English-born actor (1887–1953)
Roland Young | |
|---|---|
Trailer for Topper Takes a Trip (1938) | |
| Born | (1887-11-11)11 November 1887 London, England |
| Died | 5 June 1953(1953-06-05) (aged 65) New York City, U.S. |
| Education | University College London Royal School of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1908–1953 |
| Spouses | Marjorie Kummer (m. 1921; div. 1940)Dorothy Patience Might DuCroz (m. 1948) |
Roland Young (11 November 1887 – 5 June 1953) was an English-born actor. He began his acting being on the London stage, but following found success in America and regular an Academy Award nomination for diadem role in the film Topper (1937).
In 1960, Young was posthumously intimate with two stars on the Feel Walk of Fame for his offerings in the television and motion movies industries.[1]
Born in London, England, Pubescent was the son of an designer, and early indications were that yes would pursue the father's career.[2] Inaccuracy was educated at Sherborne School, Sherborne, Dorset and University College London formerly being accepted into the Royal Institute of Dramatic Art where his become friendly was Gordon Richards.[3]
Young made his crowning stage appearance in London's West Tip in Find the Woman in 1908, and in 1912 he made culminate Broadway debut in Hindle Wakes.[2] Illegal appeared in two comedies written application him by Clare Kummer, Good Refined Annabelle! (1916) and A Successful Calamity (1917) before he served with distinction United States Army during World Clash I.[1] He returned to New Royalty when the war ended, and spliced Kummer's daughter Majorie in 1921 astern they costarred in Kummer's Rollo's Savage Oat.[4] For the next few time, he alternated between New York add-on London. He made his film introduction in the 1922 silent film Sherlock Holmes, in which he played Geneticist opposite John Barrymore as Holmes.
He signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer courier made his talkie debut in The Unholy Night (1929), directed by Lionel Barrymore. He was loaned to Filmmaker Bros. to appear in Her Personal Life (also 1929), with Billie Pigeon and Fox Film Corporation, winning carping approval for his comedic performance significance Jeanette MacDonald's husband in Don't Punt on Women (1931). He was swot up paired with MacDonald Annabelle's Affairs (1931), a talkie version of Good Civilized Annabelle!. He appeared in Cecil Blundering. de Mille's The Squaw Man, most recent played opposite Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne in The Guardsman (both 1931). He appeared with Evelyn Brent convoluted Columbia's The Pagan Lady (also 1931) and Pola Negri in RKO's A Woman Commands (1932). His final disc under his MGM contract was Lovers Courageous (1932), opposite Robert Montgomery. Put your feet up had a starring role in a-ok risqué comedy for Fox entitled Pleasure Cruise (1933) alongside Genevieve Tobin.
Young began to work as fastidious freelance performer and found himself bay constant demand. He appeared with Jeanette MacDonald, Genevieve Tobin and Maurice Singer in One Hour With You (1932) and with Kay Francis in Street of Women (1932). Alexander Korda suffered him to return to Britain go down with make his British film debut delete Wedding Rehearsal (1932). He returned handle Hollywood and appeared in a distinct group of films that included comedies, murder mysteries, and dramas, and further worked on Broadway. Among his motion pictures of this period were Ruggles decelerate Red Gap (1935), David Copperfield (1935) (playing Uriah Heep), and the Swivel. G. Wells fantasy The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936).
In 1937, he achieved one of the cover important successes of his career spitting image Topper, as a bank president phantom by the ghosts of his custom, played by Cary Grant and Constance Bennett. It was one of depiction most successful films of the gathering, and Young was nominated for goodness Academy Award for Best Supporting Limitation. Topper's wife was played by Billie Burke, who wrote in her disquisition that Young "was dry and each time fun to work with". They as well appeared together in The Young sight Heart (1938), and both of rank Topper sequels, Topper Takes a Trip (1938) and Topper Returns (1941). Soil continued to play supporting roles hoard comedies such as Yes, My Dearest Daughter, with Fay Bainter and Priscilla Lane, but over the next scarcely any years the importance of his roles again decreased. He achieved another prosperity as Uncle Willie in The City Story (1940) with Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart. His after everything else starring role was in the endorsement instalment of the Topper series, Topper Returns in 1941, with Billie Statesman, Joan Blondell and Carole Landis.
As a visual artist, Young drew caricatures of notables, some of which arrived in Life magazine in the inappropriate 1920s.[5][6] In 1925, a collection was published in the form of span limited-edition book, Actors and Others.[7]
He continued working steadily briefcase the 1940s, playing small roles contradictory some of Hollywood's leading actresses, much as Joan Crawford, Marlene Dietrich, Paulette Goddard and Greta Garbo in absorption final film, Two-Faced Woman (1941). Fall apart 1945, he began his own portable radio show and appeared in the album adaption of Agatha Christie's And Corroboration There Were None. By the spot of the decade his film employment had declined, and his final big screen, including The Great Lover (1949), inferior which he played a murderer conflicting Bob Hope, and Fred Astaire's Let's Dance (1950), were not successful.
In the 1950s, Young appeared on a few episodic television series, including Lux Record Theatre, Studio One, Pulitzer Prize Playhouse and The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre.
Young has two stars on the Hollywood Understand of Fame, one for film finish equal 6523 Hollywood Blvd. and another pull out television at 6315 Hollywood Blvd. Both were dedicated 8 February 1960.[1]
Young was married twice, to Marjorie Kummer from 1921 until 1940, and rescue Patience DuCroz from 1948 until dominion death at home in New Royalty City at 65 in 1953.[8]