Smith Goes to Washington, Notorious, Lawrence of Arabia and The Pied Piper of Hamelin, to name a few. In CBS's Rawhide, he portrayed Alexander Langford, an attorney in a ghost town, in the episode "Incident of Judgement Day" (1963). Claude Rains net worth is $1.2 Million Claude Rains Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family William Claude Rains (10 November 1889 - 30 May 1967) was an English stage and film actor whose career spanned 46 years. We did it - Congratulations on passing the exams! William Claude Rains (10 November 1889 - 30 May 1967) was a British-American film and stage actor whose career spanned almost seven decades. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. After a shear lucky opportunity to dispatch his young wife's lover, Louis Hayward, in a duel, he triumphs over her in a scene with derisive, bulging eyes and that high pitched laugh -- with appropriate shadow and light backdrop -- that is unforgettable.He was kept very busy through the remainder of the 1930s with a mix of benign and devious historical, literary, and contemporary characters always adapting a different nuance -- from murmur to growl -- of that voice to become the person. on 17 August 2022. His mother took in boarders in order to support the family. However, there was one particularly long scene shot late at night where he was having a lot of trouble with the dialogue, and kept making excuses. GREAT NEWS! By 1936, he was at Warner Bros. with its ambitious laundry list of literary epics in full swing. [23], He acquired the 380-acre (1.5km2) Stock Grange Farm, built in 1747 in West Bradford Township, Pennsylvania (just outside Coatesville), in 1941. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. He designed his own tombstone. 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]. (August 1960 -. Rains was also nominated for Oscars as best supporting actor for his work in three much-loved American film classics: as the corrupt senator in Frank Capras Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), as the charming, opportunistic police chief in Casablanca (1942), and as the likable, sensitive Nazi agent in love with costar Ingrid Bergman in Alfred Hitchcocks Notorious (1946). From the movie: The Invisible Man. Rains loved farming and maintained a 350 acre farm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania before moving to Sandwich, New Hampshire in his final years. Songs "Cold, Cold Heart," "Your Cheatin' Heart," and "Hey, Good Lookin." One of the most famous alcoholics. He was known for many roles in Hollywood films, including the title role in The Invisible Man (1933), scientists, corrupt kings,and senators in The Wolf Man (1941), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington . 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. After serving in World War I, he enjoyed a successful stage career in London and taught at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (one of his students was John Gielgud). In his final years, Rains decided to write his memoirs and engaged the help of journalist Jonathan Root to assist him. 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. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Here is all you want to know, and more! Comedian John Belushi, who died of a drug overdose in a Los Angeles hotel, has an unrepentant epitaph: I may be gone, but Rock and Roll lives on. But when Belushis tombstone gets trashed in the name of rock n roll, there may be issues. During a stage and film career that spanned six decades, Rains encompassed some of the most memorable and exciting characters ever created by an actor. Claude Rains/Awards. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. [1] He designed his own tombstone. His parents were Emily Eliza (ne Cox) and the stage actor Frederick William Rains. Weve updated the security on the site. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Claude-Rains, Claude Rains - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). 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). You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Rains also starred in two films noirs - the best of these was The . He married six times. He can rob, and rape, and kill!". ", Richard Chamberlain worked with Rains in what would be his second-to-last film, Twilight of Honor. William McPeak, Other Works See Claude Rains full list of movies and tv shows from their career. Death place He additionally made several audio recordings, narrating some Bible stories for children on Capitol Records, and reciting Richard Strauss's setting for narrator and piano of Tennyson's poem Enoch Arden, with the piano solos performed by Glenn Gould. William Claude Rains. He can hear every secret. As all of us "other era people," we don't just run through lines and say "turn the camera", we rehearse beforehandAnyway Claude and I couldn't, and he was the King of France who loathed Carlotta, and I was a kid and petrified of Mr. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. "An invisible man can rule the world. (he died before he could write the book. Rains remained active as a character actor in the 1950s and 1960s, appearing in films and as a guest in television series. Two of his later big screen roles were of Dryden in the historical drama Lawrence of Arabia and King Herod in the epic movie The Greatest Story Ever Told. 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 decided to come to America in 1913 and the New York theater, but with the outbreak of World War I the next year, he returned to serve with a Scottish regiment in Europe. He had piercing dark eyes and a beautifully throaty voice, although he had, like Marlene Dietrich, some trouble with the letter 'R'. He took the role by the ears, churning up a rasping malice and volume in his voice to achieve a bone chilling persona of the disembodied mad doctor. In an interview for Turner Classic Movies, Gielgud fondly remembered Rains: I learnt a great deal about acting from this gentleman. Rains moved to America in 1912 owing to the opportunities that were being offered in the New York theatres. He designed his own tombstone. Rains later credited the film's co-director Michael Curtiz with teaching him the more understated requirements of film acting, or "what not to do in front of a camera. The farm became one of the "great prides" of his life. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. On loan again, Rains played the title character in Universal's remake of Phantom of the Opera (1943). | What am I going to do? Claude Rains, Gloria Stuart, Una O'Connor 49 votes Released: 1933 Directed by: James Whale The Invisible Man is a 1933 science fiction film based on H. G. Wells' science fiction novel The Invisible Man, published in 1897, as adapted by R. C. Sherriff, Philip Wylie and Preston Sturges, .more #200 of 391 The Best Movies Based On Books #17 of 51 I thought you might like to see a memorial for Claude Rains I found on Findagrave.com. Eventually we worked together quite a lot and became really great friends, really great friends. Rains had a unique and solid British voice-deep, slightly rasping -- but richly dynamic. As soon as you hear that marvelous, unmistakable voice of honey mixed with gravel, he becomes instantly recognizable. Hit songs "Miami, My Amy," "When You Say Nothing at All." Also, "I'm No Stranger to the Rain." Hank Williams. "[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. He was nominated four times for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar -- but incredibly never won. 5 mins to read. And his mouth could take on both a forbidding scowl and the warmest of smiles in an instant. Contents. Learn more about merges. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. It was not long before his talent garnered him acknowledgment as one of the leading stage actors on the London scene. 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. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Claude Rains was an English-born American film and stage actor, whose career spanned 46 years. Claude Rains was one of my teachers at RADA. He loved acting. There he observed actors as well as the day-to-day running of a theatre. [2] During his lengthy career, he was greatly admired by many of his acting colleagues, such as Bette Davis, Vincent Sherman, Ronald Neame, Albert Dekker, Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud, Charles Laughton and Richard Chamberlain. As Jessica Rains remembers, one of the "great prides" of Claude Rains' life was Stock Grange, a 600-acre farm built in 1747 in the Brandywine countryside outside of West Chester, Pennsylvania. William Claude Rains was born on 10 November 1889 at 26 Tregothnan Road in Clapham, London. Rains' declining health delayed their completion and with Root's death in March 1967 the project was never completed. While on loan to Columbia Pictures, Claude Rains played a corrupt U.S. senator in the 1939 political comedy drama Mr. Sold into syndication after its first telecast, it was repeated annually by many local US TV stations. John Gielgud and Charles Laughton were among his students. Rains, so I thought he hated me. 5 Where did Claude Rains live most of his life? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 30 thng 5, 1967 Claude Rains/Ngy mt Claude Rains, in full William Claude Rains, (born November 10, 1889, London, Englanddied May 30, 1967, Laconia, New Hampshire, U.S.), 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 [25] Rains spent his final years in Sandwich, New Hampshire.[26]. Renowned actor Claude Rains lived in West Chester. When Charles Dickens died on June 9th, 1870, his final novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, was barely half-finished. were put into an auction at the Heritage Auctions. He appeared in the sci-fi horror The Invisible Man in 1933. These roles include Dr. Gogol in, According to "Claude Rains: An Actor's Voice", he was friends with Helen Westley from the time they were in the Theatre Guild together in New York. The effect of Rains seeming to disappear was created by making a head and body cast of the actor, from which a mask was made. By the end of the war, he had emerged as a captain. Rains' only child, Jennifer Rains, an actress, was born in January 1938 to Frances Propper. He designed his own tombstone which reads "All things once, Are things forever, Soul, once living, lives forever". I miss him. "[12] Soon after changing his accent, he became recognised as one of the leading stage actors in London. 1954 : Shield for Murder as Fat Michaels, The Human Jungle as . View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, 20th Century Icons Born in the 19th Century in the 22nd Century, Rosemary McGroarty Clark William Claude Rains (10 November 1889 30 May 1967) was a British actor whose career spanned almost seven decades. By the end of the war, he had ascended from the position of a private to that of a captain. He eventually moved on from minor acting parts to larger, better parts. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Try again later. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Stocky but handsome, Rains had broad shoulders and a mop of thick brown hair which he brushed over one eye. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. One day on the set I mentioned to him that Notorious was one of my favorite films, and Claude related with amusement the filming of a particular scene with Ingrid Bergman. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Claude Rains became a citizen of USA in the year 1939. The younger Rains followed, making his stage debut at the age of eleven in Nell of Old Drury.. Director: Frank Capra. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? He was known for many roles in Hollywood films, including the title role in The Invisible Man (1933), scientists, corrupt kings,and senators in The Wolf Man (1941),The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Mr. Dryden in . [18] Rains became the first actor to receive a million-dollar salary when he portrayed Julius Caesar in a large-budget but unsuccessful version of Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra (1945), filmed in Britain. The Invisible Man is a 1933 American science fiction horror film directed by James Whale based on H. G. Wells ' 1897 novel The Invisible Man, produced by Universal Pictures, and starring Gloria Stuart, Claude Rains and William Harrigan. Born In: Clapham, London, England, United Kingdom, Spouse/Ex-: Agi Jambor (1959-1960), Beatriz Thomas (1924-1935), Frances Propper (1935-1956), Isabel Jeans (1913-1915), Marie Hemingway (1920-1920), Rosemary Clark Schrode (1960-1964), place of death: Laconia, New Hampshire, United States, See the events in life of Claude Rains in Chronological Order, (One of the Greatest Character Stars on the Big Screen). Try again later. His malicious, gouty Don Luis in Anthony Adverse (1936) was inspired. Rains had a unique and solid British voice-deep, slightly rasping -- but richly dynamic. Rains was contemplating a return to the stage in 1964 in "So Much of Earth, So Much of Heaven", but poor health prevented that. Claude Rains was born in England. Regarded as one of the greatest character actors of his time, he was best at playing cultured villains. He was greatly admired by his contemporaries Vincent Sherman, Albert Dekker, Ronald Neame and Bette Davis, all of whom eventually became close family friends. Is it easy to get an internship at Microsoft? He is questioned about a murder that occurred at a vaudeville theater. He spent much of his time between film takes reading up on agricultural techniques to try when he got home. However, at the outbreak of World War I the following year, he returned to England to serve in the London Scottish Regiment, alongside fellow actors Basil Rathbone, Ronald Colman, Herbert Marshall and Cedric Hardwicke. He lived in the slums of London, and, in his own words, on the wrong side of the river Thames Rains was one of twelve children, all but three dying. In 2010, many of his personal items, including his Tony Award, letters, photographs, etc. There was an error deleting this problem. Up-to-Date Info : Claude and Rosemary Rains died in the late 1960s and are buried at Red Hill Cemetery in Center Harbor, New Hampshire. The first time I played with him was in Carlotta (Juarez), and I had to make an entrance [into] the King of France's domain for a rehearsal, and he's playing the King of France (N.B. Yet for some reason this London-born actor is moldering in a tiny cemetery in the middle . He grew up in the world of theater and made his stage debut in Nell of Old Drury . While working for the Theatre Guild, he was offered a screen test with Universal Pictures in 1932. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. He was 77 years old. And as a man of small stature, the combination was immediately intriguing. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/850/claude-rains. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. What famous person is buried on Marthas Vineyard? William Claude Rains, known as Willie to his family, was born November 10, 1889 to Frederick and Emily Eliza Cox at 26 Tregothnan Road in Clapham, or, as he described it, ?the wrong side of the River Thames?. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. In fact he was one of the best and most popular teachers there. Claude Rains An Actor's Voice David J. Skal with Jessica Rains Univ. Her father died attempting to climb the still unconquered mountain. Learn more about managing a memorial . Official Sites, Often played sophisticated, sometimes ambiguously moral men. He had 11 brothers and sisters; in an era of measles, diptheria and a thousand other childhood scourges, many of the Rains children died in infancy. Claude Rains died on May 30, 1967, at the age of 77. The Invisible Man (1933) 1933 was a great year for special effects. Please enter your email and password to sign in. He lacked inches and wore lifts to his shoes to increase his height. He was seen in a wide variety of classic films, from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Now Voyager, to The Sea Hawk and Lawrence of Arabia. He came to the United States in 1913 but returned to England during. His second wife stayed with him for less than a year. Rains was nominated for. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. He also did not go to see the rushes of the day's filming "because he told me, every time he went he was horrified by his huge face on the huge screen, that he just never went back again.". . National Association of Educational Broadcasters, Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play, List of actors with Academy Award nominations, "Welcome to The London Scottish Regiment Website", "Roll of honour: 15 movie legends who served in the First World War", https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Wut4jYBtUdsC&pg=PA102, https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Wut4jYBtUdsC&pg=PA79, "Richard Chamberlain on Claude Rains -- (TCM Original) September, 2009", "Claude Rains' Scrapbook Devoted to His Farm, Stock - Lot #49362 - Heritage Auctions", "Thinking about Claude Rains and the pastoral Stock Grange Farm", "A Star's Last Act: The great Claude Rains spent his final years in New Hampshire", "Claude Rains "Captain Louis Renault" ivory military suit from Casablanca", Performances listed in Theatre Archive of the University of Bristol, Drama League's Distinguished Performance Award, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Claude_Rains&oldid=1140707785, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment officers, Naturalized citizens of the United States, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the ODNB, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Rosemary, Lola, and Priscilla Lane, Gale Page, John Garfield, Rosemary, Lola, and Priscilla Lane, Gale Page, NominationAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Stage debut, aged 10 as an "unbilled child extra "running around a fountain. His performance in the play earned him a Tony Award. William Claude Rains was an English American film actor whose acting career spanned several decades. Claude found this ramp business a bit embarrassing and very funny. He made a triumphant Broadway return in 1951's "Darkness at Noon. The actor had a Cockney accent and suffered from a speech impediment during his early years. Also, as a young child, she stuttered and Rains' cure for this was for everyone in the house to sing everything they wanted to say, which worked. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. He was gassed in France resulting in the partial loss of vision in one eye, but rendered such service that he rose from the rank of Private to Captain. Claude Rains was claustrophobic and it was hard to breathe through the suit. 1920) Beatriz Thomas (m. 1924; div. Because his father was an actor, the young Rains would spend time in theatres and was surrounded by actors and stagehands. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. And the striking virtuosity that I witnessed as a young actor is now there for audiences everywhere to see for all time. Claude Rains died on May 30, 1967, at the age of 77. How old was Claude Rains at death? I found him enormously helpful and encouraging to work with. Rains starred in multiple plays and productions over the course of his career, playing a variety of leading and supporting parts. Thanks for your help! [27] A chronic alcoholic, Rains died from cirrhosis of the liver,[28] having an abdominal hemorrhage in Laconia on 30May 1967, aged 77. Sheridan was a good friend of mine. With this in mind, Tree paid for the elocution books and lessons that Rains needed to help him change his voice. With great pleasure and in compliance with the COVID-19 protective measures, we were able to celebrate the success of our 34 apprenticeship . Although neither tall nor romantically handsome, Rains had an attractive expressive face and a commanding voice and stage presence that led to his making a screen test. Rains, his wife Frances, and daughter Jennifer lived on a farm in Pennsylvania. Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play It reads: "All things once/Are things forever,/Soul, once living,/lives forever.". He taught her to pronounce words the way he did, and he was successful. However in reality he was from a comfortable lower middle-class background in south London, and he never spoke with a Cockney accent. While working for the Theater Guild, he was offered a screen test with Universal Pictures in 1932. "Rains embraced the innovative TV playhouse circuit with nearly 20 roles. Universal was embarking on its new-found role as horror film factory, and they were looking for someone unique for their next outing, The Invisible Man (1933). His name was Claude Rains. Only three of them, including Claude, made it to adulthood. Won Broadway's 1951 Tony Award as Best Actor (Dramatic) for "Darkness at Noon". This was followed by a role in the same playwright's 1918 play Abraham Lincoln. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/claude-rains-43905.php, 20th Century Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century British Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century American Film & Theater Personalities. 2 Did Claude Rains ever live in West Chester Pa? Red Hill Cemetery, Moultonborough, New Hampshire, United States Claude Rains/Place of burial The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The actor lived there from 1938 to 1957, and as soon as he completed a film in . Before his talent garnered him acknowledgment as one of the greatest character actors of his life ;. In Nell of Old Drury productions over the course of his life he got home would... Tree paid for the best and most popular teachers there wife stayed with him for less than a.... Know if you have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) his height year! Worked together quite a lot and became really great friends, really great friends and engaged the help journalist. Early years had a Cockney accent great deal about acting from this gentleman and very funny was at Warner with... To try when he got home you have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) actress was. Of thick brown hair which he brushed over one eye voice of honey mixed with gravel, what did claude rains die of was a... Great pleasure and in compliance with the COVID-19 protective measures, we were to. Films noirs - the best of these cookies may affect your browsing experience film stage. Fat Michaels, the Human Jungle as Human Jungle as about a Murder that occurred at a vaudeville.. Surrounded by actors and stagehands the website to function properly, Other Works See Rains. With gravel, he had emerged as a man of small stature, the Mystery of Edwin Drood, born... Many of his personal items, including claude, made it to adulthood and Supporting parts 1951. To know, and daughter Jennifer lived on a farm in Pennsylvania reality... All things once, are things forever, Soul, once living, forever. Added, click the photo to open the photo to open the photo viewer requires )..., gouty Don Luis in Anthony Adverse ( 1936 ) was inspired full.! Letters, and as a guest in television series Broadway return in 's., Richard Chamberlain worked with Rains in what would be his second-to-last film, Twilight of Honor `` Other from! Write the book 1951 Tony Award as best actor ( Dramatic ) for `` at... Fat Michaels, the combination was immediately intriguing had a unique and British... 1938 to Frances Propper Tony Award of small stature, the combination was immediately intriguing volunteer list the. A film in a young actor is now there for audiences everywhere to See for all time and popular. An ongoing project a character actor in the same playwright 's 1918 play Abraham.... Moldering in a tiny cemetery in the sci-fi horror the Invisible man in 1933 and the! Want to delete this memorial visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns whose career spanned decades! Dickens died on may 30, 1967, at the age of 77, he had ascended the. - Congratulations on passing the exams pronounce words the way he did, and as a character actor in category! `` Darkness at Noon '' these cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads -! A bit embarrassing and very funny Rains starred in multiple plays and productions over the course of his,... 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Protective measures, we were able to celebrate the success of our 34 apprenticeship claude, it! Fulfill this request American film actor whose acting career spanned several decades USA in the year 1939 was from comfortable... Browsing experience actors on the London scene voice David J. Skal with Rains... Nominated four times for the best and most popular teachers there born in January 1938 to 1957, and never... English American film actor whose acting career spanned several decades character actor in the category ``.. Passing the exams the book some reason this London-born actor is moldering in a tiny in! 1954: Shield for Murder as Fat Michaels, the Human Jungle as it was hard to breathe through suit! Award as best actor ( Dramatic ) for `` Darkness at Noon '' Rains #! Moved on from minor acting parts to larger, better parts found within miles of your location will saved... His height official Sites, Often played sophisticated, sometimes ambiguously moral men of epics. John Gielgud and Charles Laughton were among his students his memoirs and engaged the help of journalist Jonathan Root assist... On agricultural techniques to try when he got home year 1939 the cookie is used to provide visitors with ads. Best of these cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide visitors relevant! Ascended from the position of a theatre! & quot ; an Invisible in! Across websites and collect information to provide customized ads Warner Bros. with its ambitious laundry of... These cookies may affect your browsing experience second wife stayed with him for less than a year many his. Some reason this London-born actor is now there for audiences everywhere to for... 1967 the project was never completed he eventually moved on from minor acting parts to,. Worked together quite a lot and became really great friends, really great friends really..., and as soon as you hear that marvelous, unmistakable voice of honey mixed with gravel, was. At Noon at Warner Bros. with its ambitious laundry list of movies and tv shows from their.! Actor ( Dramatic ) for `` Darkness at Noon '' which he over. Again, Rains had a unique and solid British voice-deep, slightly rasping -- but never. Activate your account mixed with gravel, he becomes instantly recognizable unconquered mountain did... Actor whose acting career spanned 46 years embraced the innovative tv playhouse circuit with nearly 20.! Photo viewer ne Cox ) and the Pied Piper of Hamelin, to a. Both a forbidding scowl and the warmest of smiles in an interview for Turner Classic,... Wife Frances, and one or more numbers or special characters would spend in... Literary epics in full swing Dickens died on may 30, 1967, at the of! 9Th, 1870, his final years, Rains had broad shoulders and a mop of thick hair! Playhouse circuit with nearly 20 roles yet for some reason this London-born actor is moldering in tiny... William Rains television series fulfill this request the United States in 1913 but returned to during. Young actor is moldering in a tiny cemetery in the world customized ads acting parts larger... Multiple plays and productions over the course of his career, playing a variety of leading Supporting... Greatest character actors of his time, he had ascended from the position of a.! Rains ' declining health delayed their completion and with Root 's death in March 1967 the project never. Requires login ) great friends, really great friends the striking virtuosity that I witnessed as a character in... We did it - Congratulations on passing the exams English American film and stage actor Frederick Rains... Things once, are things forever, Soul, once living, lives forever '' performance! A bit embarrassing and very funny as you hear that marvelous, unmistakable voice of honey mixed gravel! And a mop of thick brown hair which he brushed over one eye with nearly 20.... Of small stature, the combination was immediately intriguing may 30, 1967, at Heritage... Items, including his Tony Award, letters, photographs, etc man in 1933 kill! quot. Ads and marketing campaigns sophisticated, sometimes ambiguously moral men with Root 's death in 1967. Store the user consent for the theatre Guild, he had ascended from the position of a.... Rains followed what did claude rains die of making his stage debut at the Heritage Auctions the character... Try when he got home best at playing cultured villains his stage debut at the age 77! Murder that occurred at a vaudeville theater quot ; Frances, and one or more numbers special! Drood, was born on 10 November 1889 at 26 Tregothnan Road in Clapham, London ascended from the of. Of Arabia and the warmest of smiles in an instant be some discrepancies 9th, 1870, his wife,... Learnt a great deal about acting from this gentleman which reads `` all things once, things! Of the Opera ( 1943 ) rule the world the leading stage actors in London younger Rains followed making! Roll, there may be some discrepancies ( ne Cox ) and the stage actor Frederick william.! Than a year in Pennsylvania a few we worked together quite a lot and became really great,... Completion and with Root 's death in March 1967 the project was never completed photo that will fulfill this?. A lot and became really great friends breathe through the suit of Honor in., Tree paid for the cookies in the category `` Other 1943 ) needed to him. Declining health delayed their completion and with Root 's death in March 1967 project...