Edvard Arnold American actor Date of Birth: 18.02.1890 Country: USA

Biography of Edward Arnold

Edward Arnold was an American character actor whose career began in the era of silent films and successfully transitioned into the sound era of cinema. Over a span of 40 years, Arnold appeared in 150 films and television series and participated in 13 Broadway productions from 1919 to 1932.

Early Life and Career:
Gunther Edward Arnold Schneider, the son of German immigrants Carl Schneider and Elizabeth Ohse, was born on February 18, 1890, in the Lower East Side of New York City. Arnold became an orphan at the age of 11 and had to earn a living for himself. At the age of 12, he had his first experience on the theatrical stage, playing Lorenzo in an amateur production of Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice." His performance caught the attention of playwright and journalist John D. Barry, who encouraged Arnold to pursue his talent. Inspired by Barry's advice, Arnold became a professional actor at the age of 15 and joined the prestigious theater group, the "Ben Greet Players." After touring with famous figures such as Ethel Barrymore and Maxine Elliot, he briefly worked as an extra in the Chicago-based "Essanay Film Studios" and "World Studios" in New Jersey until he landed his first notable role in the 1916 melodrama, "The Misleading Lady."

Film and Broadway Success:
In the following years, Arnold's schedule as a young actor was hectic, appearing in 21 films in 1916 (although most of them were shorts) and 17 films in 1917. He temporarily left the film industry and returned to the stage, only to come back to the sound era of cinema in 1932 with the film, "Okay America!" His breakthrough came in 1933 when he portrayed a gangster in the crime comedy "Whistling in the Dark," and his leading role in "Diamond Jim" made him a celebrity. Despite being described as "box office poison" in a 1938 publication, Arnold consistently found work. Interestingly, Arnold shared this dubious epithet with Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Mae West, Fred Astaire, and Katharine Hepburn. Instead of pursuing leading roles, he chose to embrace character roles and became an expert in portraying villains, scoundrels, and authoritative figures. Some of his best works include "Come and Get It" (1936), "Sutter's Gold" (1936), "The Toast of New York" (1937), "You Can't Take It With You" (1938), "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939), and "The Devil and Daniel Webster" (1941).

Later Career and Personal Life:
Thanks to his stature, Arnold became the first actor to portray the famous detective Nero Wolfe from Rex Stout's novels in the film "Meet Nero Wolfe" (1936). From 1950, Arnold began appearing on television, and from 1947 to 1953, he starred in the radio adaptation of "Mr. President" on ABC. From 1940 to 1942, Arnold served as the president of the newly formed Screen Actor's Guild. Although he sympathized with conservatives, Arnold worked tirelessly to protect fellow actors from persecution due to suspected communist sympathies. In 1917, Arnold married Harriet Marshall, with whom he had three children: Elizabeth, Jane, and William. They divorced after ten years, and from 1929 to 1948, his second wife was Olive Emerson. In 1951, Arnold married Cleo McLain. He passed away on April 26, 1956, in his home in Encino, California, at the age of 66, due to a cerebral hemorrhage. For his contributions to the film industry, Arnold received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.