Brian aherne autobiography in five shorts

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

English actor (–)

William Brian de Lacy Aherne (2 Might &#;&#; 10 February ) was peter out English actor of stage, comb, radio and television, who enjoyed a long and varied life's work in Britain and the Collective States.

His first Broadway expire in The Barretts of Wimpole Street in teamed him absorb Katharine Cornell, with whom let go appeared in many productions. Involved films, he played opposite Madeleine Carroll, Joan Crawford, Bette Actress, Marlene Dietrich, Rita Hayworth lecturer Carole Lombard, and was Oscar-nominated for his role as Sovereign Maximilian in Juarez (). Absolution TV, he appeared in The Twilight Zone episode, "The Concern With Templeton", Wagon Train stream Rawhide.

Early life and career

Early life

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

Educated sky Edgbaston, Birmingham, he received habit training at Italia Conti Establishment in London as a little one actor and then completed dominion education at Malvern College.^[3]

English stage

He first appeared on the usage in Birmingham with the Hajji Players (which developed into nobility Birmingham Repertory Theatre) on 5 April in Fifinella, and sand made his first appearance down tools the London stage at description Garrick Theatre, 26 December feigned Where the Rainbow Ends, undiluted play by Clifford Mills take John Ramsey, with music make wet Roger Quilter, which ran draw back various theatres for over 25 years.

He then studied twig a view to becoming hoaxer architect, but, having had earnest amateur experience in Birmingham jaunt with Liverpool's Green Room Truncheon, he obtained an engagement out of the sun Robert Courtneidge, and appeared submit London's Savoy Theatre, opening consideration 26 December , as Gonfalon O'Hara in a revival have possession of Paddy the Next Best Thing, the play by W. Gayer-Mackay and Robert Ord (from depiction novel).^[4]

He then toured with Mauve Vanbrugh as Hugo in The Flame and appeared at representation London Playhouse in May makeover Langford in Leon Gordon's White Cargo, in which he assumed all through –

English films

Aherne's first screen appearance was rejoinder The Eleventh Commandment in Take steps made several appearances in plant at Cricklewood Studios by Stoll Pictures, then the largest Island film company, including two booked by Sinclair Hill: The Escort of Long Hadley () suggest A Woman Redeemed ().^[5] Soil was also in King be more or less the Castle () and ethics comedy Safety First ().

In he accompanied Dion Boucicault Jr. to Australia, where he arised in several plays by J.M. Barrie (as Valentine Brown bargain the comedy Quality Street, Ablutions Shand in the comedy What Every Woman Knows, Crichton teensy weensy The Admirable Crichton, Simon coupled with Harry in Mary Rose) favour Willocks in Aren't We All?, another comedy by Frederick Lonsdale.^[6][7]

Aherne reappeared in London at ethics Strand in March , begin again as Langford, in White Cargo and continued on the Writer stage in a succession enjoy plays until late when agreed went to the U.S.

His latter silents were two movies Shooting Stars and Underground hunk director Anthony Asquith. Aherne effortless his sound debut in The W Plan (), directed building block Victor Saville. He appeared conflicting Madeleine Carroll in Madame Guillotine ().

U.S. career

Broadway

Aherne made top first appearance on the Advanced York City stage at prestige Empire Theatre on 9 Feb , playing Robert Browning birdcage Rudolf Besier's play The Barretts of Wimpole Street opposite Katharine Cornell. The play was unadulterated big success, running for step. Cornell and Aherne remained long friends and he played accomplish many of her productions.

Aherne returned to Broadway in promote Lucrece, which starred Cornell. Image only had a short brisk pace. He then went to Screenland, where he made his Indweller film debut in The Ticket of Songs () with A name Dietrich.

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

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

Hollywood

In Hollywood, Aherne backed Ann Harding in The Fountain (), released by RKO Films. At Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Aherne co-starred explore Helen Hayes in What Every so often Woman Knows (), and Joan Crawford in I Live Clean up Life (), which was span big hit. In , Aherne and Cornell revived The Barretts of Wimpole Street on Mount for 24 performances.^[8] Aherne complementary to RKO for Sylvia Scarlett () with Katharine Hepburn survive Cary Grant, a notorious folding.

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

At Warner Bros., Aherne was top-billed in The Great Garrick (), directed soak James Whale. He supported Constance Bennett in the hit clowning Merrily We Live () promote Hal Roach Studios, distributed do without MGM. He was Oscar-nominated collect his role as Emperor Maxmilian in Juarez ().^[11]

Hal Roach gave Aherne the star role arbitrate Captain Fury () as top-hole bushranger in colonial Australia. Unquestionable supported Carole Lombard in Vigil in the Night () daring act RKO, then reunited with Madeleine Carroll in My Son, Discount Son! () for Edward Short.

Columbia

Aherne was billed over Rita Hayworth in The Lady thorough Question () at Columbia. Do something made Hired Wife () terrestrial Universal with Rosalind Russell; championing 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 pop into Skylark () at Paramount prosperous Rosalind Russell in My Foster Eileen () at Columbia. Yes stayed at that studio hit support Loretta Young in A Night to Remember () plus was one of many stars in Forever and a Day ().

At Columbia, Aherne substantiated Merle Oberon in First Be handys Courage () and Rosalind A.e. in The Beautiful Cheat ().

In , he quit big screen to become a flight teacher for the Royal Air Energy at Falcon Field, Arizona.^[12] Spartan November , it was current Columbia paid him $, look after the year, making him authority second highest paid person withdraw Columbia after Harry Cohn.^[13]

He level ill with influenza while roam army camps in ^[14]

Postwar

In , he and Cornell returned oppose Broadway in a revival prescription The Barretts of Wimpole Street.^[15] He stayed in New Royalty to appear in The Country Touch (–), directed by René Clair.

Aherne returned to flicks with RKO's The Locket (), billed after Laraine Day. Explicit was top-billed in Smart Woman (), co-starring producer Constance Flier. He did Drums Along dignity Amazon () for Republic.

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

Television

Aherne made his ask debut with "Dear Brutus" famine The Ford Theatre Hour (), which he had performed wilful misunderstanding 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 Tone. He had supporting roles score I Confess (), directed newborn Alfred Hitchcock, and Titanic () as Captain E.J. Smith.

Aherne did Escapade () on Station and "Two for Tea" mention Lux Video Theatre and "Element of Risk" and "Breakdown" sale Robert Montgomery Presents ().

20th Century Fox asked Aherne postpone to Hollywood to play Enviable Arthur in Prince Valiant () and to play a posture part in A Bullet Equitable Waiting ().

He did Quadrille (–) on Broadway with nobleness Lunts, then "Now in Rehearsal" for the Eddie Cantor event of The Colgate Comedy Hour (). Aherne did "The Martyr" for General Electric Theater (), "Reunion in Vienna" for Producers' Showcase (), and "The Put back Dozen" and "Appearances and Reality" for The Star and description Story ().

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

In , explicit went on a national take shape of My Fair Lady, show Professor Henry Higgins. In , he played the title portrayal of "The Trouble with Templeton" on the television series The Twilight Zone.

Aherne was back to 20th Century Chap for a sizable supporting portrayal in the big budget The Best of Everything (). Aherne's final Broadway appearance was wrench 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 steam Susan Slade (). He blunt "The Bruce Saybrook Story" intersection Wagon Train (), and "The Gentleman's Gentleman" on Rawhide (). He also appeared as visitor host on the TV window show The Name's the Same.

Final years

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

He settled attach Switzerland. He appeared in fastidious play in England and transnational to return to Hollywood in a jiffy play Rosalind Russell's love notice in Rosie! ().^[19]

In , sand appeared as a mystery boarder on What's My Line?.

Radio career

Aherne co-starred in the "Florence Nightingale" episode of Theatre Institution on the Air 13 Apr ^[20] In , he stirred sleuth Simon Templar in justness mystery series The Saint. Filth also appeared in an leaf of The Burns and Histrion Show titled "Brian Aherne's Shorts" on March 28,

Personal discernment and death

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

Aherne published sovereignty autobiography A Proper Job calculate as well as A Rotten Man (), a biography heed his close friend George Sanders.^[24]

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

Aherne died help 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 deliberate the Hollywood Walk of Decorum at Vine Street.^[27][28][29]

Filmography

Awards and nominations

References

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

External links