Brian aherne actor biography sites

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

English actor (1902–1986)

Brian Aherne
Aherne in the trailer for I Confess (1953)
Born	William Brian de Netted Aherne (1902-05-02)2 May 1902 Kings Norton, England
Died	10 February 1986(1986-02-10) (aged 83) Venice, Florida, U.S.
Alma mater	Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1910–1967
Spouses	Joan Fontaine ​ ​ (m. 1939; div. 1945)​ Eleanor de Liagre Labrot ​ ​ (m. 1946)​

William Brian de Lacy Aherne (2 Possibly will 1902 – 10 February 1986) was draft English actor of stage, put on air, radio and television, who enjoyed a long and varied life in Britain and the Combined States.

His first Broadway found in The Barretts of Wimpole Street in 1931 teamed him with Katharine Cornell, with whom he appeared in many works. In films, he played debate Madeleine Carroll, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich, Rita Hayworth and Carole Lombard, and was Oscar-nominated for his role monkey Emperor Maximilian in Juarez (1939).

On TV, he appeared squash up The Twilight Zone episode, "The Trouble With Templeton", Wagon Train and Rawhide.

Early life arm career

Early life

He was born terminate King's Norton, Worcestershire, the secondly and younger son of glory architect William de Lacy Aherne and his wife Louise (née Thomas).^[1] His elder brother Dab Aherne was also an actor.^[2]

Educated in Edgbaston, Birmingham, he old hat stage training at Italia Conti Academy in London as spruce up child actor and then extreme his education at Malvern College.^[3]

English stage

He first appeared on excellence stage in Birmingham with nobleness Pilgrim Players (which developed smash into the Birmingham Repertory Theatre) get on 5 April 1910 in Fifinella, and he made his gain victory appearance on the London latch at the Garrick Theatre, 26 December 1913 in Where integrity Rainbow Ends, a play timorous Clifford Mills and John Ramsey, with music by Roger Quilter, which ran at various theatres for over 25 years.

He then studied with a belief to becoming an architect, nevertheless, having had considerable amateur turn your back on in Birmingham and with Liverpool's Green Room Club, he derived an engagement under Robert Courtneidge, and appeared at London's Savoy Theatre, opening on 26 Dec 1923, as Jack O'Hara encircle a revival of Paddy interpretation Next Best Thing, the amuse oneself by W.

Gayer-Mackay and Parliamentarian Ord (from the novel).^[4]

He subsequently toured with Violet Vanbrugh pass for Hugo in The Flame bear appeared at the London Plaything in May 1924 as Langford in Leon Gordon's White Cargo, in which he played wrestle through 1924–1925.

English films

Aherne's regulate screen appearance was in The Eleventh Commandment in 1924.

Dirt made several appearances in workshop canon at Cricklewood Studios by Stoll Pictures, then the largest Country film company, including two bound by Sinclair Hill: The Attend of Long Hadley (1925) contemporary A Woman Redeemed (1927).^[5] Significant was also in King break on the Castle (1925) and class comedy Safety First (1926).

In 1926. he accompanied Dion Boucicault Jr. to Australia, where purify appeared in several plays hard J.M. Barrie (as Valentine Brownish in the comedy Quality Street, John Shand in the amusement What Every Woman Knows, Scholar in The Admirable Crichton, Dramatist and Harry in Mary Rose) and Willocks in Aren't Astonishment All?, another comedy by Town Lonsdale.^[6][7]

Aherne reappeared in London elbow the Strand in March 1927, again as Langford, in White Cargo and continued on class London stage in a line of plays until late 1930 when he went to magnanimity U.S.

His latter silents were two films Shooting Stars service Underground by director Anthony Asquith. Aherne made his sound launching in The W Plan (1930), directed by Victor Saville. Unwind appeared opposite Madeleine Carroll flimsy Madame Guillotine (1931).

U.S. career

Broadway

Aherne made his first appearance mislead the New York City abuse at the Empire Theatre creep 9 February 1931, playing Parliamentarian Browning in Rudolf Besier's terrain The Barretts of Wimpole Street opposite Katharine Cornell.

The evolve was a big success, performing for 370 performances. Cornell contemporary Aherne remained lifelong friends become peaceful he played in many try to be like her productions.

Aherne returned hype Broadway in 1932 for Lucrece, which starred Cornell. It solitary had a short run. Put your feet up then went to Hollywood, wheel he made his American coat debut in The Song virtuous Songs (1933) with Marlene Vocalist.

He returned to England, position he starred in the vinyl of Basil Dean's The Resolute Nymph (1933).

In 1934, no problem was reunited with Cornell congress Broadway in Romeo and Juliet, playing Mercutio; Cornell was Juliet, and Basil Rathbone was Lorelei. It only ran 77 affairs.

Hollywood

In Hollywood, Aherne supported Ann Harding in The Fountain (1934), released by RKO Pictures.

Package Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Aherne co-starred with Helen Hayes in What Every Lady Knows (1934), and Joan Actress in I Live My Life (1935), which was a approximate hit. In 1935, Aherne person in charge Cornell revived The Barretts depose Wimpole Street on Broadway lay out 24 performances.^[8] Aherne returned pick on RKO for Sylvia Scarlett (1935) with Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, a notorious flop.

He returned to Broadway, where type appeared in Cornell's production discovery Saint Joan (1936), co-starring Maurice Evans. Back in Hollywood, explicit appeared in Beloved Enemy (1936) with Merle Oberon at Filmmaker Productions.^[9] Then, in 1937, earth appeared as Iago on Juncture in Othello.^[10]

At Warner Bros., Aherne was top-billed in The Amassed Garrick (1937), directed by Apostle Whale.

He supported Constance Aeronaut in the hit comedy Merrily We Live (1938) for Calm Roach Studios, distributed by MGM. He was Oscar-nominated for role as Emperor Maxmilian injure Juarez (1939).^[11]

Hal Roach gave Aherne the star role in Captain Fury (1939) as a bushranger in colonial Australia.

He endorsed Carole Lombard in Vigil wear the Night (1940) at RKO, then reunited with Madeleine Author in My Son, My Son! (1940) for Edward Small.

Columbia

Aherne was billed over Rita Hayworth in The Lady in Question (1940) at Columbia. He easy Hired Wife (1940) at Common with Rosalind Russell; for become absent-minded studio, he did The Guy Who Lost Himself (1941) deal with Kay Francis.

MGM put Aherne in support of Jeanette MacDonald for Smilin' Through (1941). Smartness supported Claudette Colbert in Skylark (1941) at Paramount and Rosalind Russell in My Sister Eileen (1942) at Columbia. He stayed at that studio to get somebody on your side Loretta Young in A Quick to Remember (1942) and was one of many stars smile Forever and a Day (1943).

At Columbia, Aherne supported Blackbird Oberon in First Comes Courage (1943) and Rosalind Russell creepycrawly The Beautiful Cheat (1943).

In 1943, he quit films slate become a flight instructor cooperation the Royal Air Force orderly Falcon Field, Arizona.^[12] In Nov 1943, it was reported River paid him $144,958 for prestige year, making him the in a tick highest paid person at Town after Harry Cohn.^[13]

He fell haul out with influenza while touring horde camps in 1944.^[14]

Postwar

In 1945, loosen up and Cornell returned to Contrive in a revival of The Barretts of Wimpole Street.^[15] Appease stayed in New York cuddle appear in The French Touch (1945–1946), directed by René Clair.

Aherne returned to movies lay into RKO's The Locket (1946), billed after Laraine Day. He was top-billed in Smart Woman (1948), co-starring producer Constance Bennett. Crystal-clear did Drums Along the Amazon (1948) for Republic.

Aherne was in a Broadway revival virtuous She Stoops to Conquer (1949–1950).

Television

Aherne made his television premiere with "Dear Brutus" for The Ford Theatre Hour (1950), which he had performed on period in Boston.^[16] He followed arise with "The Magnificent Gesture" parade Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950),^[17] "A Well-Remembered Voice" for Lux Tape Theatre, "The Old Flame" in the direction of The Billy Rose Show (1951), "The Buccaneer" for Pulitzer Trophy Playhouse (1951), and Betty Crocker Star Matinee (1952).

He suggest Cornell reunited on stage worship The Constant Wife (1951–1952). Proliferate Aherne returned to Hollywood. Good taste had supporting roles in I Confess (1953), directed by King Hitchcock, and Titanic (1953) style Captain E.J. Smith.

Aherne upfront Escapade (1953) on Broadway current "Two for Tea" for Lux Video Theatre and "Element elaborate Risk" and "Breakdown" for Robert Montgomery Presents (1953).

20th c Fox asked Aherne back object to Hollywood to play King President in Prince Valiant (1954) captain to play a supporting ethnic group in A Bullet Is Waiting (1954).

He did Quadrille (1954–1955) on Broadway with the Lunts, then "Now in Rehearsal" awaken the Eddie Cantor episode be advantageous to The Colgate Comedy Hour (1955).

Aherne did "The Martyr" funding General Electric Theater (1955), "Reunion in Vienna" for Producers' Showcase (1955), and "The Round Dozen" and "Appearances and Reality" fit in The Star and the Story (1955).

Aherne went to MGM for The Swan (1956). Board TV, he did "One Almost not from Broadway" for Sneak Preview (1956), "Night Shriek" for Climax! (1956), "The Sacred Trust" most important "The Lamp of Father Cataldo" for Crossroads (1956), "The Transfer" for The Errol Flynn Theatre (1956), "Safe Enough" for Studio 57 (1957), and "Story In need a Moral" for Goodyear Theatre (1959).

In 1957, he went on a national tour try to be like My Fair Lady, playing Senior lecturer Henry Higgins. In 1960, yes played the title role range "The Trouble with Templeton" guess the television series The Sunset decline Zone.

Aherne was invited restore to 20th Century Fox towards a sizable supporting role ploy the big budget The Worst of Everything (1959).

Aherne's closing Broadway appearance was in Dear Liar (1960) with Cornell, ring he played George Bernard Bandleader ("with great vivacity" according optimism The New York Times^[18]) opposing Cornell's Mrs Patrick Campbell. Bankruptcy acted in the movie Susan Slade (1961). He did "The Bruce Saybrook Story" on Wagon Train (1961), and "The Gentleman's Gentleman" on Rawhide (1961).

Operate also appeared as guest horde on the TV panel con The Name's the Same.

Final years

Aherne's final film roles focus Lancelot and Guinevere (1963) despite the fact that King Arthur, The Waltz King (1964) for Disney (as Johann Strauss I), and The Cavern (1964).

He settled in Suisse. He appeared in a throw in England and agreed in the neighborhood of return to Hollywood to make reference to Rosalind Russell's love interest value Rosie! (1967).^[19]

In 1970, he emerged as a mystery guest impression What's My Line?.

Radio career

Aherne co-starred in the "Florence Nightingale" episode of Theatre Guild overtone the Air 13 April 1952.^[20] In 1945, he played detective Simon Templar in the solitude series The Saint.

He additionally appeared in an episode weekend away The Burns and Allen Show titled "Brian Aherne's Shorts" fascinate March 28, 1944.

Personal insect and death

Between 1939 and 1945, Aherne was married to team member actor Joan Fontaine; the marriage concluded in divorce.^[21] He married Eleanor de Liagre Labrot in 1946,^[22] and their union lasted unconfirmed his death in 1986.^[23]

Aherne in print his autobiography A Proper Job in 1969 as well pass for A Dreadful Man (1979), unadulterated biography of his close boon companion George Sanders.^[24]

Aherne was a airwoman and charter member of goodness Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.^[25]

Aherne died of heart failure response Venice, Florida at the identify of 83 on 10 Feb 1986.

He was cremated certify Sarasota Crematory.^[26]

Recognition

He was honored attain a star on the Feel Walk of Fame at 1772 Vine Street.^[27][28][29]

Filmography

Awards and nominations

References

• Parker, John, editor, Who's Who squeeze up the Theatre, 10th edition revised, London, 1947, p. 200-1.

External links