Actor. Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, he began his career in silent films in the mid 1920s after initially studying voice at Boston's New England Conservatory of Music. His early works in film include "Mannequin" (1925) and "The Girl from Rio" (1927). Following the introduction of sound recordings, he appeared in several musicals over the next decade before signing with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios in 1937 as a contract player. While under contract with MGM, he was used primarily as a supporting actor in such films as "Saratoga" and "The Girl of the Golden West." His first commercial success as an actor came as the star of "How Green Was My Valley," winner of the 1941 Academy Award for Best Picture. He was a two time Oscar nominee for Best Actor, for his performances in "Mrs. Miniver" (1942) and "Madame Curie" (1943). He served as the 10th President of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) from 1952 to 1957 and was a recipient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 6414 Hollywood Blvd. His notable film credits include: "Dark Command" (1940), "Blossoms in the Dust" (1941), "Man Hunt" (1941), "Mrs. Parkington" (1944), "The Secret Heart" (1946), "Command Decision" (1948), "Julia Misbehaves" (1948), "That Forsythe Woman" (1949), "The Miniver Story" (1950), "Calling Bulldog Drummond" (1951), "Soldiers Three" (1951), "The Bad and the Beautiful" (1952), "Million Dollar Mermaid" (1952), "Dream Wife" (1953), "Scandal at Scourie" (1953), "Executive Suite" (1954), "The Last Time I Saw Paris" (1954), "Forbidden Planet" (1956), "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" (1961), "Advise and Consent" (1962), "Big Red" (1962), "Funny Girl" (1968), "Skyjacked" (1972), "Harry in Your Pocket" (1973), "Two-Minute Warning" (1976) and "Sextette" (1978). His notable television guest appearances include: "Perry Mason," "Dr. Kildare," "Daniel Boone," "Burke's Law," "The F.B.I." and "Marcus Welby, M.D." In 1975, he received the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Life Achievement Award. He suffered a series of strokes following his retirement from the motion picture industry in the late 1970s and died two days after his 87th birthday in Santa Monica, California.
Actor. Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, he began his career in silent films in the mid 1920s after initially studying voice at Boston's New England Conservatory of Music. His early works in film include "Mannequin" (1925) and "The Girl from Rio" (1927). Following the introduction of sound recordings, he appeared in several musicals over the next decade before signing with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios in 1937 as a contract player. While under contract with MGM, he was used primarily as a supporting actor in such films as "Saratoga" and "The Girl of the Golden West." His first commercial success as an actor came as the star of "How Green Was My Valley," winner of the 1941 Academy Award for Best Picture. He was a two time Oscar nominee for Best Actor, for his performances in "Mrs. Miniver" (1942) and "Madame Curie" (1943). He served as the 10th President of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) from 1952 to 1957 and was a recipient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 6414 Hollywood Blvd. His notable film credits include: "Dark Command" (1940), "Blossoms in the Dust" (1941), "Man Hunt" (1941), "Mrs. Parkington" (1944), "The Secret Heart" (1946), "Command Decision" (1948), "Julia Misbehaves" (1948), "That Forsythe Woman" (1949), "The Miniver Story" (1950), "Calling Bulldog Drummond" (1951), "Soldiers Three" (1951), "The Bad and the Beautiful" (1952), "Million Dollar Mermaid" (1952), "Dream Wife" (1953), "Scandal at Scourie" (1953), "Executive Suite" (1954), "The Last Time I Saw Paris" (1954), "Forbidden Planet" (1956), "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" (1961), "Advise and Consent" (1962), "Big Red" (1962), "Funny Girl" (1968), "Skyjacked" (1972), "Harry in Your Pocket" (1973), "Two-Minute Warning" (1976) and "Sextette" (1978). His notable television guest appearances include: "Perry Mason," "Dr. Kildare," "Daniel Boone," "Burke's Law," "The F.B.I." and "Marcus Welby, M.D." In 1975, he received the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Life Achievement Award. He suffered a series of strokes following his retirement from the motion picture industry in the late 1970s and died two days after his 87th birthday in Santa Monica, California.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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