Dustin Hoffman links up with Ealing jazz star Jack (From Ealing Times)

Dustin Hoffman links up with Ealing jazz star Jack

5:33pm Friday 12th October 2012 in News By Danielle Mendel

JAZZ legend and Ealing resident Jack Honeyborne stars in Dustin Hoffman’s latest film.

Hoffman chose Mr Honeyborne, a well-known pianist, to play a retired musician, alongside Hollywood names such as Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Pauline Collins and Billy Connolly.

The light-hearted comedy, Quartet, about a retirement home for opera singers, is Hoffman’s debut as a director and will be premiered in Leicester Square on Monday (October 15).

“All the actors were lovely to work with,” said Mr Honeyborne.

Hoffman was so impressed by him that he featured the pianist in more scenes than was originally intended and apparently joined him at the piano in four-handed swing numbers during breaks in filming.

Mr Honeyborne described Hoffman as a “very nice fellow” and a perfectionist too, which meant the filming at Hedsor House in Buckinghamshire sometimes over-ran. 

Ealing’s Jazz Festival hero is no stranger to the bright lights of the cinematic stage, having starred in films such as The Pirates of Penzance (1983) as well as a number of television programmes.

Most famously, he performed nude in an eight-piece band as part of the second Pink Panther film, A Shot in the Dark (1964).

Mr Honeyborne has lived in Ealing since 1969 and has played jazz piano all over the UK and abroad with the likes of Alma Cogan, Johnny Ray and Vera Lynn.

He continues to play at London jazz venues, including Ealing’s Rose and Crown with the Eric Gilchrist Jazz Quintet.