Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. William Thomson "Will" Hay (6 December 1888 18 April 1949) was an English comedian, actor, film director and amateur astronomer. He was born in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England to William R. Hay and his wife Elizabeth but moved to Suffolk at an early age. Hay was educated at Gardner Street Higher Grade School in Pendleton, a suburb of Salford then in Lancashire, but now within Greater Manchester.