P.G. Wodehouse.

Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse Pelham Grenville Wodehouse

P.G. Wodehouse — Comedian

Born 15 Oct 1881 Guildford, United Kingdom

Died 14 Feb 1975 Southampton, United States

Citizenship United Kingdom

8 min read

Reading time

1,528

Words

Jun 22, 2026

Published

4

Film credits

204

Books

1

Award

TL;DR

P.G. Wodehouse, born in 1881 in Guildford, England, wrote close to 200 works of comic fiction, including novels, short stories, and musical lyrics. He was knighted in 1975 at age 93, just weeks before his death from a heart attack. Despite a wartime controversy over German radio broadcasts, his work is still widely read.

Identity & family.

KIN · 3

Names, aliases, and relatives of P.G. Wodehouse — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Pelham Grenville Wodehouse

Native Name Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse

Nicknames Plum

Aliases P G Wodehouse

PARENTS: Eleanor Deane Henry Ernest Wodehouse
SPOUSES: Ethel May Wayman

At a glance.

STATS

P.G. Wodehouse by the numbers — life, work, and family.

93 Years lived

4 Film credits

204 Books

1 Award

1 Marriage

Who was P.G. Wodehouse?

BIOGRAPHY

P.G. Wodehouse — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Wodehouse spent his earliest years in Hong Kong, where his father served as a magistrate, though he was born in Guildford, Surrey, in 1881. At age 14, he moved with his parents into what they called the old house. He attended Dulwich College in London, graduating in 1900, which provided the foundation for his literary career.

Career

After two years as a banker at the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, Wodehouse switched to journalism, writing for The Globe newspaper as a sports reporter and columnist. His early stories were school novels for boys magazine The Captain, such as The White Feather 1907. By 1910, he was splitting time between the US and France. During World War II, German forces captured him in Le Touquet, and he made humorous radio broadcasts that led to accusations of treason. In 1975, he received a knighthood in recognition of his literary contributions.

Personal life

Wodehouse married Ethel May Wayman, an American widow, in 1914. They had no biological children, but he adopted Ethel’s daughter Leonora, who died during surgery in 1942, devastating him. He became a U.S. citizen in 1955, remaining in America after the war.

Legacy

Wodehouse received a knighthood in 1975, weeks before his death, with Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother offering to travel to the US to personally present the honor. His works continue to be widely read and adapted. Despite the wartime radio controversy, he is remembered for his comic prose, with his unfinished novel Sunset at Blandings marking his final literary effort.

Filmography.

FILMS · 4

Browse the complete filmography of P.G. Wodehouse — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

Movie

The Happy Elf

2005
Movie

Lucky Realy: the Portrait of a Doll
Movie

Wogan on Wodehouse

2011
Movie

Plum: a Portrait of of the Life of P.G. Wodehouse

1989

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 1

Every award, honor, and recognition received by P.G. Wodehouse — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 204

P.G. Wodehouse's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

Right Ho, Jeeves

by P. G. Wodehouse
Amazon

Mike and Psmith

by P. G. Wodehouse
Amazon

Psmith Journalist

by P. G. Wodehouse
Amazon

A Prefect's Uncle

by P. G. Wodehouse
Amazon

A Damsel in Distress

by P. G. Wodehouse
Amazon

Mike

by P. G. Wodehouse
Amazon

Love Among the Chickens / by P. G. Wodehouse

by P. G. Wodehouse
Amazon

The White Feather

by P. G. Wodehouse
Amazon

The Intrusion of Jimmy

by P. G. Wodehouse
Amazon

Indiscretions of Archie

by P. G. Wodehouse
Amazon

The Code of the Woosters

by P. G. Wodehouse
Amazon

Uneasy Money

by P. G. Wodehouse
Amazon

Psmith in the City

by P. G. Wodehouse
Amazon

The Head of Kay's

by P. G. Wodehouse

Could not load more books.

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 12

A wall of memorable lines from P.G. Wodehouse — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

Every Author Really Wants to Have Letters Printed in the Papers. Unable to Make the Grade, He Drops Down a Rung of the Ladder and Writes Books.
All the Unhappy Marriages Come from the Husbands Having Brains. What Good Are Brains to a Man? They Only Unsettle Him.
It Is a Good Rule in Life Never to Apologize. the Right Sort of People Do Not Want Apologies, and the Wrong Sort Take a Mean Advantage of Them.
Boyhood, Like Measles, Is One of Those Complaints That a Man Should Catch Young and Have Done With, for When It Comes in Middle Life It Is Apt to Be Serious.
He Was White and Shaken, Like a Dry Martini.
The Least Thing Upset Him on the Links. He Missed the Short Putts Because of the Uproar of the Butterflies in the Adjoining Meadows.
She Looked as If She Had Been Poured into Her Clothes and Had Forgotten to Say ‘When’.
I Could See That, If Not Actually Disgruntled, He Was Far from Being Gruntled.
Memories Are Like Mulligatawny Soup in a Cheap Restaurant. It Is Best Not to Stir Them.
Whatever May Be Said of the Victorians, It Is Pretty Generally Admitted That Few of Them Were to Be Trusted Within Reach of a Trowel and a Pile of Bricks.
Breakfast Had Been Prepared by the Kitchen Maid, and Indifferent Performer Who Had Used the Scorched Earth Policy with the Bacon.
I Started Violently, as If Some Unseen Hand Had Goosed Me.

Did you know?

FACTS · 7

Little-known facts about P.G. Wodehouse — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Wodehouse became a U.S. citizen in 1955 and received a Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 1975 New Year Honours.
Wodehouse wrote lyrics for the song Bill with music by Jerome Kern, used in the musical Showboat.
He was a keen admirer of Dick Van Dyke, calling his early-1960s sitcom easily the finest thing on TV.
Wodehouse was stepfather to Leonora, his wife’s daughter, who died during surgery in 1942.
His great-granddaughter is actress Lisa Faulkner.
He received the Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire KBE in the 1975 New Year Honours.
Wodehouse graduated from Dulwich College in 1900.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 31

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about P.G. Wodehouse.

When did P.G. Wodehouse die?

He died on February 14, 1975. That was Valentine’s Day when he passed away in a hospital in Southampton, New York, at age 93.
How did P.G. Wodehouse die?

He died from a heart attack. He had been in poor health for some time, suffering from pneumonia, heart problems, and lung failures.
How old was P.G. Wodehouse when he died?

He was 93 years old. He lived from October 15, 1881, to February 14, 1975.
Where did P.G. Wodehouse die?

He died in Southampton, New York, USA. Specifically, he passed away in a hospital there.
When was P.G. Wodehouse born?

He was born on October 15, 1881. The birthplace was Guildford, Surrey, England.
Where was P.G. Wodehouse born?

He was born in Guildford, Surrey, England, United Kingdom. His mother was visiting her sister there at the time.
What was P.G. Wodehouse's birth name?

His full birth name was Pelham Grenville Wodehouse. He was often called by his nickname Plum.
What was P.G. Wodehouse known for?

He is best known for his comic novels and short stories, such as the Jeeves series, and for his lyrics to songs like Bill for Showboat. He also contributed to films like Oh, Lady, Lady, Dizzy Dames, A Damsel in Distress, and Gosford Park.
Was P.G. Wodehouse married?

Yes, he was married to Ethel May Wayman. They married in 1914 and remained together until his death in 1975.
Who were P.G. Wodehouse's parents?

His parents were Eleanor Deane and Henry Ernest Wodehouse. His father was a magistrate in Hong Kong.
What nationality was P.G. Wodehouse?

He was originally a British citizen. He later became a United States citizen in 1955.
What did P.G. Wodehouse do for a living?

He was a writer, actor, and music crew member. He wrote novels, short stories, plays, and song lyrics, and also acted in some productions.
Where did P.G. Wodehouse go to school?

He attended Elizabeth College, Malvern House Preparatory School, and Dulwich College. He graduated from Dulwich College in 1900.
What awards did P.G. Wodehouse receive?

He was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire KBE in the 1975 New Year Honours. He could not attend the ceremony due to poor health.
What is the story behind P.G. Wodehouse's nickname 'Plum'?

He was affectionately known as Plum, a shortening of his middle name Grenville. The nickname stuck throughout his life.
Why did P.G. Wodehouse use the alias 'P G Wodehouse'?

He commonly published under the initials P.G. Wodehouse, dropping his full given names Pelham Grenville. This became his professional name.
Did P.G. Wodehouse have children?

He had no biological children. He adopted his wife Ethel’s daughter Leonora from her previous marriage.
What happened to P.G. Wodehouse's stepdaughter?

His stepdaughter Leonora died while undergoing surgery in 1942. Her death devastated him deeply.
Why was P.G. Wodehouse controversial during World War II?

He was captured by German forces in Le Touquet, France, and made humorous radio broadcasts for German propaganda. This led to accusations of treason in Britain, though he was likely tricked by Joseph Goebbels.
What song lyrics did P.G. Wodehouse write?

He wrote the lyrics for the song Bill, set to music by Jerome Kern, for the musical Showboat. He also contributed to other musicals.
Who was P.G. Wodehouse's favorite actor?

He was a keen admirer of Dick Van Dyke. He described Van Dyke’s early-1960s sitcom as easily the finest thing on TV.
Who is P.G. Wodehouse's great-granddaughter?

His great-granddaughter is actress Lisa Faulkner. This connects his family to the entertainment industry.
When did P.G. Wodehouse graduate from Dulwich College?

He graduated from Dulwich College in 1900. This education helped shape his literary career.
Why did P.G. Wodehouse become a US citizen?

After moving to America following World War II, he became a U.S. citizen in 1955. He lived in the US for the rest of his life.
What was P.G. Wodehouse's last work?

His last work was the unfinished novel Sunset at Blandings. He had written nine chapters before his death in 1975.
What was P.G. Wodehouse's obsession besides writing?

He was obsessed with golf, and many of his short stories revolve around the sport. However, his handicap never fell below 18.
Where was P.G. Wodehouse living at the start of World War II?

He was living in his newly-purchased home in Le Touquet, France, when the war began. He was captured there while having tea with his wife and friends.
What newspaper did P.G. Wodehouse work for?

He worked for The Globe newspaper in London as a sports reporter and columnist. He wrote a column called By the way…
What was P.G. Wodehouse's first published novel?

One of his early published school novels was The White Feather, written for The Captain magazine. It dealt with life at English universities.
Did P.G. Wodehouse ever win a major award?

Yes, he was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire KBE in 1975. This recognized his services to literature.
What was P.G. Wodehouse's native name?

His native name, after knighthood, was Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse. He was often referred to as Sir P.G. Wodehouse.

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Audited & updated by

Olivia has 6 years of experience writing biographical profiles and still approaches every subject like it's the first one. She covers everyone from debut musicians to Hall of Fame athletes to novelists most people have never heard of. She finds something worth reading in all of them. Her drafts tend to come in already clean, which her editor appreciates. She says good writing is just good thinking written down. Hard to argue with that.

Published on June 22, 2026

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