He was a Tony Award recipient and a four-time Academy Award nominee for Best Supporting Actor. Sahaana Harishankar. In 2010, many of Rains' personal effects were put into an auction at Heritage Auctions, including his 1951 Tony award, rare posters, letters and photographs. Rains began acting at the age of 11 and worked at various backstage jobs before making his adult stage debut in 1911. Growing up in the world of theater, he saw not only acting up close but the down-to-earth business end as well, progressing from a page boy to a stage manager during his well-rounded learning experience. Many years after Rains had gone to Hollywood and become a well-known film actor, John Gielgud commented, tongue-in-cheek, "There was somebody who taught me a very great deal at drama school, and I am certainly grateful to him for his kindness and consideration. Rains was almost blind in one eye because of an injury received in a gas attack during World War I. ; Fact-checked by. Updates? Talented, suave, and distinguished, the great Claude Rains was born 122 years ago, on November 10, 1889. A number of clips from many of her most successful films were shown and I was particularly delighted, when, as soon as Claude Rains appeared in the close-up of one of the clips, the whole audience burst into a great wave of applause. William Claude Rains was an English American film actor whose acting career spanned several decades. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. From the movie: The Invisible Man. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. He toured the United States in The Constant Nymph in 1926 and soon made a name for himself on Broadway. Thanks for your help! Back in Britain, he appeared in David Lean's The Passionate Friends (1949). He appeared in the sci-fi horror The Invisible Man in 1933. He became the first actor to receive a million-dollar salary when he portrayed Julius Caesar in. He then went on to appear in numerous movies, including The Invisible Man, Mr. What am I going to do? Citizenship United Kingdom - United States Alma mater Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Occupation Actor Years active 1900-1965 Spouse(s) Isabel Jeans (m. 1913; div. Here, he became a "gentleman farmer" and could relax and enjoy farming life with his then wife (Frances) churning the butter, their daughter collecting the eggs, with Rains himself ploughing the fields and cultivating the vegetable garden. (Btw, in addition to being the son of Robert Morley, he is the grandson of Gladys Cooper). Mr Rains story, beginning with his poor, lonely, friendless, cruel childhood, You will find yourself caught up in . This was Rains' last appearance on the London Stage. Press of Kentucky: 290 pp., $29.95 . His haunted, suicidal writer Paul DeLambre in the mountaineering adventure The White Tower (1950), though a modest part, was perhaps the most vigorously memorable film role of his last years. on 17 August 2022. "[22] Gielgud later went on to recollect a time when he was in New York and in the audience during an event that included a focus on Bette Davis. Try again. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Villains were a Rains specialty, particularly those of a suave and sarcastic nature; and yet when the role called for it, Rains could be remarkably moving and even add a touch of pathos without losing any of his effectiveness. Renowned actor Claude Rains lived in West Chester. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. With the 1950s the few movies left to an older Rains were countered by venturing into new acting territory -- television. Claude Rains in 'Notorious': The Nazi mama's boy. [23], He acquired the 380-acre (1.5km2) Stock Grange Farm, built in 1747 in West Bradford Township, Pennsylvania (just outside Coatesville), in 1941. That year he became an American citizen. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. He appeared in two Best Picture Academy Award winners: In his obituary, The New York Times claimed that Rains was the first British stage and film star to earn a million dollars for a single film. Her screen name is Jessica Rains, as there was already a Jennifer Rains registered in the Actors' Equity. In 2010, many of Rains' personal effects were put into an auction at Heritage Auctions, including his 1951 Tony award, rare posters, letters and photographs. Did Claude Rains live in West Chester Pa? [25] Rains spent his final years in Sandwich, New Hampshire.[26]. William Claude Rains (10 November 1889 - 30 May 1967) was an English-born American stage and film actor whose career spanned 46 years. Alex Sebastian in "Notorious" (RKO, 1946) is one of Claude Rains' best parts. His second wife stayed with him for less than a year. Claude Rains was an English-born American film and stage actor, whose career spanned 46 years. Four-time Oscar nominee who starred as Captain Louis Renault in Casablanca and as the title character in the 1933 film The Invisible Man. Gielgud said that he once wrote that "The London stage suffered a great loss when Claude Rains deserted it for motion pictures," and that he later added, "but when I see him now on the screen and remember him, I must admit that the London stage's loss was the cinema's gain. William Claude Rains was born on 10 November 1889 at 26 Tregothnan Road in Clapham, London. When Charles Dickens died on June 9th, 1870, his final novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, was barely half-finished. He was nominated Best Supporting Actor four times for is work in the films "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" 1940, "Casablanca" 1944, "Mr. Skeffington" 1945 and "Notorious" 1947, but never received the award. Here is all you want to know, and more! Rains' declining health delayed their completion and with Root's death in March 1967 the project was never completed. In 2009, Chamberlain recorded a tribute to the actor when Rains was featured as Turner Classic Movies' Star of the Month: [21]. This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 10:25. It was clear to us that he loved practicing his craft; he dazzled us all. The majority of the items were used to help David J. Skal write his book on Rains, An Actor's Voice. After his American film debut as Dr. Jack Griffin in The Invisible Man (1933), he appeared in such highly regarded films as The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), The Wolf Man (1941), Casablanca and Kings Row (both 1942), Notorious (1946), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965). He knew the whole script before he came out (to film). These talents were recognised by Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, the founder of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Claude Akins was born in Nelson, Georgia. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. He sang in the Farm Street Church choir, which also brought him a few pence to take home. The farm became one of the "great prides" of his life. In 1967, at the age of 77, Rains died at his home in New Hampshire was buried in the tiny Red Hill Cemetery in Moultonborough, a small town on the northern point of Lake Winnipesaukee. Keith Whitley. And the striking virtuosity that I witnessed as a young actor is now there for audiences everywhere to see for all time. How old was Claude Rains at death? Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. William Claude Rains, born in the Clapham area of London, was the son of the British stage actor Frederick Rains. Resend Activation Email. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". [3] His parents were Emily Eliza (ne Cox) and the stage actor Frederick William Rains. Starring: Claude Rains [Sir Claude Mulhammer] Play Comedy Original. Claude Rains was an English stage and film actor whose career spanned 66 years. Home is Chester County. (Claude Rains), Copyright 2023 /The Celebrity Deaths.com/All Rights Reserved. The majority of the items were used to help David J. Skal write his book on Rains, An Actor's Voice. William Claude Rains, born in the Clapham area of London, was the son of the British stage actor Frederick Rains. [6][13] His agent, Harold Freedman, was a family friend of Carl Laemmle, who controlled Universal Pictures at the time, and had been acquainted with Rains in London and was keen to cast him in the role. Jennifer declined. (August 1960 -. Failed to report flower. He starred in The Jeffersonian Heritage, a 1952 series of 13 half-hour radio programmes recorded by the National Association of Educational Broadcasters and syndicated for commercial broadcast on a sustaining (i.e., commercial-free) basis. And as a man of small stature, the combination was immediately intriguing. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Claude Rains An Actor's Voice David J. Skal with Jessica Rains Univ. He is questioned about a murder that occurred at a vaudeville theater. Verify and try again. were put into an auction at the Heritage Auctions. For Warner Bros., he played Dr. Alexander Tower, who commits murder-suicide to spare his daughter a life of insanity in Kings Row (1942) and the cynical police chief Captain Renault in Casablanca (also 1942). Rains moved to America in 1912 owing to the opportunities that were being offered in the New York theatres. Not much is known about his parents. Smith Goes to Washington, Notorious, Lawrence of Arabia and The Pied Piper of Hamelin, to name a few. He did not just memorize his own lines, but the entire script. In Twilight of Honor Rains played a retired lawyer acting as a mentor to Chamberlain's character. His only child, Jennifer, was the daughter of Frances Propper. William Claude Rains was born on November 10, 1889 in Clapham, London, England and grew up around his acting father. What was Claude Rains religion?. Rains is ventriloquist John Fabian with a very lifelike female dummy. Claude Rains was one of my teachers at RADA. ", Rains' debut speaking role in the theatre, This supporting role marked Rains' return to the stage after being wounded in WWI. October 22, 2008 He was nominated for four Academy Awards; acted alongside the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, and Jimmy Stewart; and was directed by the powerful megaphones of Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Capra, and Irwin Allen. During the World War I, he served in the London Scottish Regiment. After "Notorious," whenever a picture called for a silky, suave villain . Claude Rains died on May 30, 1967 at the age of 77. I got another taste of Claude's witty nature shooting a scene in his [next-to-last] film, in which he had a long piece of dialogue. There is a problem with your email/password. Claude Rains, British motion picture and stage character actor noted for his smooth distinguished voice, polished ironic style, and intelligent portrayal of a variety of roles, ranging from villains to sympathetic gentlemen. Because his father was an actor, the young Rains would spend time in theatres and was surrounded by actors and stagehands. Rains was nominated for. In 2010, many of his personal items, including his Tony Award, letters, photographs, etc. Abstract: He became an A-list star, earning his recognition as a supporting actor. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. He was in popular novices such as Casablanca and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Rains made his stage debut at age ten in the play Sweet Nell of Old Drury[8] at the Haymarket Theatre, so that he could run around onstage as part of the production. SANDWICH, N.H., May 30 (UPI) Claude Rains, the white-haired actor who rose from a $2-a-week page boy to become the first British stage and film star to earn $1-million for a single role, died of . Corrections? . He designed his own tombstone. He designed his own tombstone. Rains went on to play a variety of leading and supporting roles, including criminals, aristocrats, politicians, spies, learned professionals, and family men, all with equal charm and finesse. Most of his siblings died in their infancy. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Claude Rains' Scrapbook Devoted to His Farm, Stock Grange. Clapham (district within London Borough of Lambeth, London, England and some areas in the London Borough of Wandsworth). 7:15 PM Casablanca (1942) An American saloon owner in North Africa is drawn into World War II when his lost love turns up. The video is below. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. "[29] He was buried at the Red Hill Cemetery in Moultonborough, New Hampshire. In 2011, the ivory military uniform (complete with medals) he wore as Captain Renault in Casablanca was put up for auction when noted actress and film historian Debbie Reynolds sold her collection of Hollywood costumes and memorabilia which she had amassed as a result of the 1970 MGM auction.[30]. He died in 1967 from an abdominal haemorrhage. Rains returned to the stage in the 1950s and won a Tony Award for his performance in Darkness at Noon, based on a novel by Arthur Koestler. were put into an auction at the Heritage Auctions. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The actor had a Cockney accent and suffered from a speech impediment during his early years. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Rains was considered to be "one of the screen's great character stars"[1] who was, according to the All-Movie Guide, "at his best when playing cultured villains". Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. We did it - Congratulations on passing the exams! For the Heroes character, see Claude (Heroes). They Shall Not Die (Feb 21, 1934 - Apr 1934) Performer: Claude Rains [Nathan G. Rubin] Play Drama Original. After divorcing her in 1960, he went on to marry Rosemary Clark Schrode; they stayed married until her death in 1964. What is Claude Rains famous for? The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Famous actress Bette Davis shared that Claude Rains was her favorite co-star. 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