Victor McLaglen
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Victor McLaglen | |
 Victor McLaglen |
|
| Born | December 10, 1886 Limehouse, London, United Kingdom |
| Died | November 7, 1959 Newport Beach, California, USA |
| Academy Awards | |
|---|---|
| Best Actor 1935 The Informer |
|
Victor Andrew de Bier McLaglen (December 10, 1886[1] - November 7, 1959) was a British-born boxer and Academy Award winning actor, who later became a naturalized American.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
McLaglen was born in a house at 505 Commercial Road, Limehouse, London, England. His father, a bishop, moved the family to South Africa when McLaglen was a child. He left home at fourteen to join the army with the intention of fighting in the Second Boer War. However much to his chagrin, he was stationed at Windsor Castle and was later forced to leave the army when his true age was discovered.
Four years later, he moved to Canada, where he earned a living as a wrestler and heavyweight boxer, with several notable wins in the ring. One of his most famous fights was against Heavyweight Champion Jack Johnson. The fight was a 6 round exhibition bout. Between bouts, he toured with a circus, which offered $25 to anyone who could go three rounds with him. He returned to England in 1913 and claimed to have served with the Royal Irish Fusiliers during World War I although he actually served as a Temporary Captain with the 10th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, now part of the The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires). He served for a time as military Provost Marshal for the city of Baghdad.[2] He also continued boxing, and was named Heavyweight Champion of the British Army in 1918. After the war, he began taking roles in British silent films.
McLaglen's career took a turn in the 1920s, when he moved to Hollywood. He became a popular character actor, with a particular knack for playing drunks. The highlight of his career was an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Informer (1935), based on a novel by Liam O'Flaherty. Near the end of his career he was nominated again, this time for Best Supporting Actor, for his role opposite John Wayne in The Quiet Man (1952). He was especially popular with director John Ford, who frequently included McLaglen in his films. Toward the end of his career, McLaglen made several guest appearances on television, particularly in Western series such as Have Gun, Will Travel and Rawhide.
He died of a heart attack in 1959. He had by that time become a naturalized U.S. citizen. His son, Andrew McLaglen is a director. A blue plaque commemorating him can be seen outside the house he was born in, at 505 Commercial Road, London E1.
[edit] Filmography
- The Prey of the Dragon (1921) First Movie?
- A Sailor Tramp (1922)
- Little Brother of God (1922)
- The Romany (1923)
- Women and Diamonds (1923)
- What Price Glory? (1926)
- Beau Geste (1926)
- Hangman's House (1928)
- Dishonored (1931)
- Laughing at Life (1933)
- The Lost Patrol (1934)
- Murder at the Vanities (1934)
- The Informer (1935) - Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
- Klondike Annie (1936)
- Wee Willie Winkie (1937)
- Devil's Party (1938)
- Gunga Din (1939)
- Let Freedom Ring (1939)
- South of Pago Pago (1940)
- Forever and a Day (1943)
- Whistle Stop (1946)
- Calendar Girl (1947)
- Fort Apache (1948)
- She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)
- Rio Grande (1950)
- The Quiet Man (1952) - Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Prince Valiant (1954)
- Trouble in the Glen (1954)
- Lady Godiva (1955)
- Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
- Sea Fury (1958)
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=3560
- ^ http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=49416
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Clark Gable for It Happened One Night |
Academy Award for Best Actor 1935 for The Informer |
Succeeded by Paul Muni for The Story of Louis Pasteur |
