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Jose FerrerPuerto Rican actor and film director.
Date of Birth: 08.02.1912
Country:  USA |
Content:
- José Ferrer: A Pioneer of Puerto Rican Cinema
- Broadway and Stage
- Cyrano de Bergerac
- Film Success
- Focus on Film
- Awards and Accolades
- Personal Life
- Legacy
José Ferrer: A Pioneer of Puerto Rican Cinema
Early Life and EducationJosé Vicente Ferrer de Otero y Cintrón was born on February 8, 1912, in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico. The son of Rafael Ferrer, a lawyer and writer, and Maria Providencia Cintron, Ferrer was related to tennis star Gigi Fernández. He studied at the prestigious Swiss boarding school, Institut Le Rosey, and graduated from Princeton University in 1933 with a thesis on "French Naturalism and Pardo Bazán."
Broadway and Stage
Ferrer made his Broadway debut in 1935 and landed his first starring role as the cross-dressing lead in "Charley's Aunt" in 1940. He played Iago in a Broadway production of "Othello" alongside Paul Robeson and Uta Hagen. Notable stage productions he both acted in and directed include "The Shrike," "Stalag 17," "The Fourposter," and "Twentieth Century."
Cyrano de Bergerac
Ferrer's most iconic role was as the long-nosed duelist Cyrano de Bergerac in the eponymous play in 1946. Despite concerns about the play's success, Ferrer agreed to direct and star, winning his first Tony Award, which he shared with Fredric March. The production ran for the entire 1946-1947 season.
Film Success
Ferrer made his film debut in 1948 as the weak-willed Dauphin Charles VII in "Joan of Arc" starring Ingrid Bergman. He followed up with leading roles in "Whirlpool" and "Crisis" before achieving widespread recognition as Cyrano in the 1950 film adaptation of the play.
Focus on Film
From the 1950s onward, Ferrer primarily focused on film. He directed and starred in the historical drama "I Accuse!" (1958) and the comedy "The High Cost of Loving" (1958). Ferrer also helmed "Return to Peyton Place" (1961) and a remake of "State Fair" (1962). Other notable film roles include "Lawrence of Arabia," "The Greatest Story Ever Told," and Woody Allen's "A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy."
Awards and Accolades
Ferrer was the first Latino actor to win an Academy Award for his portrayal of Cyrano de Bergerac in 1950. He received another Oscar nomination for his role as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in "Moulin Rouge" (1952) and a BAFTA Award nomination for "The Caine Mutiny" (1954).
Personal Life
Ferrer was married four times. He had a daughter, Leticia "Lettie" Ferrer, with Uta Hagen, whom he was married to from 1938 to 1948. He was married to dancer and actress Phyllis Hill from 1948 to 1953, and to singer Rosemary Clooney from 1953 to 1961, and later from 1964 to 1967. They had five children together. In the late 1960s, Ferrer married Stella Magee.
Legacy
Ferrer died on January 26, 1992, following a brief battle with colon cancer. He is buried in Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery in San Juan, Puerto Rico. José Ferrer was the first actor to receive the National Medal of Arts and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
