Rex Harrison

Name	Rex Harrison
Caption	Harrison at his home in London in 1976, by Allan Warren
Birth name	Reginald Carey Harrison
Birth date	March 05, 1908
Birth place	Huyton, Lancashire, England
Death date	June 02, 1990
Death place	New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1930–1990
Spouse

Sir Reginald Carey “Rex” Harrison (5 March 1908 – 2 June 1990) was an English actor of stage and screen. Harrison won both an Academy Award and a Tony Award.

Youth and stage career

Harrison was born in Huyton, Lancashire, and educated at Liverpool College. After a bout of childhood measles, Harrison lost most of the sight in his left eye, which on one occasion caused some on-stage difficulty. He first appeared on the stage in 1924 in Liverpool. Harrison's acting career was interrupted during World War II whilst he served in the Royal Air Force, reaching the rank of Flight Lieutenant. He acted in various stage productions until 11 May 1990. He acted in the West End of London when he was young, appearing in the Terence Rattigan play French Without Tears, which proved to be his breakthrough role.

He alternated appearances in London and New York in such plays as Bell, Book and Candle (1950), Venus Observed, The Cocktail Party, The Kingfisher, and The Love of Four Colonels, which he also directed. He won his first Tony Award for his appearance as Henry VIII in Anne of the Thousand Days and international superstardom (and a second Tony Award) for his Henry Higgins in the musical My Fair Lady, in which he appeared opposite a young Julie Andrews. Later appearances included Pirandello's Henry IV, a 1984 appearance at the Haymarket Theatre with Claudette Colbert in Frederick Lonsdale's Aren't We All?, and one on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre presented by Douglas Urbanski, at the Haymarket in J. M. Barrie's The Admirable Crichton with Edward Fox. He returned as Henry Higgins in a highly paid revival of My Fair Lady directed by Patrick Garland in 1981, cementing his association with the plays of George Bernard Shaw which included a Tony nominated performance as Shotover in Heartbreak House, Julius Caesar in Caesar and Cleopatra, and General Burgoyne in a Los Angeles production of The Devil's Disciple. He also appeared as an aging homosexual man opposite Richard Burton as his lover in Staircase (1969).

In film

Harrison's film debut was in The Great Game (1930), and other notable early films include The Citadel (1938), Night Train to Munich (1940), Major Barbara (1941), Blithe Spirit (1945), Anna and the King of Siam (1946), The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947), and The Foxes of Harrow (1947). He was best known for his portrayal of Professor Henry Higgins with Audrey Hepburn in the 1964 film version of My Fair Lady, based on the Broadway production of the same name (which itself was based on George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion), for which Harrison won a Best Actor Oscar. He also starred in 1967's Doctor Dolittle. Harrison was not by general terms a singer; thus, the music was generally written to allow for long periods of recitative, generally identified as "speaking to the music." Nevertheless, "Talk to the Animals", which Harrison performed in Doctor Dolittle, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1967. His son, Noel, coincidentally sang the 1968 Oscar winner, "The Windmills of Your Mind".

Although excelling in comedy (Noël Coward described him thus: "the best light comedy actor in the world—except for me."), he attracted favourable notices in dramatic roles such as his portrayal of Julius Caesar in Cleopatra (1963) and as Pope Julius II in The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965), opposite Charlton Heston as Michelangelo. He also acted in a Hindi movie Shalimar alongside Indian Bollywood star Dharmendra. in the film Cleopatra, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award.]]

Personal life

Harrison was married six times. In 1942 he divorced his first wife, Colette Thomas, and married actress Lilli Palmer the next year; the two later appeared together in numerous plays and films, including The Fourposter.

In 1947, while married to Palmer, Harrison began an affair with actress Carole Landis. Landis committed suicide in 1948 after spending the night with Harrison. Harrison's involvement in the scandal surrounding Landis' death briefly damaged his career and his contract with Fox was ended by mutual consent.

Harrison and Lilli Palmer divorced in 1957. That same year, Harrison married actress Kay Kendall. Kendall died of leukemia in 1959. He was subsequently married to Welsh-born Rachel Roberts from 1962 to 1971 (Roberts committed suicide in 1980). Harrison then married Elizabeth Rees-Williams and, finally, Mercia Tinker, who would become his widow in 1990.

;Chronology of Harrison's six marriages:

Colette Thomas (1934–1942 - divorced), (one son, the actor/singer Noel Harrison)

Lilli Palmer (1943–1957 - divorced), (one son, the novelist/playwright Carey Harrison)

Kay Kendall (1957–1959 - her death)

Rachel Roberts (1962–1971 - divorced)

Elizabeth Harris (1971–1975 - divorced), (three stepsons, Damian Harris, Jared Harris, and Jamie Harris)

Mercia Tinker (1978–1990 - his death)

;Grandchildren:

Granddaughters: Cathryn, Harriott, Chloe, Chiara, Rosie, Faith

Grandsons: Will, Simon, Sam

Death

Having retired from films in the late 1970s, Harrison continued to act on Broadway until the end of his life, despite suffering from glaucoma, painful teeth, and a failing memory. In 1989 he appeared on Broadway in The Circle by W. Somerset Maugham, opposite Glynis Johns and Stewart Granger, when he fell ill. He died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Manhattan on 2 June 1990 at the age of 82.

Harrison's second autobiography, A Damned Serious Business: My Life in Comedy (ISBN 0553073419), was published posthumously in 1991.

Honours

On 25 July 1989 Harrison was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. An orchestra played the music of songs from My Fair Lady.

Rex Harrison has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one at 6906 Hollywood Boulevard for his contribution to motion pictures, and another at 6380 Hollywood Boulevard for his contribution to the television industry.

Filmography

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" border="2" cellpadding="4" background: #f9f9f9; |- align="center" ! colspan=4 style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film |- align="center" ! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Year ! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Film ! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Role ! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Notes |- | 1930 | The Great Game | George | |- | rowspan=2|1934 | Get Your Man | Tom Jakes | |- |Leave It to Blanche |Ronnie | |- | 1935 | All at Sea | Aubrey Bellingham | |- | 1936 | Men Are Not Gods | Tommy Stapleton | |- | rowspan=2|1937 | Storm in a Teacup | Frank Burdon | |- |School for Husbands |Leonard Drummond | |- | rowspan=2|1938 | Sidewalks of London | Harley Prentiss | Alternative title: St. Martin's Lane |- | The Citadel | Dr. Frederick Lawford | |- | rowspan=2|1939 | Over the Moon | Dr. Freddie Jarvis | |- |The Silent Battle | Jacques Sauvin | |- | rowspan=2|1940 | Night Train to Munich | Gus Bennett | Alternative titles: GestapoNight Train |- |Ten Days in Paris | Bob Stevens | |- | 1941 | Major Barbara | Adolphus Cusins | |- | rowspan=4|1945 | Blithe Spirit | Charles Condomine | |- | I Live in Grosvenor Square | Major David Bruce | Alternative title: A Yank in London |- |Journey Together |Guest | |- | The Rake's Progress | Vivian Kenway | Alternative title: Notorious Gentleman |- | 1946 | Anna and the King of Siam | King Mongkut | |- | rowspan=2|1947 | The Ghost and Mrs. Muir | Captain Daniel Gregg | with Gene Tierney | |- | The Foxes of Harrow | Stephen Fox | |- | rowspan=2|1948 | Escape | Matt Denant | |- | | Sir Alfred De Carter | |- | 1951 | The Long Dark Hall | Arthur Groome | |- | 1952 | The Four Poster | John Edwards | |- | 1954 | King Richard and the Crusaders | Emir Hderim Sultan Saladin | |- | 1955 | The Constant Husband | William Egerton | Alternative title: Marriage a la Mode |- | 1958 | The Reluctant Debutante | Jimmy Broadbent | |- | 1960 | Midnight Lace | Anthony "Tony" Preston | |- | 1962 | The Happy Thieves | Jimmy Bourne | |- | 1963 | Cleopatra | Caesar |nominated for an Academy Award "Best Actor" |- | rowspan=2|1964 | My Fair Lady | Professor Henry Higgins | Academy Award for Best Actor |- | The Yellow Rolls-Royce | Lord Charles Frinton - The Marquess of Frinton | |- | 1965 | The Agony and the Ecstasy | Pope Julius II | |- | rowspan=2|1967 | The Honey Pot | Cecil Sheridan Fox | Alternative titles: It Comes Up Murder The HoneypotMr. Fox of Venice |- | Doctor Dolittle | Dr. John Dolittle | |- | 1968 | A Flea in Her Ear | Victor Chandebisse/Poche | |- | 1969 | Staircase | Charles Dyer | |- | 1977 | Crossed Swords | The Duke of Norfolk | Alternative title: The Prince and the Pauper |- | 1978 | Shalimar | Sir John Locksley | Alternative titles: Deadly Thief, Raiders of Shalimar, Raiders of the Sacred Stone |- | rowspan=2|1979 | Ashanti | Brian Walker | Alternative title: Ashanti, Land of No Mercy |- | The Fifth Musketeer | Colbert | Alternative titles: Behind the Iron MaskThe 5th Musketeer |- | 1981 | Titanic in a Tub: The Golden Age of Toy Boats | Narrator | |- | 1982 | A Time to Die | Van Osten | Alternative title: Seven Graves for Rogan |- |- align="center" ! colspan=4 style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Television |- align="center" ! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Year ! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Title ! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Role ! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Notes |- | 1952 | Omnibus | Henry VIII | Episode: "The Trial of Anne Boleyn" |- | 1953 | The United States Steel Hour | Raymond Dabney | Episode: "The Man in Possession" |- | 1957 | DuPont Show of the Month | Mr. Sir | Episode: "Crescendo" |- | 1960 | Dow Hour of Great Mysteries | Cyril Paxton | Episode: "The Dachet Diamonds" |- | 1971–1973 | Play of the Month | Mikhail Platonov, schoolmasterDon Quixote | Episodes: "Platonov""The Adventures of Don Quixote" |- | 1983 | The Kingfisher | Cecil | Television movie |- | 1985 | Heartbreak House | Captain Shotover | Television movie |- | 1986 | | Grand Duke Cyril Romanov | Television movie |}

Awards and nominations

{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;" |- bgcolor="#B0C4DE" align="center" ! style="background-color: #B0C4DE"|Year ! style="background-color: #B0C4DE"|Award ! style="background-color: #B0C4DE"|Result ! style="background-color: #B0C4DE"|Category ! style="background-color: #B0C4DE"|Film, series or play |- |1964 |rowspan=2|Academy Award |Nominated |rowspan=2|Best Actor in a Leading Role |Cleopatra |-style="background-color: #EAEAEA;" |1965 |Won |My Fair Lady |- |1966 |BAFTA Award |Nominated |Best British Actor |My Fair Lady |- |1984 |rowspan=2|Drama Desk Award |Nominated |Outstanding Actor in a Play'' |Heartbreak House |-style="background-color: #EAEAEA;" |1985 |Won |Drama Desk Special Award |- |- |1964 |rowspan=5|Golden Globe Award |Nominated |Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama |Cleopatra |-style="background-color: #EAEAEA;" |1965 |Won |Best Motion Picture Actor - Musical/Comedy |My Fair Lady |- |rowspan=2|1966 |rowspan=2|Nominated |Henrietta Award (World Film Favorite - Male) |- |- |Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama |The Agony and the Ecstasy |- |1968 |Nominated |Best Motion Picture Actor - Musical/Comedy |Dr. Dolittle |- |1964 |rowspan=5|Laurel Awards |Nominated |Top Male Dramatic Performance |Cleopatra |- |rowspan=2|1965 |Nominated |Male Star |- |-style="background-color: #EAEAEA;" |Won |Musical Performance, Male |My Fair Lady |- |rowspan=2|1966 |rowspan=2|Nominated |Male Star |- |- |Dramatic Performance, Male |The Agony and the Ecstasy |-style="background-color: #EAEAEA;" |1963 |National Board of Review |Won |Best Actor |Cleopatra |-style="background-color: #EAEAEA;" |1964 |New York Film Critics Circle Awards |Won |Best Actor |My Fair Lady |-style="background-color: #EAEAEA;" |1949 |rowspan=4|Tony Award |Won |Best Actor (Dramatic) |Anne of the Thousand Days |-style="background-color: #EAEAEA;" |1957 |Won |Best Actor in a Musical |My Fair Lady |-style="background-color: #EAEAEA;" |1969 |Won |Special Tony Award |- |- |1984 |Nominated |Best Actor (Dramatic) |Heartbreak House |}

Further reading

The Incomparable Rex by Patrick Garland (1998) ISBN 0-333-71796-1

References

External links

Selected performances in Theatre Archive University of Bristol

Category:Actors awarded British knighthoods Category:Best Actor Academy Award winners Category:Best Musical or Comedy Actor Golden Globe (film) winners Category:Cancer deaths in New York Category:Deaths from pancreatic cancer Category:English expatriates in the United States Category:English film actors Category:English stage actors Category:English television actors Category:Old Lerpoolians Category:People from Huyton Category:Royal Air Force officers Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War II Category:Tony Award winners Category:Actors from Liverpool Category:1908 births Category:1990 deaths Category:Knights Bachelor