first color Hammer Horror film, The Curse of Frankenstein, a role that came to define her career.

With her impressive body of work, Hazel Court solidified her place as a talented actress and a beloved figure in the world of horror films.

Hazel Court's desire to explore comedy led her to take on roles in comedic projects, such as the TV comedy series Dick and the Duchess, which aired from 1957 to 1958. Despite this shift in genre, she continued to make a significant impact on the horror film industry. Her role in the 1957 film The Curse of Frankenstein earned her the status of a "cult siren," partly due to her memorable display of cleavage.

As her career progressed, Hazel traveled frequently between Hollywood and her native England. During this period, she made notable appearances in four episodes of Alfred Hitchcock's acclaimed TV series. She continued to build her filmography with roles in movies like A Woman of Mystery (1958) and The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959), further cementing her position as a versatile and talented actress.

By the early 1960s, Hazel had permanently relocated to the United States. Her association with horror films continued as she was featured in several Edgar Allan Poe adaptations, including The Premature Burial (1962), The Raven (1963), and The Masque of the Red Death (1964), the latter two of which starred fellow horror icon Vincent Price.

Hazel Court's personal life included a marriage to Irish actor Dermot Walsh from 1949 to 1963. The couple had a daughter named Sally Walsh, who shared the screen with her mother in The Curse of Frankenstein. Hazel's dedication to her craft, as well as her ability to adapt to different genres, resulted in a career that left an indelible mark on the world of cinema, particularly in the realm of horror films.

Following her marriage to American actor Don Taylor in 1964, Hazel Court chose to retire from film acting to focus on her family life. The couple first met while filming an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and together they had two children, Jonathan and Courtney. Hazel's dedication to her family led her to create a nurturing and loving environment for her children and husband until his passing in 1998.

Although Hazel stepped away from the film industry, she occasionally returned to the screen. In 1981, she made a brief, uncredited appearance in the third Omen film, The Final Conflict. She also appeared in various TV series, such as Mission: Impossible, Dr. Kildare, Twelve O'Clock High, Burke's Law, Sam Benedict, and The Twilight Zone.

Beyond her acting career, Hazel Court was a talented artist with a passion for painting and sculpting. She furthered her skills by studying sculpting in Italy, demonstrating her commitment to artistic growth and exploration. In December 2007, Hazel published her autobiography, Hazel Court - Horror Queen, in the UK. The book was later released in the US in 2008 by Tomahawk Press.

Hazel Court's life was a fascinating blend of dedication to her family, artistic expression, and memorable contributions to the world of film. Her legacy as a versatile actress and a beloved figure in the horror genre continues to inspire fans and aspiring performers alike.

Court died of a heart attack at her home near Lake Tahoe, California on April 15, 2008, aged 82. She was survived by her three children, and two stepdaughters, Anne Taylor Fleming and Avery Taylor.

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