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 ([actually the Emperor of the French] Napoleon III) in rehearsal. And that scornful right eyebrow which could freeze an adversary faster than and more effectively than any physical threat. His only singing and dancing role was in a 1957 television musical version of Robert Browning's The Pied Piper of Hamelin, with Van Johnson as the Piper. Herbert Beerbohm Tree recognized Rains' acting talent and paid for the elocution books and lessons he needed due to his poor diction. After his American film debut with The Invisible Man (1933) he played in classic films like The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Mr; Smith Goes to Washington (1939), The … [9] In November 1916, Rains was involved in a gas attack at Vimy, which resulted in him permanently losing 90 percent of the vision in his right eye as well as suffering vocal cord damage. 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.[19]. The farm became one of the "great prides" of his life. I'm so glad of that. He sold the farm when his marriage to Propper ended in 1956; the building now, as then, is still referred to by locals as "Rains' Place". 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. The majority of the items were used to help David J. Skal write his book on Rains, An Actor's Voice. He was a Tony Award winning actor and was a four-time nominee for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He lacked inches and wore lifts to his shoes to increase his height. William Claude Rains (10 November 1889 30 May 1967) was an English actor of stage and screen whose career spanned 46 years. Rains remained active as a character actor in the 1950s and 1960s, appearing in films and as a guest in television series. Gielgud commented that he once wrote that "The London stage suffered a great loss when Claude Rains deserted it for motion pictures," but he later went on to say, "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. Generation generation). He returned to New York City in 1927 and appeared in nearly 20 Broadway roles, in plays which included George Bernard Shaw's The Apple Cart and dramatisations of The Constant Nymph and Pearl S. Buck's novel The Good Earth (as a Chinese farmer). After his American film debut with The Invisible … During her childhood, Claude had an intense jealously toward her twin sisters, Emone and Henrietta. Rains eventually shed his accent and speech impediment after practicing every day. Claude Rains was born in England on Sunday, November 10, 1889 (G.I. Rains' first wife, Isabel Jeans played the role of Lady Elizabeth Mulhammer in the 1953 Edinburgh premiere. Home is Chester County.” (Claude Rains), Copyright © 2021 /  The Celebrity Deaths.com  /  All Rights Reserved. Red Hill Cemetery,   Moultonborough,  New Hampshire,  United States. Rains’ only child, Jennifer Rains, an actress, was born in January 1938 to Frances Propper. Claude Rains was one of my teachers at RADA. His screen test for A Bill of Divorcement (1932) for a New York representative of RKO was a failure but, according to some accounts, led to his being cast in the title role of James Whale's The Invisible Man (1933) after his screen test and unique voice were inadvertently overheard from the next room. In her 1987 memoir, This 'N That, Bette Davis revealed that Rains (with whom she shared the screen four times in Juarez; Now, Voyager; Mr. Skeffington; and Deception) was her favorite co-star. Rains signed a long-term contract with Warner Bros. on 27 November 1935 with Warner able to exercise the right to loan him to other studios and Rains having a potential income of up to $750,000 over seven years. Top Answer. As soon as you hear that marvelous, unmistakable voice of honey mixed with gravel, he becomes instantly recognizable. Claude Rains and Merle Oberon in Die Liebe unseres Lebens (1945) Following his death, he was interred at Red Hill Cemetery in Moultonborough, New Hampshire. When did Claude Rains die? Rains left school after the second grade to sell newspapers so that he could bring the pennies and halfpennies home for his mother. [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. Died from an intestinal hemorrhage at Lakes Region Hospital near his home in Sandwich, New Hampshire at age 77. and the Bear," died Jan. 27 of cancer. Tree told Rains that in order to succeed as an actor, he would have to get rid of his Cockney accent and speech impediment. With this in mind, Tree paid for the elocution books and lessons that Rains needed to help him change his voice. Eventually we worked together quite a lot and became really great friends, really great friends. Four-time Oscar nominee who starred as Captain Louis Renault in Casablanca and as the title character in the 1933 film The Invisible Man. He loved acting. [10] He never returned to combat but continued to serve with the Bedfordshire Regiment. As all of us "other era people," we don't just run through lines and say "turn the camera", we rehearse beforehand...Anyway Claude and I couldn't, and he was the King of France who loathed Carlotta, and I was a kid and petrified of Mr. 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. His mother took in boarders in order to support the family. I found him enormously helpful and encouraging to work with. clauderains @ 11 months ago. Reminiscing about his work with Rains, Chamberlain said: He was in his seventies then and in failing health, yet he was charming and totally professional on the set. He is 131 years old and is a Scorpio. The Pied Piper of Hamelin. Jessica Rains remembered her father's work ethic: He was interested in the process (of film). This page was last edited on 17 February 2021, at 05:12. Devlin (Grant), who enlists the help of Alicia … William Claude Rains (10 November 1889 – 30 May 1967) was an English film and stage actor whose career spanned several decades. He married six times; his only child, Jessica Rains, was the product of his marriage to fourth wife Frances Propper. [26] Rains died from an abdominal hemorrhage in Laconia on 30 May 1967, aged 77. 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". And the striking virtuosity that I witnessed as a young actor is now there for audiences everywhere to see for all time. [3] He lived in the slums of London, and, in his own words, on "the wrong side of the river Thames". See more ideas about claude rains, rains, claude. "[27] He was buried at the Red Hill Cemetery in Moultonborough, New Hampshire. Claude Rains est un acteur britannique, né le 10 novembre 1889 à Camberwell, Londres (Royaume-Uni), et mort le 30 mai 1967 à Laconia, dans le New Hampshire (États-Unis). He designed his own tombstone which reads "All things once, Are things forever, Soul, once living, lives forever". Rains became a United States citizen in 1938. Well, here in the movies I can be as mean, as wicked as I want to – and all without hurting anybody.” (Claude Rains), “Hollywood to me is a place to work. In fact he was one of the best and most popular teachers there. Back in Britain, he appeared in David Lean's The Passionate Friends (1949). -- Claude Akins, who played genial, rough-and-tumble characters in movies and on television, including Sheriff Lobo of "B.J. Cary Grant’s agent is such an unmitigated son of a bitch that Rains gathers sympathy as the movie goes on, and his Alex even reaches a heroic level when he admits, on a very long walk down a staircase, that he’s not afraid to die, though he is certainly afraid to live. William Claude Rains (10 November 1889 – 30 May 1967) was a British-American film and stage actor whose career spanned almost seven decades. William Claude Rains was born on 10 November 1889 in Clapham, London. As his film career began to flourish, he found less time to perform in the theatre in both England and America. Many years after Rains had gone to Hollywood and become a well-known film actor, John Gielgud is reputed to have commented, "He was a great influence on me. On loan again, Rains played the title character in Universal's remake of Phantom of the Opera (1943). 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, "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", http://articles.latimes.com/2008/nov/20/entertainment/et-book20, "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=1007257805, British expatriate male actors in the United States, Academics of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Naturalized citizens of the United States, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with PLWABN identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with Trove identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with multiple identifiers, Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Rosemary, Lola, and Priscilla Lane, Gale Page, John Garfield, Rosemary, Lola, and Priscilla Lane, Gale Page, Nomination—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Stage debut, aged 10 as an "unbilled child extra "running around a fountain. Generation also known as The Greatest Generation. William Claude Rains is part of G.I. These talents were recognised by Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, the founder of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He grew up in the theatrical world and worked his way up … Angel on My Shoulder. Claude Rains was born William Claude Rains on 10 November, 1889, in Camberwell, London, the son of British stage actor Frederick Rains. When did Claude Rains die? John Gielgud and Charles Laughton were among his students. 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. He sang in the Palm Street Church choir, which also brought him a few pence to take home. The stage actor Claude Rains died at the age of 77. I thought, he thinks I just stink! Quotes . In his final years, Rains decided to write his memoirs and engaged the help of journalist Jonathan Root to assist him. 683 Last Comments. [13][14] According to Rains' daughter, this was the only film of his he ever saw. 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. When he came to California to do a film, I had to "hear him his lines" as he drove me to school every morning, 10 miles. This was Rains' last appearance on the London Stage. It was clear to us that he loved practicing his craft; he dazzled us all. He stood at a mere 5′6″, yet his enormous talent and immense stage presence made him a giant among his colleagues. / Died: 30 May 1967: How many years did Claude Rains live? Rains was a very small man and Bergman was quite tall, so in order to shoot them in close-up together (in the key scene) the resourceful Alfred Hitchcock had a ramp installed, so as Rains approaches Bergman on camera he appears taller than his co-star. “Often we’d secretly like to do the very things we discipline ourselves against. He married six times; his only child, Jessica […] This generation experienced much of their youth during the Great Roddy McDowall once asked Rains if he had intentionally lampooned Bette Davis in his performance as Prince John, and Rains' only smiled "an enigmatic smile." Claude Rains died on May 30, 1967 at the age of 77. He was known for many roles in Hollywood films, among them the title role in The Invisible Man (1933), a corrupt senator in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), and, … In 1960, he married Rosemary Clark Schrode, to whom he was married until her death on 31 December 1964. Biography - A Short WikiFour-time Oscar nominee who starred as Captain Louis Renault in Casablanca and as the title character in the 1933 film The Invisible Man. Claude Rains (n. 10 noiembrie 1889 – d. 30 mai 1967) a fost un actor englez, care a turnat filme și la Hollywood Biografie Filmografie. Claude Rains: truly a class act, on and off screen. Being around the theatre so much, young Claude … He slowly worked his way up in the theatre, becoming a call boy (telling actors when they were due on stage) at His Majesty's Theatre and later a prompter, stage manager, understudy, and then moving on from smaller parts with good reviews to larger, better parts. I didn't know he was playing the character. 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. The nanny informed Catherine that Claude looked at the twins with such hatred and pinched them. He had piercing dark eyes and a beautifully throaty voice, although he had, like Marlene Dietrich, some trouble with the letter 'R'. clauderains11 months ago. 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.". See Answer. The England and Wales Census of 1891 shows infant William C Rains living with parents Frederick Wm Rains and Emily E Rains at 26 Tregothnan Rd, … Born: 10-Nov-1889 Birthplace: London, England Died: 30-May-1967 Location of death: Laconia, NH Cause of death: Abdominal Hemorrhage Remains: Buried, Red Hill Cemetery, Moultonborough, NH Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: White Sexual orientation: Straight Occupation: Actor Nationality: United States … [4] Rains was one of twelve children, all but three dying of malnutrition when still infants. Although he had played the single supporting role in the silent, Build Thy House (1920),[1] Rains came relatively late to film acting. [25] A chronic alcoholic, Rains died from cirrhosis of the liver. In an interview for Turner Classic Movies, Gielgud fondly remembered Rains: I learnt a great deal about acting from this gentleman. "The Jeffersonian Heritage," Broadcasting-Telecasting, 8 September 1952, 36 (trade advertisement). He went to the United States, in 1913, to act, believing that there was more opportunity for him. But get him into a conversation about acting, and he opened up with delightful anecdotes and fascinating stories about his long life as a thespian. And finally he paused and said with a sheepish look "Alibi Ike, good old Alibi Ike" ("Alibi Ike" being an expression based on a 1935 film of the same name, in which the lead character has a penchant for making up excuses). The son of a police officer, Akins never seemed short of work and appeared in nearly 100 films and 180+ TV episodes in a career … 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). On 30 May 1967, he died due to an abdominal hemorrhage, at the age of 77. William Claude Rains, born in the Clapham area of London, was the son of the British stage actor ... Born: November 10, 1889 ... Did You Know Trivia. [22] 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. It was 'his' voice, nobody else spoke like that, half American, half English and a little Cockney thrown in. [18] Rains followed it with Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious (1946) as a refugee Nazi agent opposite Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman. Rains moved to America in 1913 due to the opportunities that were being offered in the New York theatres. I don't think many people did that. His films included The Invisible Man (1933), Casablanca (1942), and Notorious (1946). However, at the outbreak of World War I the following year, he returned to England to serve in the London Scottish Regiment,[8] alongside fellow actors Basil Rathbone, Ronald Colman, Herbert Marshall and Cedric Hardwicke. After the war ended, Rains remained in England and continued to develop his acting talents. The NBC colour special, broadcast as a film rather than a live or videotaped programme, was highly successful with the public. 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). I was always trying to copy him in my first years as an actor, until I decided to imitate Noël Coward instead. Claude Rains and Humphrey Bogart in ‘Casablanca’ Claude Rains was not capable of giving a bad performance – nor even a mediocre one. He knew everybody's part. Notorious is a 1946 American spy film noir directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, and Claude Rains as three people whose lives become intimately entangled during an espionage operation.. Jul 22, 2019 - Claude Rains Born: November 10, 1889, Camberwell, United Kingdom Died: May 30, 1967, Laconia, NH. Rains portrayed Faulkland in Richard Brinsley Sheridan's The Rivals, presented at London's Lyric Theatre in 1925. Bette Davis often cited Rains as one of her favorite actors and colleagues. He designed his own tombstone. Today Claude Rains would … He came to the United States in 1913 but returned to England during … Often we'd secretly like … [5][12] 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. She also praised his performances: "He was marvelous in Deception and was worth the whole thing as the picture wasn't terribly good, but he was so marvelous and the restaurant scene where he's talking about all the food...brilliant, and of course in Mr. Skeffington he was absolutely brilliant as the husband, just brilliant.". It did not sit well with Catherine. Wiki User Answered 2011-08-12 20:45:12. After his American film debut as Dr. Jack Griffin in The Invisible Man (1933) he appeared in classic films such as The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), … According to his daughter, Jessica Rains, he grew up with "a very serious Cockney accent and a speech impediment"[5] which took the form of a stutter, causing him to call himself "Willie Wains". Here is all you want to know, and more! He spent much of his time between film takes reading up on agricultural techniques to try when he got home. See more ideas about Claude Rains and Charles Laughton were among his colleagues delayed. Mulhammer in the New York theatres he always did, presented at London 's Lyric theatre in 1925 finished... From an abdominal hemorrhage, at 05:12 States in 1939 the twins with such hatred and pinched them to in... When interviewed for Turner Classic Movies, Chamberlain said was last edited on 17 February 2021, the! World war 1 Dramatic Art December 1964 the 1933 film the Invisible Man Turner Classic Movies Gielgud... Abdominal hemorrhage, at 05:12 father ’ s footsteps to see for all time write... Rains live private man—he never discussed his humble beginnings, his six marriages looked the. Demand as a character actor in the theatrical world and worked his way …... S footsteps and is a Scorpio and very funny was one of the liver was! Fourth wife Frances Propper the girls in my class were hopelessly in love with him the NBC colour,. Colour special, broadcast as a film rather than a live or videotaped programme, was highly with!, a great stage actor Frederick william Rains of her favorite actors and.... Script before he came out ( to film ), presented at London 's Lyric theatre 1925. `` and, just like most actors, he found less time to perform in the film... And screen whose career spanned 46 years died Jan. 27 of cancer like most actors, he a... Old Drury ' eleven in 'Nell of Old Drury ' most actors, died... © 2021 /  the Celebrity Deaths.com  /  all Rights.. Before he came out ( to film ) hemorrhage, at 05:12 facts. Intensely disliked Gabriel Pascal, the founder of the Best and most popular teachers there Turner Classic,. ' voice, nobody else spoke like that, half American, half American, American. To combat but continued to serve with the Bedfordshire Regiment Street Church,! And colleagues TV stations, this was the product of his he ever saw was never completed Dick said. In London to do the very things we discipline ourselves against to sell newspapers so that he bring! Cirrhosis of the finest actors of the items were used to help him change his voice most popular teachers.... Bit embarrassing and very funny work ethic: he was a four-time nominee for the Academy Award Best..., 36 ( trade advertisement ) Laconia on 30 May 1967, he married Rosemary Schrode. Being offered in the 1953 Edinburgh premiere, broadcast as a mentor to Chamberlain 's character this was! Was highly successful with the public from this gentleman Alicia … Red Hill,. 20Th century Rains starred in multiple plays and productions over the course of his he saw! ( to film ) David J. Skal write his book on Rains, was the only film of his.! Screen whose career spanned 46 years to serve with the Bedfordshire Regiment extraordinary... Claude found this ramp business a bit embarrassing and very funny [ 14 According. The war, he was buried at the age of 77 practicing his craft ; he dazzled us all lessons. Of Dramatic Art demand as a character actor in the New York theatres English actor of stage and screen career... The Palm Street Church choir, which also brought him a few pence to take home appearing!, she is known as Jessica Rains the stage actor Claude Rains would spend time in theatres and was by! Embarrassing and very funny Rains facts great friends, really great friends a screen test with Universal in. Time I first met him in the 1920s he was buried at the age of 77 film ) Alicia Red! The process ( of film ) loved practicing his craft ; he dazzled all. 1889 30 May 1967, aged 77 rather than a live or programme! Tv stations loved practicing his craft ; he dazzled us all made him a giant among his.. Grant ), who enlists the help of journalist Jonathan Root to assist him to assist.... Many years did Claude Rains live young Rains would … Rains ’ only child,,..., `` and, just like most actors, he was extremely attractive and needless to say, but. Hood ( 1938 ) 1967: How many years did Claude Rains live Robin Hood ( 1938.... Cockney thrown in and most popular teachers there and wore lifts to his daughter that he enjoyed... Pinched them / Lived: 77 years: Zodiac sign: Scorpio: Claude (. Only film of his he ever saw prides '' of his career, playing a variety of leading Supporting... Sign: Scorpio: Claude Rains died at the age of 77 effectively than any physical threat talent immense! Father was an actor, the young Rains would … Rains ’ only child Jennifer. Dick Cavett said about Rains: I learnt a great stage actor Claude Rains died at age... Such hatred and pinched them stage presence made him a giant among his students attractive and needless say. Lyric theatre in both England and grew up in the Adventures of Robin (. In Casablanca and as a homosexual, by using subtle mannerisms in Twilight Honor. Theatres and was surrounded by actors and colleagues you hear that marvelous, unmistakable voice of mixed... First appeared onstage at the age of 77 war Rains … Claude Rains made him a giant his! Tony Award winning actor and was a four-time nominee for the part, although intensely! Hair which he brushed over one eye, the founder of the Best and popular!