Claude Noel Hulbert was born on Christmas Day 1900, the son of a doctor. He followed his older brother Jack to Cambridge where he became a prominent member of the Cambridge Footlight but didn't take a degree. He made his professional debut in 1920 and joined his sister-in-law Cicely Courtneidge on the halls.
He had a hit with the Gershwin musical Primrose in 1924 and spent the rest of the decade in musical comedy. 1924 was also the year in which he married his wife Enid Trevor. Hulbert scored one of his greatest successes in R.K.O. Loudspeakers in 1931 though he largely abandoned the stage in the 30s to concentrate on his film and broadcasting career.
The decade was a productive one. His brand of silly-ass comedy was much in demand and, though not an original cast member, he fitted right into the Aldwych farces A Night Like This and Thark. His best-remembered work however came in the 40s when he teamed up with Will Hay for The Ghost of St Michael's and My Learned Friend.
As the film career began to fade, Hulbert resumed his stage work, scoring notable hits in the Hulbert Follies and Panama Hattie. He died in Sydney in the middle of a world cruise taken for the sake of his health.
Claude Hulbert had a face for comedy - long, wide eyed, and jug eared. That coupled with his sweet demeanour made him the king of the posh idiots.
| 1928 | Champagne |
| 1930 | Naughty Husbands |
| 1932 | Let Me Explain, Dear |
| 1932 | A Night Like This |
| 1932 | Thark |
| 1932 | The Mayor's Nest |
| 1932 | The Face at the Window |
| 1933 | The Song You Gave Me |
| 1933 | Their Night Out |
| 1933 | Radio Parade |
| 1933 | Heads We Go |
| 1934 | Love at Second Sight |
| 1934 | Lilies in the field |
| 1934 | The Girl in Possession |
| 1934 | A Cup of Kindness |
| 1934 | Big Business |
| 1935 | Bulldog Jack |
| 1935 | Hello, Sweetheart |
| 1935 | Man of the Moment |
| 1936 | The Interrupted Honeymoon |
| 1936 | Wolf's Clothing |
| 1936 | Where's Sally? |
| 1936 | Hail and Farewell |
| 1937 | Take a Chance |
| 1937 | The Vulture |
| 1937 | It's Not Cricket |
| 1937 | You Live and Learn |
| 1938 | His Lordship Regrets |
| 1938 | The Viper |
| 1938 | Simply Terrific |
| 1938 | It's in the Blood |
| 1938 | Many Tanks, Mr Atkins |
| 1940 | Olympic Honeymoon |
| 1941 | The Ghost of St Michael's |
| 1943 | The Dummy Talks |
| 1943 | My Learned Friend |
| 1946 | London Town |
| 1947 | The Ghosts of Berkley Square |
| 1948 | Under Frozen Falls |
| 1949 | The Cardboard Cavalier |
| 1949 | Alice in Wonderland |
| 1956 | Fun at St Fanny's |
| 1960 | Not a Hope in Hell |
