Actor. His real name was Melvyn Edouard Hesselberg. He is considered one of the most important actors of Classic Hollywood. He began his career in 1931 with "Tonight or Never". He is one of only three actors to win an Oscar (as Best Supporting Actor for "Hud" in 1963), an Emmy (for "Inherit the Wind") and a Tony Award (for "The Best Man" in 1960). He was married with Helen Gahagan, Democrat Representative for California. He also was politically active in his private life and was member of American Civil Liberties Union and Americans for Democratic Action. He was the grandfather of actress Illeana Douglas. He appeared among others films in "As You Desire Me" (1932), "Annie Oakley" (1935), "Captains Courageous" (1937), "Angel" (1937), "Ninotchka" (1939), "A Woman's Face" (1941), "Two-faced Woman" (1942), "The Sea of Grass" (1941), "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" (1948), "The Great Sinner" (1949), "My Forbidden Past" (1951), "Billy Budd" (1962), "Hud" (1963), "I Never Sang for My Father" (1970), "The Candidate" (1972), "Being There" (1979), "The Changeling" (1980), and "Ghost Story" (1981).
Actor. His real name was Melvyn Edouard Hesselberg. He is considered one of the most important actors of Classic Hollywood. He began his career in 1931 with "Tonight or Never". He is one of only three actors to win an Oscar (as Best Supporting Actor for "Hud" in 1963), an Emmy (for "Inherit the Wind") and a Tony Award (for "The Best Man" in 1960). He was married with Helen Gahagan, Democrat Representative for California. He also was politically active in his private life and was member of American Civil Liberties Union and Americans for Democratic Action. He was the grandfather of actress Illeana Douglas. He appeared among others films in "As You Desire Me" (1932), "Annie Oakley" (1935), "Captains Courageous" (1937), "Angel" (1937), "Ninotchka" (1939), "A Woman's Face" (1941), "Two-faced Woman" (1942), "The Sea of Grass" (1941), "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" (1948), "The Great Sinner" (1949), "My Forbidden Past" (1951), "Billy Budd" (1962), "Hud" (1963), "I Never Sang for My Father" (1970), "The Candidate" (1972), "Being There" (1979), "The Changeling" (1980), and "Ghost Story" (1981).
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Bio by: José L Bernabé Tronchoni