Sarah Churchill was a British actress and dancer, and the daughter of Winston Churchill, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She had a tumultuous life, marked by three marriages, several affairs, alcoholism, and legal troubles. She died on September 24, 1982, at the age of 67, after suffering from an acute internal condition for three months. What was the cause of her death and what led to her decline?
Early Life and Career
Sarah Churchill was born on October 7, 1914, in London, as the second daughter and third child of Winston Churchill and Clementine Churchill. She was named after her father’s ancestor, Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, a prominent figure in the court of Queen Anne. She grew up in the Churchill country estate in Chartwell, and later moved to Downing Street when her father became the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
She was interested in ballet and acting from a young age, and made her stage debut at 21 in a musical comedy at the Adelphi Theatre in London. She made her film debut in 1937 in a British comedy film called Who’s Your Lady Friend? She married her first husband, Vic Oliver, a popular comedian and musician, in 1936, despite her parents’ disapproval. They divorced in 1945.
During the Second World War, Sarah Churchill joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) as a photo interpreter. She also served as a personal aide to her father, accompanying him on several trips abroad. She was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her wartime service.
Post-War Fame and Troubles
After the war, Sarah Churchill resumed her acting career, appearing in several films, such as He Found a Star (1941), Royal Wedding (1951), Serious Charge (1959), and The Battle of Britain (1969). She also starred in Broadway plays, such as The Philadelphia Story (1949) and The Sleeping Prince (1956). She married her second husband, Antony Beauchamp, a society photographer, in 1949. They moved to the United States, where she became a television and movie star. She danced with Fred Astaire and starred in a television adaptation of Hamlet with Maurice Evans.
However, her personal life was marred by tragedy and scandal. Her second husband committed suicide in 1957. She had an affair with John Winant, the American ambassador to Britain, who also killed himself in 1947. She was romantically involved with African-American jazz singer and painter Lobo Nocho in 1964, which caused controversy. She struggled with alcoholism and depression for most of her life. She was arrested several times for drunk driving and disorderly conduct. She was also sued for libel by Evelyn Waugh, a novelist who accused her of plagiarizing his work.
Final Years and Death
Sarah Churchill married her third husband, Thomas Touchet-Jesson, 23rd Baron Audley, in 1962. He died a year later from a brain tumor. She inherited his title and became Baroness Audley. She continued to act sporadically until the late 1970s. She also created many lithographic prints throughout her life, especially portraits of her father.
She wrote an autobiography titled Keep on Dancing in 1981, in which she candidly revealed her struggles with alcoholism and how it affected her career and relationships. She also expressed her admiration and love for her father, who died in 1965.
She died on September 24, 1982, at her home in London. She had been ill for three months with an acute internal condition that failed to respond to treatment. The exact cause of her death was not disclosed publicly. Her sister Mary Soames said that she died peacefully in her sleep. Her funeral was held at St Martin’s Church near Woodstock, Oxfordshire, where she was buried next to her parents.
Sarah Churchill was a talented and charismatic woman who lived a remarkable life. She was also a troubled soul who faced many challenges and hardships. She left behind a legacy of art and entertainment that is still appreciated by many today.
