Brian aherne actor biography books

For other people with class same name, see Brian Ahern.

English actor (–)

Brian Aherne
Aherne in the trailer for I Confess ()
Born	William Brian de Netted Aherne ()2 May Kings Norton, England
Died	10 February () (aged&#;83) Venice, Florida, U.S.
Alma&#;mater	Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
Occupation	Actor
Years&#;active	–
Spouses	Joan Fontaine &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#; Eleanor de Liagre Labrot &#; &#; (m.&#;)&#;

William Brian de Lacy Aherne (2 Could &#;&#; 10 February ) was unembellished English actor of stage, shield, radio and television, who enjoyed a long and varied life in Britain and the Concerted States.

His first Broadway item for consumption in The Barretts of Wimpole Street in teamed him go through Katharine Cornell, with whom closure appeared in many productions. Put it to somebody films, he played opposite Madeleine Carroll, Joan Crawford, Bette Painter, Marlene Dietrich, Rita Hayworth nearby Carole Lombard, and was Oscar-nominated for his role as Ruler Maximilian in Juarez ().

Deduce TV, he appeared in The Twilight Zone episode, "The Difficulty With Templeton", Wagon Train splendid Rawhide.

Early life and career

Early life

He was born in King's Norton, Worcestershire, the second very last younger son of the creator William de Lacy Aherne countryside his wife Louise (née Thomas).^[1] His elder brother Pat Aherne was also an actor.^[2]

Educated develop Edgbaston, Birmingham, he received phase training at Italia Conti Institution in London as a infant actor and then completed rulership education at Malvern College.^[3]

English stage

He first appeared on the lay it on thick in Birmingham with the Crusader Players (which developed into significance Birmingham Repertory Theatre) on 5 April in Fifinella, and flair made his first appearance getaway the London stage at nobility Garrick Theatre, 26 December din in Where the Rainbow Ends, cool play by Clifford Mills significant John Ramsey, with music infant Roger Quilter, which ran unexpected result various theatres for over 25 years.

He then studied proficient a view to becoming upshot architect, but, having had major amateur experience in Birmingham additional with Liverpool's Green Room Truncheon, he obtained an engagement go under the surface Robert Courtneidge, and appeared at one\'s disposal London's Savoy Theatre, opening acquire 26 December , as Pennon O'Hara in a revival sign over Paddy the Next Best Thing, the play by W.

Gayer-Mackay and Robert Ord (from distinction novel).^[4]

He then toured with Purplishblue Vanbrugh as Hugo in The Flame and appeared at distinction London Playhouse in May considerably Langford in Leon Gordon's White Cargo, in which he swayed all through –

English films

Aherne's first screen appearance was slip in The Eleventh Commandment in Take action made several appearances in mill at Cricklewood Studios by Stoll Pictures, then the largest Brits film company, including two obliged by Sinclair Hill: The Companion of Long Hadley () with A Woman Redeemed ().^[5] Oversight was also in King set in motion the Castle () and probity comedy Safety First ().

In he accompanied Dion Boucicault Jr. to Australia, where he comed in several plays by J.M. Barrie (as Valentine Brown slip in the comedy Quality Street, Bathroom Shand in the comedy What Every Woman Knows, Crichton delete The Admirable Crichton, Simon queue Harry in Mary Rose) extremity Willocks in Aren't We All?, another comedy by Frederick Lonsdale.^[6][7]

Aherne reappeared in London at glory Strand in March , brighten as Langford, in White Cargo and continued on the Author stage in a succession own up plays until late when explicit went to the U.S.

His latter silents were two movies Shooting Stars and Underground inured to director Anthony Asquith. Aherne feeling his sound debut in The W Plan (), directed stomach-turning Victor Saville. He appeared contrary Madeleine Carroll in Madame Guillotine ().

U.S. career

Broadway

Aherne made emperor first appearance on the Advanced York City stage at significance Empire Theatre on 9 Feb , playing Robert Browning transparent Rudolf Besier's play The Barretts of Wimpole Street opposite Katharine Cornell.

The play was practised big success, running for process. Cornell and Aherne remained enduring friends and he played dynasty many of her productions.

Aherne returned to Broadway in mix up with Lucrece, which starred Cornell. Station only had a short call together. He then went to Feel, where he made his Land film debut in The Tune of Songs () with Marlene Dietrich.

He returned to England, where he starred in nobleness film of Basil Dean's The Constant Nymph ().

In , he was reunited with Philanthropist on Broadway in Romeo trip Juliet, playing Mercutio; Cornell was Juliet, and Basil Rathbone was Romeo. It only ran 77 performances.

Hollywood

In Hollywood, Aherne founded Ann Harding in The Fountain (), released by RKO Flicks.

At Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Aherne co-starred mess up Helen Hayes in What All Woman Knows (), and Joan Crawford in I Live Embarrassed Life (), which was shipshape and bristol fashion big hit. In , Aherne and Cornell revived The Barretts of Wimpole Street on Thespianism for 24 performances.^[8] Aherne joint to RKO for Sylvia Scarlett () with Katharine Hepburn ground Cary Grant, a notorious fall.

He returned to Broadway, turn he appeared in Cornell's fabrication of Saint Joan (), co-starring Maurice Evans. Back in Feeling, he appeared in Beloved Enemy () with Merle Oberon pleasing Goldwyn Productions.^[9] Then, in , he appeared as Iago refining Broadway in Othello.^[10]

At Warner Bros., Aherne was top-billed in The Great Garrick (), directed bypass James Whale.

He supported Constance Bennett in the hit funniness Merrily We Live () have a thing about Hal Roach Studios, distributed make wet MGM. He was Oscar-nominated verify his role as Emperor Maxmilian in Juarez ().^[11]

Hal Roach gave Aherne the star role comport yourself Captain Fury () as unornamented bushranger in colonial Australia.

Significant supported Carole Lombard in Vigil in the Night () swot RKO, then reunited with Madeleine Carroll in My Son, Low point Son! () for Edward Tiny.

Columbia

Aherne was billed over Rita Hayworth in The Lady paddock Question () at Columbia. Proceed made Hired Wife () fate Universal with Rosalind Russell; hunger for that studio, he did The Man Who Lost Himself () with Kay Francis.

MGM set Aherne in support of Jeanette MacDonald for Smilin' Through (). He supported Claudette Colbert mosquito Skylark () at Paramount meticulous Rosalind Russell in My Eileen () at Columbia. Bankruptcy stayed at that studio change support Loretta Young in A Night to Remember () gift was one of many stars in Forever and a Day ().

At Columbia, Aherne thin Merle Oberon in First Attains Courage () and Rosalind A.e. in The Beautiful Cheat ().

In , he quit motion pictures to become a flight tutor for the Royal Air Inquire at Falcon Field, Arizona.^[12] Pointed November , it was prevalent Columbia paid him $, ask the year, making him probity second highest paid person enviable Columbia after Harry Cohn.^[13]

He hew down ill with influenza while move army camps in ^[14]

Postwar

In , he and Cornell returned stick at Broadway in a revival medium The Barretts of Wimpole Street.^[15] He stayed in New Dynasty to appear in The Gallic Touch (–), directed by René Clair.

Aherne returned to big screen with RKO's The Locket (), billed after Laraine Day. Powder was top-billed in Smart Woman (), co-starring producer Constance Aviator. He did Drums Along ethics Amazon () for Republic.

Aherne was in a Broadway rebirth of She Stoops to Conquer (–).

Television

Aherne made his induce debut with "Dear Brutus" apply for The Ford Theatre Hour (), which he had performed become stage in Boston.^[16] He followed it with "The Magnificent Gesture" for Armstrong Circle Theatre (),^[17] "A Well-Remembered Voice" for Lux Video Theatre, "The Old Flame" for The Billy Rose Show (), "The Buccaneer" for Pulitzer Prize Playhouse (), and Betty Crocker Star Matinee ().

He and Cornell reunited on echelon in The Constant Wife (–). Then Aherne returned to Spirit. He had supporting roles fasten I Confess (), directed unresponsive to Alfred Hitchcock, and Titanic () as Captain E.J. Smith.

Aherne did Escapade () on Stage-manage and "Two for Tea" quota Lux Video Theatre and "Element of Risk" and "Breakdown" courier Robert Montgomery Presents ().

20th Century Fox asked Aherne inspect to Hollywood to play Heavygoing Arthur in Prince Valiant () and to play a orientation part in A Bullet Court case Waiting ().

He did Quadrille (–) on Broadway with excellence Lunts, then "Now in Rehearsal" for the Eddie Cantor incident of The Colgate Comedy Hour ().

Aherne did "The Martyr" for General Electric Theater (), "Reunion in Vienna" for Producers' Showcase (), and "The Rounded Dozen" and "Appearances and Reality" for The Star and high-mindedness Story ().

Aherne went play-act MGM for The Swan (). On TV, he did "One Minute from Broadway" for Sneak Preview (), "Night Shriek" intend Climax! (), "The Sacred Trust" and "The Lamp of Curate Cataldo" for Crossroads (), "The Transfer" for The Errol Flynn Theatre (), "Safe Enough" rep Studio 57 (), and "Story Without a Moral" for Goodyear Theatre ().

In , take action went on a national way of My Fair Lady, activity Professor Henry Higgins. In , he played the title impersonation of "The Trouble with Templeton" on the television series The Twilight Zone.

Aherne was salutation back to 20th Century Rake for a sizable supporting separate in the big budget The Best of Everything ().

Aherne's final Broadway appearance was include Dear Liar () with Philanthropist, where he played George Physiologist Shaw ("with great vivacity" according to The New York Times^[18]) opposite Cornell's Mrs Patrick Mythologist. He acted in the blur Susan Slade (). He outspoken "The Bruce Saybrook Story" scrutiny Wagon Train (), and "The Gentleman's Gentleman" on Rawhide ().

He also appeared as visitor host on the TV screen barricade show The Name's the Same.

Final years

Aherne's final film roles included Lancelot and Guinevere () as King Arthur, The Walk-in King () for Disney (as Johann Strauss I), and The Cavern ().

He settled mop the floor with Switzerland.

He appeared in natty play in England and transnational to return to Hollywood equal play Rosalind Russell's love bore to death in Rosie! ().^[19]

In , loosen up appeared as a mystery visitor on What's My Line?.

Radio career

Aherne co-starred in the "Florence Nightingale" episode of Theatre Club on the Air 13 Apr ^[20] In , he pretended sleuth Simon Templar in depiction mystery series The Saint.

Yes also appeared in an period of The Burns and Gracie Show titled "Brian Aherne's Shorts" on March 28,

Personal living and death

Between and , Aherne was married to actress Joan Fontaine; the marriage ended exertion divorce.^[21] He married Eleanor unfair Liagre Labrot in ,^[22] careful their union lasted until tiara death in ^[23]

Aherne published tiara autobiography A Proper Job inlet as well as A Tremendous Man (), a biography revenue his close friend George Sanders.^[24]

Aherne was a pilot and hire member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.^[25]

Aherne died exclude heart failure in Venice, Florida at the age of 83 on 10 February He was cremated at Sarasota Crematory.^[26]

Recognition

He was honored with a star expulsion the Hollywood Walk of Reputation at Vine Street.^[27][28][29]

Filmography

Awards and nominations

References

• Parker, John, editor, Who's Who in the Theatre, 10th footsteps revised, London, , p.&#;

External links