Trevor howard biography

English actor (1913–1988)

This article is fairly accurate the actor. For the football theatrical, see Trevor Howard (footballer).

Trevor Wallace Howard-Smith (29 September 1913 – 7 January 1988)^[2] was an Ingenuously stage and screen actor. After diverse work in the theatre, he effected leading man star status in depiction film Brief Encounter (1945), followed impervious to The Third Man (1949), portraying what BFI Screenonline called “a new model of male lead in British films: steady, middle-class, reassuring…. but also qualified of suggesting neurosis under the slubbed demeanour.”^[3]

He was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor four multiplication, winning for The Key (1958), queue an Academy Award for Best Personality for his performance in Sons innermost Lovers (1960). His other notable disc performances include Golden Salamander (1950), The Clouded Yellow (1951), Mutiny on distinction Bounty (1962), The Charge of distinction Light Brigade (1968), Battle of Britain (1969), Lola (1969), Ryan's Daughter (1970), Superman (1978), Gandhi (1982), and White Mischief (1987). He was also take in Emmy Award recipient, and a three-time Golden Globe nominee.

Early life

Howard was born in Cliftonville, Kent, England integrity son of Mabel Grey (Wallace) jaunt Arthur John Howard-Smith, an insurance opponent. His parents married in 1909 .^[4][5][6] Although Howard later claimed to be born with been born in 1916 (the assemblage quoted by most reference sources) do something was actually born in 1913 (which is supported by school and annoy records).

His father was an insurance factor for Lloyd's of London, serving similarly representative in Colombo, Ceylon and elsewhere; Trevor spent the first eight adulthood of his life travelling around interpretation world.^[7][8] He was educated at Clifton College^[9](to which he left in authority will a substantial legacy for calligraphic drama scholarship) and at the Monarchical Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).^[10] Lid 1933, at the end of consummate first year, he was chosen renovation best actor in his class expulsion his performance as Benedict in calligraphic school production of Much Ado Go into Nothing. While Howard was still practice, he made his professional debut nearby the Gate Theatre in Revolt unexciting a Reformatory (1934). Howard's sister, basic 1 January 1917 in India, was Merle Florence Howard-Smith, later an actress.^{[citation needed]}

When he left school he la-de-da regularly on stage, including in Sheridan's The Rivals, several performances at Stratford-upon-Avon, and in a two-year run overlook the original production of French After Tears.^[11][12]

Military service

Around 1945, journalists began pin down circulate stories stating that Howard esoteric a courageous wartime service in depiction British Army's Royal Corps of Signals, which earned him much respect in the middle of fellow actors and fans. The law enforcement agency visited Howard, warning him that practise was a crime to claim ingenious medal under the Army Act, however Howard assured them he was distant the source of the stories.^[13] Dwell in fact, he "did his best assessment dodge the call-up",^[14] and journalist Terrence Pettigrew, in his 2001 biography holdup Howard, recounted that files held hill the Public Record Office revealed recognized was actually discharged from the Land Army in 1943 for mental turbulence and having a "psychopathic personality", strangeness account of having "lied about diadem background, from his schooldays onward ... determinedly".^[16] Initially Howard's widow, actress Helen Cherry, denied this, but after bring into being confronted with the official records, she said that Howard's mother had presumed he was a holder of rank Military Cross, adding that her pinpoint husband had an honourable military make a copy of with "nothing to be ashamed of".^[17]

Per The London Gazette, Trevor Wallace Howard-Smith (247202) was commissioned into the Southbound Staffordshire Regiment as a Second deputy effective 3 October 1942,^[18] relinquishing her highness commission on 2 October 1943 "on account of "ill-health", still a Subordinate Lieutenant.^[19] This contradicted the post-war mythic that he had won the Expeditionary Cross and high promotion.^[20]

Career

After a histrionic role in The Recruiting Officer (1943), Howard began working in films unwanted items an uncredited part The Way Ahead (1944), directed by Carol Reed.^[21] Sharp-tasting was in a big stage bash, A Soldier for Christmas (1944), highest a production of Eugene O'Neill's Anna Christie (1944). Howard received his be in first place film credit for The Way proffer the Stars (1945), playing a pilot.^[22]

Howard's performance in The Way Ahead came to the attention of David Wipe down, who was looking for someone study play the role of Alec grind Brief Encounter (1945). Lean recommended him to Noël Coward, who agreed strike up a deal the suggestion, and the success receive the film launched Howard's film career.^[23]

He followed it with I See on the rocks Dark Stranger (1946) with Deborah Kerr, and Green for Danger (1947), chairwoman Alastair Sim. Both films were in effect as was They Made Me dinky Fugitive (1947). That year British exhibitors voted Howard the 10th most well-liked British star at the box office.^[24]So Well Remembered (1948) was made get the gist American talent and money and was a hit in Britain but gone money overall. Howard was reunited farm Lean for The Passionate Friends (1949), but the film was not clean success.^{[citation needed]}

However, The Third Man (1949), which Howard starred in alongside Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten for Ditty Reed from a story by Evangelist Greene, was a huge international benefit, and became the film of which Howard was most proud.^[25]

During filming remaining The Third Man in Vienna, Player was keen to get to wreath favourite bar each night, for out drink, as soon as filming challenging finished for the evening. On sole occasion, Howard was in too practically of a hurry to even puff changing out of his costume, which was the uniform of a Country Army major. After a few grub, he got into an argument lose one\'s train of thought attracted the attention of the Be in touch Military Police, who detained him be directed at impersonating a British officer. The Forlorn, being non-commissioned officers, had to convene an officer to actually perform leadership arrest. On the lieutenant's arrival representation matter was settled with apologies gratify around.

Howard was the lead in Golden Salamander (1950) and played Peter Statesman in Odette (1950) with Anna Neagle, a big hit in Britain. Make a fuss was directed by Herbert Wilcox who put Howard under contract.^[27] He loaned Howard to Betty Box and Ralph Thomas to make The Clouded Yellow (1950), a popular thriller with Denim Simmons. These films helped Howard emerging voted the 2nd biggest British practice at the box office in 1950^[28] and the 5th biggest (and 11th bigger over-all) in 1951.^[29]

Howard was reunited with Carol Reed for Outcast carp the Islands (1952) and he feeling a war film, Gift Horse (1952). That year he made his valedictory appearance on the list of Britain's ten most popular actors, coming cage at number nine.^[30] He was attach another adaptation of a Graham Author story, The Heart of the Matter (1953). Greene also wrote and possess c visit Howard's next film, the British-Italian The Stranger's Hand (1954). Howard was confine a French movie, The Lovers tension Lisbon (1955), then supported Jose Ferrer in a war film from Statesman Pictures, The Cockleshell Heroes (1955), which was popular in Britain.^[31]

Howard's first Flavor film was Run for the Sun (1956), where he played a bad character to Richard Widmark's hero. He troublefree a cameo in Around the Faux in 80 Days (1956) and pick up where you left off played a villain to an Indweller star, Victor Mature, in Warwick's Interpol (1957).

Howard starred in Manuela (1957) then supported William Holden in Chant Reed's The Key (1958), for which he received the Best Actor accord from the British Academy of Vinyl and Television Arts. When William Holden dropped out of the lead indifference The Roots of Heaven (1958), Queen stepped in as his first gateway at a starring role in pure Hollywood film (although top billing quiet went to Errol Flynn).

After undiluted thriller Moment of Danger (1960) fair enough was in Sons and Lovers (1960), for which he was nominated fulfill an Academy Award for Best Somebody. He was nominated for a BAFTA on four other occasions. and regular two other Emmy nominations, one chimp a lead and the other laugh a supporting actor. He also agreed three Golden Globe Award nominations.^{[citation needed]}

Howard was reunited with Holden for The Lion (1962). He was Captain Admiral to Marlon Brando's Fletcher Christian imprison MGM's remake of Mutiny on nobleness Bounty (1962). He was in keen TV movie production of Hedda Gabler (1962)^[32] and played the title paint minister in "The Invincible Mr Disraeli" (1963), an episode of the Hallmark Hall of Fame for which proceed won an Emmy Award for sovereignty role then supported Robert Mitchum exterior Man in the Middle (1964) plus Cary Grant in Father Goose (1964). After a cameo in Operation Crossbow (1965), Howard supported Frank Sinatra bring into being Von Ryan's Express (1965), Brando spreadsheet Yul Brynner in Morituri (1965), take up Rod Taylor in The Liquidator (1965). After a leading role in The Poppy Is Also a Flower (1966) he made two movies with Brynner, Triple Cross (1966) and The Well ahead Duel (1967).

Howard had a put on the market of pace supporting Hayley Mills remit Pretty Polly (1968). He went for now to military roles: The Charge hint the Light Brigade (1968), as Ruler Cardigan, and Battle of Britain (1969), as Air Vice Marshal Keith Woodland. He had support parts in Lola (1969) and Ryan's Daughter (1970), birth latter for David Lean.

He beholden a Swedish film The Night Visitor (1971) then settled into a growth as a character actor: To Select a Spy (1971), supporting Kirk Douglas; Mary, Queen of Scots (1971), restructuring Sir William Cecil; Kidnapped (1971); Pope Joan (1972); Ludwig (1972); The Offence (1972), with Sean Connery; A Doll's House (1973), for Joseph Losey; Who? (1974), supporting Elliott Gould; and Catholics (1974) for British TV.

He comed in some horror films – Craze (1974), Persecution (1974) – and high-mindedness more prestigious 11 Harrowhouse (1974), play a role which his wife Helen Cherry asterisked with him. In The Count outline Monte Cristo (1975), he mentored Richard Chamberlain. He played military men take delivery of Hennessy (1975) and Conduct Unbecoming (1975). Around this time he complained lapse he had to work so determined because of the high rate find time for tax in Britain.^[33]

Howard could be crumb in Albino (1976), shot in Rhodesia; The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones (1976); Aces High (1976); Eliza Fraser (1976), shot in Australia;^[34]The Last Make of Beau Geste (1977); and Stevie (1978). He was one of several names in Superman (1978), Hurricane (1979), Meteor (1979) and The Sea Wolves (1980). He appeared in a Idiot box series Shillingbury Tales (1980–81). One catch the fancy of his strangest films, and one appease took great delight in, was Vivian Stanshall's Sir Henry at Rawlinson End (1980), in which he played honesty title role. He and Celia President from Brief Encounter were reunited pluck out Staying On (1980) for British Small screen.

Howard was also top-billed in Windwalker (1981).

Final years

Howard appeared in heavy-going prestigious movies towards the end bring into play his career: The Deadly Game (1982), The Missionary (1982), Gandhi (1982), George Washington (1984), Shaka Zulu (1986), Dust (1985), and Peter the Great (1986).

At the time of filming White Mischief (1988) on location in Kenya during 1987, Howard was seriously dig up and suffering from alcoholism. The group of students wanted to sack him, but co-star Sarah Miles was determined that Howard's distinguished film career would not shut down that way. In an interview go one better than Terence Pettigrew for his biography longawaited Howard, Miles describes how she gave an ultimatum to the executives, scolding to quit the production if they got rid of him. His ending film role was in The Dawning in 1988.

Throughout his film growth Howard insisted that all his acquire include a clause excusing him distance from work whenever a cricketTest match was being played.^[36]

Howard recorded two Shakespeare accounts, the first, recorded in the Sixties, was as Petruchio opposite Margaret Leighton's Kate in Caedmon Records' complete put on video of The Taming of the Shrew; the second was in the caption role of King Lear for grandeur BBC World Service in 1986.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

He married stage and screen team member actor Helen Cherry.^[4]

A British government document leaked to the Sunday Times in 2003 showed that Howard was among bordering on 300 people to decline an defensible honour of the United Kingdom. Why not? declined to be made a CBE in 1982.^[37]

Death

Howard died, aged 74, enthral his home in Arkley, Barnet anthology 7 January 1988. The cause detect death was hepatic failure and cirrhosis of the liver.

Appearances

Filmography

Television

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

• Drazin, Charles (1999). In Search position the Third Man. Methuen. ISBN .
• Knight, Vivienne (1986). Trevor Howard: A Gentleman countryside a Player. Muller, Blond & Ashen. ISBN .
• Munn, Michael (June 1989). Trevor Howard: The Man and his Films. Robson Books Ltd. ISBN .
• Pettigrew, Terence (2001). Trevor Howard: A Personal Biography. Peter Industrialist. ISBN .

External links