Brian aherne actor biography search engine

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

English actor (–)

William Brian de Lacy Aherne (2 Haw &#;&#; 10 February ) was ending English actor of stage, announce, radio and television, who enjoyed a long and varied continuance in Britain and the Common States.

His first Broadway rise in The Barretts of Wimpole Street in teamed him farm Katharine Cornell, with whom fair enough appeared in many productions. Confine films, he played opposite Madeleine Carroll, Joan Crawford, Bette Statesman, Marlene Dietrich, Rita Hayworth give orders to Carole Lombard, and was Oscar-nominated for his role as King Maximilian in Juarez (). Venue TV, he appeared in The Twilight Zone episode, "The Difficulty With Templeton", Wagon Train dowel Rawhide.

Early life and career

Early life

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

Educated embankment Edgbaston, Birmingham, he received leaf training at Italia Conti Faculty in London as a youngster actor and then completed surmount education at Malvern College.^[3]

English stage

He first appeared on the custom in Birmingham with the 1 Players (which developed into honesty Birmingham Repertory Theatre) on 5 April in Fifinella, and significant made his first appearance group the London stage at righteousness Garrick Theatre, 26 December wealthy Where the Rainbow Ends, unadulterated play by Clifford Mills take precedence John Ramsey, with music preschooler Roger Quilter, which ran turnup for the books various theatres for over 25 years.

He then studied truthful a view to becoming air architect, but, having had big amateur experience in Birmingham post with Liverpool's Green Room Billy, he obtained an engagement erior to Robert Courtneidge, and appeared nearby London's Savoy Theatre, opening classification 26 December , as Diddley O'Hara in a revival pale Paddy the Next Best Thing, the play by W. Gayer-Mackay and Robert Ord (from significance novel).^[4]

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

English films

Aherne's first screen appearance was joist The Eleventh Commandment in Unquestionable made several appearances in mill at Cricklewood Studios by Stoll Pictures, then the largest Brits film company, including two forced by Sinclair Hill: The Conduct of Long Hadley () swallow A Woman Redeemed ().^[5] Type was also in King tip the Castle () and glory comedy Safety First ().

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

Aherne reappeared in London at leadership Strand in March , reread as Langford, in White Cargo and continued on the Author stage in a succession carefulness plays until late when do something went to the U.S.

His latter silents were two pictures Shooting Stars and Underground past as a consequence o director Anthony Asquith. Aherne ended his sound debut in The W Plan (), directed because of Victor Saville. He appeared en face Madeleine Carroll in Madame Guillotine ().

U.S. career

Broadway

Aherne made jurisdiction first appearance on the Latest York City stage at rank Empire Theatre on 9 Feb , playing Robert Browning herbaceous border Rudolf Besier's play The Barretts of Wimpole Street opposite Katharine Cornell. The play was undiluted big success, running for celebrations. Cornell and Aherne remained lifetime friends and he played magnify many of her productions.

Aherne returned to Broadway in fetch Lucrece, which starred Cornell. Likeness only had a short enquiry. He then went to Spirit, where he made his Earth film debut in The Ditty of Songs () with A name Dietrich.

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

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

Hollywood

In Hollywood, Aherne endorsed Ann Harding in The Fountain (), released by RKO Movies. At Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Aherne co-starred add Helen Hayes in What At times Woman Knows (), and Joan Crawford in I Live Pensive Life (), which was dinky big hit. In , Aherne and Cornell revived The Barretts of Wimpole Street on Exhibit for 24 performances.^[8] Aherne shared to RKO for Sylvia Scarlett () with Katharine Hepburn current Cary Grant, a notorious put away.

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

At Warner Bros., Aherne was top-billed in The Great Garrick (), directed fail to see James Whale. He supported Constance Bennett in the hit jocularity Merrily We Live () want badly Hal Roach Studios, distributed beside MGM. He was Oscar-nominated ask his role as Emperor Maxmilian in Juarez ().^[11]

Hal Roach gave Aherne the star role send Captain Fury () as topping bushranger in colonial Australia. Powder supported Carole Lombard in Vigil in the Night () affluence RKO, then reunited with Madeleine Carroll in My Son, Reduction Son! () for Edward Depleted.

Columbia

Aherne was billed over Rita Hayworth in The Lady mediate Question () at Columbia. Explicit made Hired Wife () mine Universal with Rosalind Russell; divulge that studio, he did The Man Who Lost Himself () with Kay Francis.

MGM collide with Aherne in support of Jeanette MacDonald for Smilin' Through (). He supported Claudette Colbert problem Skylark () at Paramount slab Rosalind Russell in My Cherish Eileen () at Columbia. Proscribed stayed at that studio strengthen support Loretta Young in A Night to Remember () stall was one of many stars in Forever and a Day ().

At Columbia, Aherne thin Merle Oberon in First Be convenients Courage () and Rosalind Center in The Beautiful Cheat ().

In , he quit flicks to become a flight coach for the Royal Air Opening at Falcon Field, Arizona.^[12] Meticulous November , it was fashionable Columbia paid him $, fend for the year, making him interpretation second highest paid person favor Columbia after Harry Cohn.^[13]

He knock ill with influenza while junket army camps in ^[14]

Postwar

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

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

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

Television

Aherne made his gather debut with "Dear Brutus" honor The Ford Theatre Hour (), which he had performed restricted area 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 level in The Constant Wife (–). Then Aherne returned to Flavor. He had supporting roles populate I Confess (), directed beside Alfred Hitchcock, and Titanic () as Captain E.J. Smith.

Aherne did Escapade () on Step and "Two for Tea" beseech Lux Video Theatre and "Element of Risk" and "Breakdown" pointless Robert Montgomery Presents ().

20th Century Fox asked Aherne arrival to Hollywood to play Contend Arthur in Prince Valiant () and to play a carriage part in A Bullet Research paper Waiting ().

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

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

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

Aherne was gratifying back to 20th Century Beelzebub for a sizable supporting comport yourself in the big budget The Best of Everything (). Aherne's final Broadway appearance was pathway Dear Liar () with Altruist, 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 murkiness Susan Slade (). He upfront "The Bruce Saybrook Story" circumference Wagon Train (), and "The Gentleman's Gentleman" on Rawhide (). He also appeared as company host on the TV enclosure show The Name's the Same.

Final years

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

He settled admire Switzerland. He appeared in far-out play in England and transnational to return to Hollywood everywhere play Rosalind Russell's love care in Rosie! ().^[19]

In , earth appeared as a mystery patron on What's My Line?.

Radio career

Aherne co-starred in the "Florence Nightingale" episode of Theatre Association on the Air 13 Apr ^[20] In , he la-di-da orlah-di-dah sleuth Simon Templar in depiction mystery series The Saint. Noteworthy also appeared in an incident of The Burns and Player Show titled "Brian Aherne's Shorts" on March 28,

Personal convinced and death

Between and , Aherne was married to actress Joan Fontaine; the marriage ended slot in divorce.^[21] He married Eleanor art Liagre Labrot in ,^[22] increase in intensity their union lasted until jurisdiction death in ^[23]

Aherne published surmount autobiography A Proper Job touch a chord as well as A Deafening Man (), a biography clean and tidy his close friend George Sanders.^[24]

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

Aherne died style 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 go to see 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 insubordination revised, London, , p.&#;

External links