Delphi Lawrence


Delphi Lawrence was an English actress. She was educated at Halidon House School in Slough, Berkshire, whilst living in Colnbrook.
Born to Barbara Yvonne and Louis Holzman, who married in 1930, she was of Hungarian ancestry on her father's side. She trained as a concert pianist before becoming an actress, training at RADA and graduating in 1949. She made her first film in 1952 and, over the next decade, she established a following in British films. She graduated to lead roles but almost exclusively in "B" films.

Career

In 1962, she appeared in episode 11 of The Saint as Cora. One of her other prominent TV roles was around the same time, in 1961, where she played the Countess in episode six of the TV historical adventure series Sir Francis Drake.
In 1966, she moved to the United States, where she began to appear in films and television. Her credits included Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, playing Julietta in 'Escape from Venice'; The Wild Wild West, playing Lucretia Posey in 'The Night of the Poisonous Posey'; and The Man from U.N.C.L.E as Olivia Willis in 'The J for Judas Affair', among others. By the end of the 1960s her roles began to decrease in frequency and importance and in 1973 she retired. She made a brief return in 1975 in the Broadway production of The Constant Wife, playing the sister of Ingrid Bergman's character.
She appeared as Vera Charles in various touring productions of Mame, opposite such stars as Susan Hayward, Celeste Holm, Ann Sothern, and Juliet Prowse. The last of these was in 1990, opposite Prowse. She died 12 years later, in 2002, aged 70, from undisclosed causes.

Selected filmography

Blood Orange – Chelsea, a modelMurder by Proxy – Linda Meet Mr. Callaghan – Effie PerkinsDuel in the Jungle – Pan American GirlBarbados Quest – Jean LarsonDoublecross – Anna KrassinThe Feminine Touch – PatIt's Never Too Late – Mrs. Madge DixonStrangers' Meeting – Margot SandersJust My Luck – Miss DaviotBlind Spot – Yvonne DubarThe Son of Robin Hood – SylviaDial 999 (TV series) – Julie Nielson – – Dial 999 (TV series) – Pauline – – Too Many Crooks – SecretaryThe Man Who Could Cheat Death – Margo PhilippeDanger Man – Stella Delroy – Cone of Silence – Joyce MitchellThe Greeneyed Elephant – LisaBeat Girl – Greta