The Resume

(October 31, 1920-February 14, 2010)
Born in Lawrenny, Wales, United Kingdom
Jockey
Won over 350 races
Wrote the autobiography 'The Sport of Queens' (1957)
Wrote over 40 mysteries set in the world of horse racing
Titles include 'Dead Cert' (1962), 'Nerve' (1964), 'Forfeit' (1968), 'Whip Hand' (1979), 'Come to Grief' (1995), 'Under Orders' (2006) and 'Even Money' (2009)

Why he might be annoying:

He dropped out of school to become a jockey.
He broke his collar bone 11 times during his racing career.
Despite his many wins, his most famous race was his loss in the 1956 Grand National when his horse inexplicably fell only fifty yards from the finish line and victory.
An unauthorized biography by Graham Lord alleged that his mysteries were actually written by his wife Mary and were credited to him solely to take advantage of his already famous name.

Why he might not be annoying:

He was an RAF fighter pilot during World War II.
He was married to Mary Benchley for 53 years until her death.
He always acknowledged Mary's role as a researcher and editor for his novels and said he offered to list her as a co-author, but she declined to avoid publicity.
He was the first author to win the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Award for best novel three times.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Born on Halloween [October 31st] (Ranked: 1920)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 24]
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [October] (Ranked: 10311920)
• Celebrity Chelsea Fans
• Dicks and Johnsons
• Grand Master Award of the Mystery Writers of America (Ranked: 1996)
• I am Bloody Welsh
• I Did Not Graduate High School [F-I]
• I Died in 2010 (Ranked: 89)
• I Fell Off My Horse
• I Write Pulp Fiction
• Jockeys
• Look at Me and My Pet
• My Heart Stopped Beating on Valentine's Day [February 14th] (Ranked: 2010)
• People with Tom, Dick or Harry in their Names
• Pilots
• Profiles 27001-27250 (Ranked: 27205)
• Served in World War II
• We Celebrated Our Golden Anniversary

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 13 Votes: 23.08% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 94 Votes: 52.13% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 71 Votes: 42.25% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 19 Votes: 36.84% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 16 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 1621 Votes: 31.83% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying