Figure 1.--Desmond played a child violinist prodigy who liked to play the saxophone in 'Non-Stop New York' (1937). He was dressed in a short pants suit. His overcoat was a black cap with ornate fasteners. His white shirt had large collars. His hair was curly and he wore spectacles.

One of the best known early English child film star was Desmond Tester in the 1930s. Desmond was born in London (1919). He was really a teenage star as he made his acting debut at age 12 years. He was in stage productions first. His first acting role was in, I think 'The Merry wives of Windsor'. He went to rehearsals believing his part was the back end of a horse but instead he had a character part. A talent scout spotted him as he was taking his little sister to her ballet lesson. In his child roles he often ended up a fatality. American producers almost always saw to it that their film stars, especially child film stars, survived the film. British producers were less likely to follow this dictim. Despite his roles often leading to a tragic end he played a wise cracking mischievous British boy. The British public loved him in that role. He seems tio have had less impact on American audiences. His child roles ended with 'The Stars Look Down' (1940). He would have been 21 years old. In that film he played a miner trapped with his dad and other miners. Despite his roles often leading to a tragic end he played a wise cracking mischievous British boy. He went on to adult roles. At some point he went to Australia but I don't know the dates for that. He became an important producer of Australian TV programs. He died (2002).

Parents

Childhood

Desmond was born in London (1919). We have not neen able to find information about his childhood.

Education

Show Business

One of the best known early English child film star was Desmond Tester in the 1930s. A talent scout spotted him as he was taking his little sister to her ballet lesson. He was really a teenage star as he made his acting debut at age 12 years. He was in stage productions first. His first acting role was in, I think 'The Merry wives of Windsor'. He went to rehearsals believing his part was the back end of a horse but instead he had a character part.

Movies

Desmond appeared in quite a few British films during the 1930s. In his child roles he often ended up a fatality. He later enjoyed telling his many death scenes. American producers almost always saw to it that their film stars, especially child film stars, survived the film. British producers were less likely to follow this dictim. Despite his roles often leading to a tragic end he played a wise cracking mischievous British boy. The British public loved him in that role. He seems to have had less impact on American audiences. He kept his youthfulness for quite a long time, allowing him to play child and youth roles into his late teens. He always seems to me to act like a typical michievous 12 year old. Tge British I believe woukd say 'cheeky'. In the film "Non-stop New York", even as an older teenager, he can still be seen eating sweets in several scenes.

After World War II

Tester after World War II, began his adukt career in earnest. He was active in adio, theater and television.

Australia

He went on to adult roles. At some point he went to Australia but I don't know the dates for that. With his British TV background, he decided to enter the fkedgling Australian TV industry. Tester began with Channel Nine's "What's My Line ", a program concept borrowed from American TV. He worked in several children's programs including "Kaper Kops" with Reg Gorman and Rod Hull. He was at Channel 9 for 15 years becoming the director of children's programming. Itvat this time thatvheccimes increasingly involved behind the scenes in production and publicity. He moved to Reg Grundy Productions before retiring from the industry, jejecting the management culture at media companies. He died in Sydney (2002).

Created: 1:44 AM 3/7/2011
Last updated: 5:14 PM 3/7/2011