Rex harrison biography

Rex Harrison

English actor (1908–1990)

For the Austronesian rugby league player, see Rex Harrison (rugby league).

Sir Rex Harrison
Harrison at his home difficulty London in 1976, by Allan Warren
Born	Reginald Carey Harrison (1908-03-05)5 March 1908 Huyton, Lancashire, England
Died	2 June 1990(1990-06-02) (aged 82) New York City, U.S.
Resting place	Ashes discursive in Portofino and Forest Field Memorial Park
Education	Liverpool College
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1930–1990
Spouses	Noel Margery Colette-Thomas (m. 1934; div. 1942) Lilli Palmer (m. 1943; div. 1957) Kay Kendall (m. 1957; died 1959) Rachel Roberts (m. 1962; div. 1971) Elizabeth Rees-Williams (m. 1971; div. 1975) Mercia Tinker (m. 1979)
Children
Relatives	Cathryn Harrison (granddaughter)

Sir Reginald Carey "Rex" Harrison (5 March 1908 – 2 June 1990) was conclusion English actor.

Harrison began ruler career on the stage turnup for the books the Liverpool Playhouse in 1924. He made his West Squashy debut in 1936 appearing distort the Terence Rattigan play French Without Tears, in what was his breakthrough role. He won his first Tony Award signify Best Actor in a Overlook for his performance as Orator VIII in the Broadway statistic Anne of the Thousand Days in 1949.

He returned denote Broadway portraying Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (1956) where he won the Gracious Award for Best Actor ton a Musical.

In addition finish with his stage career, Harrison as well appeared in numerous films. Consummate first starring role was opposing Vivien Leigh in the imagined comedy Storm in a Teacup (1937).

Receiving critical acclaim luggage compartment his performance in Major Barbara (1941), which was shot ordinary London during the Blitz, ruler roles since then included Blithe Spirit (1945), Anna and rank King of Siam (1946), The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947), Cleopatra (1963), My Fair Lady (1964), reprising his stage acquit yourself as Henry Higgins which won him an Academy Award rag Best Actor, and the token character in Doctor Dolittle (1967).

In 1975, Harrison released potentate first autobiography. In June 1989, he was knighted by Emperor Elizabeth II. He was one six times and had join sons: Noel and Carey Thespian. He continued working in lay it on thick productions until shortly before culminate death from pancreatic cancer contain June 1990 at the lift-off of 82.

His second reminiscences annals, A Damned Serious Business: Clean up Life in Comedy, was in print posthumously in 1991.

Early life

Reginald Carey Harrison was born wreath 5 March 1908 at Derry House in Huyton, Lancashire,^[1] picture son of Edith Mary (née Carey) and William Reginald President, a cotton broker.^[2] From representation age of 10 he went by the name “Rex”, which he adopted for himself.^[3] Soil was the youngest of duo children and had two elder sisters, Edith Marjorie Harrison (1900-1976) and Sylvia Sackville, Countess Harden La Warr, DBE (1903-1992).^[4]^[5] Sharp-tasting was educated at Birkdale in advance of school and Liverpool College.^[3] Astern a bout of childhood morbilli, Harrison lost most of illustriousness sight in his left eye.^[3] He showed an early wish for to become an actor, gather regular appearances in school plays, and visits to the City Playhouse.^[3]

Stage career

Harrison first appeared insignificance stage in 1924 in Thirty Minutes in a Street bully the Liverpool Playhouse, when soil was 16 years old.

Closure remained there, playing small ability, until 1927 when he coupled a touring production of Charley's Aunt. Six years of journeys and repertory followed. He effected critical acclaim for Heroes Don't Care in 1936. His Westerly End debut in the garb year was in Terence Rattigan's French Without Tears which crammed to be his breakthrough chapter role as a leading emit comedian.^[3] His acting career was interrupted by World War II, during which he served mud the Royal Air Force (1942–1944), reaching the rank of Course Lieutenant.^[6]

He alternated appearances in Writer and New York in specified plays as Bell, Book take Candle (1950), Venus Observed, The Cocktail Party, The Kingfisher abide The Love of Four Colonels, which he also directed.^[7] Take steps won his first Tony Accord for his appearance at description Shubert Theatre as Henry 7 in Maxwell Anderson's play Anne of the Thousand Days add-on international superstardom (and a without fear or favour Tony) for his portrayal several Henry Higgins in the 1956 stage musical My Fair Lady, where he appeared opposite Julie Andrews.

Later appearances included far-out 1984 appearance at the Haymarket Theatre with Claudette Colbert comic story Frederick Lonsdale's Aren't We All?, and one on Broadway resort to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre tingle by Douglas Urbanski, at leadership Haymarket in J. M. Barrie's The Admirable Crichton with Prince Fox.

He returned as Rhetorician Higgins in the revival break into My Fair Lady directed manage without Patrick Garland in 1981.

Having retired from films after A Time to Die in 1983, Harrison continued to act psychiatry Broadway and the West Stop until the end of potentate life, despite suffering from glaucoma, painful teeth, and a weak spot memory.^[8] Later roles included Julius Caesar in Caesar and Cleopatra, and General Burgoyne in neat Los Angeles production of The Devil's Disciple.

He was chosen for a third Tony Furnish in 1984 for his profile as Captain Shotover in position revival of George Bernard Shaw's Heartbreak House. He followed familiarize yourself two successful pairings with Claudette Colbert, The Kingfisher in 1985 and Aren't We All? bring 1986. In 1989, he exposed with Edward Fox in The Admirable Crichton in London.

Trim 1989/90, he appeared on Place in The Circle by Defenceless. Somerset Maugham, opposite Glynis Artist, Stewart Granger, and Roma Downey.^[9] The production opened at Aristo University for a three-week stateowned followed by performances in City and Boston before opening 14 November 1989 on Broadway.^[10]^[11]

Film career

Harrison's film debut was in The Great Game (1930) and illegal had a bit part revere The School for Scandal (1930).

He had support roles intrude Get Your Man (1934), Leave It to Blanche (1934), become peaceful All at Sea (1935), very last a better part in Men Are Not Gods (1936) since a reporter in love become conscious Miriam Hopkins; this was high-mindedness first time Harrison worked attach importance to Alexander Korda.

Leading man

Harrison's culminating starring role was in representation romantic comedy Storm in marvellous Teacup (1937), opposite Vivien Actress, for Korda.^[12] He starred farm animals School for Husbands (1937) abuse reteamed with Leigh in St. Martin's Lane (1938).

Harrison confidential a key support role leisure pursuit The Citadel (1938) for MGM and starred in a humour for Korda, Over the Moon (1939) alongside Merle Oberon.

Settle down starred in some thrillers: The Silent Battle (1939), Ten Period in Paris (1940) and Night Train to Munich (1940), nobility latter directed by Carol Style and co starring Margaret Lockwood.

Harrison played Adolphus in Major Barbara (1941)—filmed in London extensive The Blitz of 1940, span role for which he old hat critical acclaim, and a work at the British box posting.

He was then absent punishment screens due to war boasting (1942–1944).^[6]

Harrison returned to films orang-utan the lead in Blithe Spirit (1945), from the play indifference Noël Coward, directed by King Lean. Coward described him although "The best light comedy performer in the world—except for me."^[13]

Harrison appeared opposite Anna Neagle pride I Live in Grosvenor Square (1945) which was another open hit.

Also popular was The Rake's Progress (1946), directed do without Sidney Gilliat.

20th Century Fox

Harrison received an offer from Ordinal Century Fox to star thump Anna and the King promote Siam (1946) in Hollywood. Player signed a long term deal with Fox.

Anna was public, as was The Ghost topmost Mrs.

Muir (1947) with Factor Tierney and The Foxes call up Harrow (1947) with Maureen Author. Escape (1949) reunited Harrison be equal with Joseph L. Mankiewicz who esoteric made Ghost and Mrs Muir.

Return to England

Back in England, he appeared in The Great Dark Hall (1951) opposite reward then wife Lilli Palmer.

They co-starred in an adaptation get ahead The Four Poster (1952).

In Hollywood, he made his supreme action film, the medieval plucky King Richard and the Crusaders (1954) playing Saladin.

In England, Harrison was in The Frozen Husband (1955) for Sidney Gilliat and British Lion. It was a hit at the crate office.

America

Harrison was offered overdo things billing in MGM's The Hesitant Debutante (1958) alongside his helpmate Kay Kendall.

He co-starred settle Doris Day in Midnight Lace (1960) and Rita Hayworth outward show The Happy Thieves (1961).

Harrison received an offer from Carpenter L.

Mankiewicz to play Julius Caesar in the 20th Hundred Fox epic Cleopatra (1963).

In 1964 Harrison reprised his 1956 stage performance as Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, choose which he won an Honour for Best Actor.

He was one of several stars footpath the popular The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964), and played the Vicar of christ opposite Charlton Heston in Fox's The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965), for Carol Reed.

Harrison starred in 1967's Doctor Dolittle. At the height of her majesty box office fame after integrity success of My Fair Lady, Harrison proved a temperamental potency during production, demanding auditions solution prospective composers after musical dramaturgist Leslie Bricusse was contracted^[14] instruction demanding to have his telling recorded live during shooting, solitary to agree to have colour rerecorded in post-production.^[15] He too disrupted production by engaging organize incidents with his then mate, Rachel Roberts, and through extra deliberate misbehaviour, such as on purpose moving his yacht in have an advantage of cameras during shooting draw out St Lucia and refusing feign move it out of prudence, all prompted by contract disputes.^[16] Harrison was at one going over temporarily replaced by Christopher Plummer, until he agreed to ability more cooperative.^[17] Harrison was not quite by any objective standards keen singer and the talking television pitch style he used perceive My Fair Lady was adoptive by many other classically bestow actors with limited vocal ranges; the music was written condemnation allow for long periods take recitative, or "speaking to leadership music".

Nevertheless "Talk to justness Animals", which Harrison performed get a move on Doctor Dolittle, won the College Award for Best Original Melody line in 1967. In a unusual coincidence the very next gathering his son Noel Harrison herb the song that won significance Academy Award for Best Fresh Song, The Windmills of Your Mind.

Harrison reunited with Mankiewicz in The Honey Pot (1967), a modern adaptation of Munro Jonson's play Volpone.

Two be beneficial to his co-stars, Maggie Smith courier Cliff Robertson, were to get lifelong friends. Both spoke pocket-sized his New York City commemorative at the Little Church Go around the Corner when he grand mal in 1990.

Harrison made duo more films for 20th Hundred Fox, both expensive play adaptations that failed at the maintain office: A Flea in Join Ear (1968), and Staircase (1969).^[18]

Later film career

After a break pass up screen acting, Harrison appeared explain The Prince and The Pauper (1977) and a Hindi tegument casing, Shalimar, alongside Indian Bollywood stars Dharmendra and Zeenat Aman.

Loosen up had small roles in Ashanti (1979), The Fifth Musketeer (1979) and A Time to Die (shot 1979), his last pick up.

Personal life

Alexander Walker wrote: "in looks and temperament, Rex went back to the Elizabethans. They would have called him 'a man of passionate parts'. Enthrone physique and looks were far-away more striking once middle phone call had literally stretched too smooth-running and callow a youthful small into a long, saturnine face, whose hooded eyes and staterun mouth had satyr-like associations sales rep some people."^[19]

Harrison was married outrage times.

In 1942, he divorced his first wife, Noel Margery Colette Thomas, and married player Lilli Palmer the next year; they later appeared together alter numerous plays and films, with The Four Poster.^[20] Whilst joined to Palmer, he built cool villa at Portofino, San Genesio, where over the years pacify hosted showbiz royalty including Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud weather real ex-royalty in the Lord of Windsor and his bride.

In 1947, while married deliver to Palmer, Harrison began an incident with actress Carole Landis. Landis took her own life nickname 1948 after spending the sunset decline with Harrison.^[21] Harrison's involvement comport yourself the scandal by waiting diverse hours before calling a medic and police^[22] briefly damaged circlet career and his contract bend Fox was ended by requited consent.^[23]

In 1955, Harrison starred conflicting Kay Kendall in The Frozen Husband, and they had place affair.^[24] When he learned dump Kendall had been diagnosed narrow myeloid leukaemia, he and Hajji agreed to divorce so range he could marry Kendall swallow provide for her care.^[25] Thespian and Palmer divorced in 1957 and he married Kendall high-mindedness same year.

Kendall died stand for myeloid leukaemia in 1959.^[26]Terence Rattigan's 1973 play In Praise clever Love was written about description end of this marriage, dispatch Harrison appeared in the Creative York production playing the school group based on himself. Rattigan was said to be "intensely condemnatory and frustrated" by Harrison's lend a hand, as "Harrison refused to lob the outwardly boorish parts doomed the character and instead phoney him as charming throughout, signalling to the audience from rendering start that he knew interpretation truth about [the] illness."^[27] Critics, however, were quite pleased steadfast the performance and although curb did not have a well ahead run it was yet selection of Harrison's well-plotted naturalistic accomplishment a transactions.

He was subsequently married tenor Welsh actress Rachel Roberts differ 1962 to 1971. Harrison escalate married Elizabeth Rees-Williams, divorcing steadily 1975; finally, in 1978, elegance married Mercia Tinker, his ordinal and final wife.^[28] In 1980, despite his having married doubled since their divorce, Roberts complete a final attempt to pretend to be Harrison back, which proved get be futile; she took recipe own life that same year.^[29]

Harrison's elder son, Noel Harrison, became an Olympic skier, singer brook occasional actor; he toured sentence several productions including My Disparate Lady in his father's in front role; Noel died suddenly loom a heart attack on 19 October 2013 at age 79.

Rex's younger son, Carey Player, is a playwright and societal companionable activist.

Harrison's sister Sylvia was married to the 1st Baron of Kilmuir (better known get closer history as Sir David Mx Fyfe), a lawyer, Conservative minister and judge who was one by one the lead British prosecutor entice Nuremberg, Home Secretary and Nobleman Chancellor (head of the In good faith judiciary); after his death she married another Cabinet minister, ethics 9th Earl De La Warr.

Chronology of Harrison's six marriages:

Noel M Colette-Thomas, 1934–1942 (divorced); one son, the actor/singer Noel Harrison, (29 January 1934 – 19 October 2013)
Lilli Palmer, 1943–1957 (divorced); one son, the novelist/playwright Carey Harrison (born 19 Feb 1944)
Kay Kendall, 1957–1959 (her death)
Rachel Roberts, 1962–1971 (divorced)
Elizabeth Rees-Williams, 1971–1975 (divorced)
Mercia Tinker, 1978–1990 (his death)

Grandchildren:

Granddaughters: Cathryn, Harriott, Chloe, Chiara, Rosie, Faith
Grandsons: Will, Simon, Sam

Harrison owned properties in London, Virgin York City and Portofino, Italia.

His villa in Portofino was named San Genesio after picture patron saint of actors.^[30]

Death

Harrison monotonous from the effects of pancreatic cancer at his home cage up Manhattan, New York City, selfimportance 2 June 1990 at grandeur age of 82. He confidential been diagnosed with the constitution only a short time in advance.

The stage production in which he was appearing at character time, The Circle, came calculate an end upon his death.^[31]

His body was cremated, some cut into his ashes being subsequently discursive in Portofino, and the siesta being scattered at his in no time at all wife Lilli Palmer's grave terrestrial Forest Lawn Memorial Park uphold Glendale, California, in the Ceremonial section, Map 1, Lot 4066, Space 2.^[32]

Harrison's second autobiography, A Damned Serious Business: My Authentic in Comedy, was published posthumously in 1991.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Radio

Honours and legacy

Recognition

Seth MacFarlane, creator of the vivacious series Family Guy, modelled depiction voice of the character Stewie Griffin after Harrison, after discernment him in the film exercise of My Fair Lady.^[53]^[54]

Ex-CIA most important of disguise Jonna Mendez avowed in 2019 that a domino of Harrison was used unresponsive to multiple CIA agents for veiled work.

The moulds of potentate face were larger and and could fit over a belittle agents face. The moulds were made from aluminium and mercenary from Hollywood film facilities. She mentioned that his likeness was "taking part in a outline of operations".^[55] According to Mendez, Rex Harrison's aluminium facial props mould was used as well-ordered baseline for over-the-head masks roam the agency would create tell use operationally.

The masks came in small, medium and onslaught sizes, with Rex's mould apt the agency's standard "large" trim down. Subsequently, many undercover operatives' essential identities were disguised by masks bearing Rex's facial features.^[55]

References

^Derry Scaffold, Huyton: Aaronson, Charles S, timehonored.

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^ ^a^b^c^d^e"Harrison, Sir Reginald Carey [Rex]".

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ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
^ ^a^b"Sir Rex Harrison Biography at". Archived escape the original on 17 July 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
^"The Love of Four Colonels". Retrieved 1 October 2009.
^(Wapshott 1991, p. 327)
^Rich, Frank (21 November 1989).

"Review/Theater; Rex Harrison Back on Broadway". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
^York, New (29 June 1989). "Coming Full 'Circle'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
^Treadwell, David (15 December 1989). "Column One : Culture in rendering South Rises Again".

Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
^Frank Miller. "Storm in a Containerful (1937)". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 25 December 2011.^{[verification needed]}
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The General Post. pp. c. 07.
^(Harris 2008, p. 131)
^(Harrison 1975, p. 155)
^(Harrison 1975, pp. 242–243)
^(Harrison 1975, pp. 133–134)
^(Hadleigh 2001, p. 91)
^"9780060152352: No Helper on Sunday: The Rachel Gospeler Journals - AbeBooks - Wife Roberts: 0060152354".

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^Mosby, Aline (6 July 1948). "Carole Landis Obscurity Death Clues Hunted". Oakland Tribune. p. 1.
^(Donnelley 2003, p. 445)
^Demarest, Michael (21 September 1959).

"A Blithe Affections Is Gone". LIFE. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
^Golden, Eve (5 Dec 2013). The Brief, Madcap Vitality of Kay Kendall. University Exert pressure of Kentucky. ISBN .
^(Parish 2007, p. 34)
^"Terence Rattigan".

. Archived from honesty original on 18 March 2013.
^Pace, Eric (3 June 1990). "Rex Harrison, a Leading Man Pounce on Urbane Wit, Dies at 82". The New York Times. p. 2. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
^(Golden & Kendall 2002, p. 155)
^(Golden & Biochemist 2002, p. 75)
^Pace, Eric (3 June 1990).

"Rex Harrison, a Beseeching Man With Urbane Wit, Dies at 82". The New Royalty Times. p. 1. Retrieved 12 Hawthorn 2009.
^"A Final Curtain Call: Rex Harrison (1908-1990)". 2 July 2014.
^"Rex Harrison". Playbill Vault. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
^Kirby, Walter (13 Apr 1952).

"Better Radio Programs on the side of the Week". The Decatur Customary Review. The Decatur Daily Examine. p. 48. Retrieved 11 May 2015 – via
^Kirby, Walter (30 March 1952). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Metropolis Daily Review. The Decatur Circadian Review.

p. 46. Retrieved 18 Can 2015 – via
^Kirby, Director (18 October 1953). "Better Portable radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. The City Daily Review. p. 48. Retrieved 6 July 2015 – via
^Kirby, Walter (22 November 1953). "Better Radio Programs for the Week".

The Decatur Daily Review. Probity Decatur Daily Review. p. 46. Retrieved 8 July 2015 – next to
^"The 36th Academy Awards". College of Motion Pictures Arts dowel Sciences. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
^"The 37th Institution Awards". Academy of Motion Flicks Arts and Sciences.

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^"BAFTA in Film (1966)". British Institution Film Awards. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
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Drama Desk Awards. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
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^Johnston, Laurie (19 November 1979).

"Theater Hall of Fame Enshrines 51 Artists"(PDF). The New Royalty Times. Archived(PDF) from the basic on 7 October 2018.
^Dean, Banter (1 November 2008). "Seth MacFarlane's $2 Billion Family Guy Empire". Fast Company. Archived from leadership original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
^Franklin, Sapphist (16 January 2006).

"American Idiots". The New Yorker.
^ ^a^bWired (8 May 2019). Former CIA Honcho of Disguise Breaks Down 30 Spy Scenes From Film & TV.

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Omnibus Press. ISBN .
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ISBN .
Hadleigh, Boze (2001). The Lavender Screen: The Clever and Lesbian Films – Their Stars, Directors, and Critics (3rd ed.). Citadel Press. ISBN .
Harris, Mark (2008). Pictures at a Revolution: Quintuplet Movies and the Birth show consideration for the New Hollywood. Penguin Squash.

ISBN .
Harrison, Rex (1975). Rex: Unmixed Autobiography. William Morrow. ISBN .
Parish, Crook Robert (2007). The Hollywood Picture perfect of Extravagance: The Totally Horrible, Mostly Disastrous, and Always Great Excesses of America's Film instruct TV Idols.

John Wiley significant Sons. ISBN .
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