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Simon Oates was born on 6 January 1932 in Canning Town, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Doomwatch (1972), Doomwatch (1970) and The Mask of Janus (1965). He was married to Jaki Eastoe. He died on 20 May 2009 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Godfrey James was born on 16 April 1931 in London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Aphrodite Inheritance (1979), The Legend of King Arthur (1979) and Trial (1971). He died on 29 October 2019 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Derek Ware was born on 27 February 1938 in Manchester, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), Willow (1988) and The Italian Job (1969). He died on 22 September 2015 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Charles Webb was born on 9 June 1939 in San Francisco, California, USA. He was a writer, known for The Graduate (1967), The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker (1971) and Hope Springs (2003). He was married to Eve "Fred" Rudd and Eve ("Fred") Rudd. He died on 16 June 2020 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Gerald Butler was born on 31 July 1907. He was a writer, known for Third Time Lucky (1949), Kiss the Blood Off My Hands (1948) and On Dangerous Ground (1951). He died in February 1988 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Joe Black was born on 6 May 1918 in Yeadon, Yorkshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Shillingbury Tales (1980), Come Back Mrs. Noah (1977) and Red Letter Day (1976). He died on 12 August 1999 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Fyfe Robertson was born on 19 August 1902 in Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for What a Whopper (1961), Three Rousing Tinkles (1966) and Londoners (1965). He was married to Vera Ford and Elizabeth Smith. He died on 4 February 1987 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Basil Emmott was born on 5 July 1894 in Kennington, London, England, UK. He was a cinematographer, known for The Phantom Fiend (1932), Secret Venture (1955) and The Man from Morocco (1945). He died on 23 January 1976 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Larry Jay was born on 22 February 1916 in Hackney, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Give Me the Stars (1945). He was married to Christine Waddicor and Ethel Farnworth. He died on 16 January 1967 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Barry Johns was born on 4 January 1927 in Battersea, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Comedy Playhouse (1961). He was married to Juli Castell. He died on 5 February 2008 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Derek Elphinstone was born on 15 October 1913 in Guildford, Surrey, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for The Red Shoes (1948), The Four Feathers (1939) and Distant Trumpet (1952). He was married to Daphne Elphinstone. He died on 19 February 1999 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Cyril Connolly was born on 10 September 1903 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England, UK. He was a writer, known for Dig This Rhubarb (1963), The Silence of the Sea (1946) and An Evening with... (1968). He was married to Deirdre Craven, Barbara Skelton and Jean Bakewell. He died on 26 November 1974 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Geoffrey Parsons was an English lyricist most famous for writing the lyrics for "Smile", a song that is generally associated with the great Charlie Chaplin.

Parsons worked at the Peter Maurice Music Company which was run by James Phillips (aka John Turner). The PMMC was especially known for adapting foreign songs into the English Language.

Parson was assigned many songs which he would then adapt into English or write lyrics to songs which were otherwise instrumental. After writing the lyrics, they would then have to be approved by the boss James Phillips. Generally, Phillips would make a few minor changes, then would publish the songs with lyrics listed by "John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons". Though Parsons had to share the bragging rights with his boss, they went on to write several more songs "together".

In 1955, Parsons penned what would become his most famous lyrics. Working for his boss, he wrote the poignant lyrics to a song Charlie Chaplin had composed for an earlier film, "Modern Times". When the movie was released in 1936, the music quickly become associated with Chaplin and his films. Parsons (perhaps taking inspiration from Chaplin's sad life and his later success at comedy) wrote the lyrics to "Smile". After a few tweaks by the boss, the song was then published as "Smile", Music by Charlie Chaplin and Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons. Capturing the essence of Chaplin and evoking the sad smile of his character, the lyrics start off by encouraging the listener to "Smile though your heart is aching, Smile even though it's breaking ..."

A year later, Parsons worked with Robert Mitchell to write the lyrics for a pantomime of "Babes in the Woods" at Unity Theatre in London. He also went on to write lyrics for several other songs which became standards of the times, including "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart", "Eternally" (set to another Chaplin tune), "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)", "The Little Shoemaker", "Mama", "Oh! My Pa-Pa", and "La Seine".

Though he enjoyed a relatively successful career as a lyricist, no other work grew to fame as "Smile". It was first recorded by Nat King Cole in 1954 and enjoyed immediate success. It has since been covered by several other major artists as well and is now touted as a classic standard.

Without a doubt, the lyrics and music of this sentimental song will forever live on as one of the most quintessential songs in American history.

Patricia Kneale was born on 17 October 1925 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for A for Andromeda (1961), BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950) and Thriller (1973). She died on 27 December 2008 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Edward Percy was born on 5 January 1891 in Wandsworth, London, England, UK. He was a writer, known for Design for Murder (1939), Ladies in Retirement (1941) and Kraft Theatre (1947). He was married to Lilian Oldland. He died on 28 May 1968 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

John D. Merriman was born on 24 January 1932 in Dartford, Kent, England, UK. He was a production manager and assistant director, known for A Hard Day's Night (1964), Zulu (1964) and Casino Royale (1967). He was married to Doreen Merriman. He died on 2 January 2000 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Wally K. Daly was born on 13 November 1940 in Grangetown, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England, UK. He was a writer and actor, known for Juliet Bravo (1980), Casualty (1986) and Byker Grove (1989). He was married to Pauline Baker. He died on 30 April 2020 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Anne Clune was born on 11 January 1934 in Hammersmith, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Oblong Box (1969), Night of the Prowler (1962) and Love Is a Splendid Illusion (1970). She died in 1994 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

David Howarth was born on 18 July 1912 in London, England, UK. He was a writer, known for Nine Lives (1957), Suicide Mission (1954) and The World About Us (1967). He died on 2 July 1991 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Malcolm Vaughan was born on 25 February 1929 in Abercynon, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. He was an actor, known for Felicia's Journey (1999), A Man's Affair (1949) and Larry the Lamb (1947). He was married to Gayle Hands. He died on 9 February 2010 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Rene Soames was born on 27 December 1903 in Canterbury, Kent, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) and Salome (1957). He died in 1985 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Kenneth Strong was born on 9 September 1900 in Montrose, Angus, Scotland, UK. He died on 11 January 1982 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Norman Gryspeerdt was born on 31 December 1910. He is known for Dead Planet (1972), Neither the Sea Nor the Sand (1972) and Leo the Last (1970). He died in July 1998 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Stuart Wickison was born on 20 July 1988 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, UK. He died on 2 August 2011 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.

Brian Herbert was born on 2 September 1906 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, UK. He was an art director, known for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), The Family Way (1966) and Don't Talk to Strange Men (1962). He died on 26 July 1992 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK.