- His love of astronomy since boyhood led to his discovery on August 3rd 1933 of a spot on Saturn which attracted widespread attention at the time. He was a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) and a member of the British Astronomy Association. An old friend, Dr. W.H. Steavenson represented the RAS at his funeral.
- He kept a launch on Oslo Fjord in Norway.
- In 1918 he joined the Fred Karno comedy troupe. Will Hay played Nosey Parker in the Karno revue Nosey Knows which toured Britain until the end of 1918. Will Hay then starred in the Karno revue Moonstruck which toured Britian from December 1918 to March 1920.Other former members of the Karno troupe include Stan Laurel and Charles Chaplin, both of whom left the company in 1913.
- Will and his wife Gladys separated in 1935 after 28 years of marriage, but never divorced because she was a Roman Catholic. Gladys died in 1982, having outlived Will and two of their three children.
- In 1942 he became a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR), Special Branch, as an instructor on navigation and astronomy to the Sea Cadets Corps. He was awarded a star for his work. He also made the short Go to Blazes (1942) in which he showed how to deal with incendiary bombs.
- Off stage he had a great interest in flying and was one of the first private aircraft owners in the United Kingdom.
- Buried in Artists Corner of Streatham Cemetery, South London, amongst hundreds of music hall stars.
- He left £27,100 in his will.
- According to surviving newspaper articles, Will Hay made it a rule never to discuss comedy or his acting career when being at home.
- Father of Gladys Hay (1909-1979), Will Hay Jr. (1913-1995) and Joan Hay (1917-1975).
- Even though he achieved his greatest successes when teamed with Moore Marriott and Graham Moffat, Will Hay soon began to tire of working with his two co-stars. He was becoming concerned about being associated as part of a comedy team.
- Has now become recognized as being one of the funniest British comedians in history, as well as the funniest of his time.
- Usually cast as the hopelessly incompetent character, who bluffs and blusters his way into finding a job in which he has no qualifications or formal training.
- Was hoping to work once again with French director Marcel Varnel. Unfortunately, the director was killed in a car crash and Will Hay lost interest in making a comeback in films.
- Was an accomplished musician, as well as being a songwriter. Both talents were put to good use during the early days of Hay's career.
- In 1942 joined the R.N.V.R.'s special branch as a sub lieutenant to instruct sea cadets in navigation and astronomy.
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