Brian Aherne
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Brian Aherne | |
in the trailer for I Confess (1953) |
|
Birth name | William Brian de Lacy Aherne |
Born | May 2, 1902 Kings Norton, Worcestershire, England |
Died | February 10, 1986 Venice, Florida, USA |
Brian Aherne (May 2, 1902 – February 10, 1986) was an English film actor who found success in Hollywood.
Born William Brian de Lacy Aherne in King's Norton, Worcestershire, he trained as a child at Italia Conti Academy in London and had some child roles before completing his education at Malvern College. He first appeared on the stage at the age of 9 in Birmingham. He appeared in silent films before his talkie debut in Madame Guillotine (1931). After a few more British talkies he moved on to lead roles in Hollywood, where he made over 30 films. Between 1939 and 1945 he was married to actress Joan Fontaine. In 1945, he played sleuth Simon Templar in the radio mystery series, The Saint. He also appeared in many TV theatrical series, including G E Theatre and Rawhide.
A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame remembers him, at 1752 Vine Street.
Aherne published his autobiography A Proper Job in 1969, as well as A Dreadful Man (1979), a biography of his friend George Sanders.
Brian Aherne died of heart failure in Venice, Florida at the age of 83.
[edit] Selected films
- I Was a Spy (1933)
- Song of Songs (1933) — his US debut
- Beloved Enemy {1936}
- The Great Garrick (1937)
- Juarez (1939) as Emperor Maximillian von Habsburg
- My Son, My Son! (1939)
- The Lady in Question (1940)
- Vigil in the Night (1940)
- My Sister Eileen (1942)
- A Night to Remember (1943)
- The Locket (1946)
- I Confess (1953)
- Titanic (1953) as Captain Edward J. Smith
- Prince Valiant (1954)
- Susan Slade (1961)
- Lancelot and Guinevere (1963) ( as King Arthur)
- Rosie (1967)