Noël Coward

Sir Noel Peirce Coward (spelling his forename Noël with the diaeresis was an affectation of later life, and "Peirce" is the correct spelling) (December 16, 1899 – March 26, 1973) was an English actor, playwright

Sir Noel Peirce Coward (spelling his forename Noël with the diaeresis was an affectation of later life, and "Peirce" is the correct spelling) (December 16, 1899 – March 26, 1973) was an English actor, playwright, and composer of popular music.

Born at Teddington, Middlesex to a middle-class family, he began performing in the West End at an early age. He was a childhood friend of Hermione Gingold, whose mother warned her against him.