Cedric Hardwicke

Sir Cedric Webster Hardwicke ( born February 19, 1893 in Lye, Worcestershire, England; † August 6, 1964 in New York City, New York, United States) was a British film and stage actor, film director and film producer. For decades, he played in Hollywood in many films profiled major and minor roles.

Life

Cedric Hardwicke visited against the will of his father, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and graduated in 1912 made ​​his stage debut. A year later, in 1913, he stood for the first time on camera. In World War I he fought on the side of the British, however, was from 1922 again in Birmingham on stage. His friendship with the writer George Bernard Shaw paved Hardwicke the way to London. In 1934 he was defeated by King George V knighted and thus elevated to the status of a sir. This was at that time only a few actors.

1936 emigrated Hardwicke to the USA, where he was first successes on Broadway. At the same time he was in numerous films and television series in part before the camera. Often portrayed as villains Hardwicke in the literary adaptation The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but also thoughtful and gütmütige characters who were acting often challenging. Perhaps his most famous roles he played in the Hitchcock films Suspicion ( 1941) and Rope (1948 ). Later he acted as an old pharaoh in the epic film The Ten Commandments.

Cedric Hardwicke was married twice. His 1928 marriage in the actress Helena Pickard took 20 years. 1932, the couple got a son, Edward Hardwicke ( 1932-2011 ), who had also worked as an actor. After divorcing Pickard married Hardwicke 1950, also acting as actress Mary Scott. After eleven years of marriage was 1961, the divorce.

Recently the actor was suffering from severe pneumonia, where he died in 1964 at the age of 71 years. For his successful career Cedric Hardwicke was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Its created in collaboration with James Brough 1961 autobiography is titled A Victorian in Orbit. The irreverent memoirs of Sir Cedric Hardwicke.

Filmography (selection)

Work

• Cedric Hardwicke, James Brough: A Victorian in Orbit. The irreverent memoirs of Sir Cedric Hardwicke, as told to James Brough. Methuen & Co., London 1961.