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Rex HarrisonAmerican actor and producer
Date of Birth: 05.03.1908
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Rex Harrison: A Biography
- Acting Career
- Film Career
- Personal Life
- Rex Harrison passed away from cancer on June 2, 1990.
Rex Harrison: A Biography
Rex Harrison was an American actor and producer. He was born on March 5, 1908, in Lancashire, United Kingdom. He studied at Liverpool College and made his first appearance on stage in 1924 in Liverpool.
Acting Career
Harrison's acting career was interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the Royal Air Force and was demobilized as a lieutenant. He played in numerous plays before his breakthrough in the world of cinema. As a young and attractive actor, he starred in Terence Rattigan's play "French Without Tears," which became his breakthrough role in the film industry.
Throughout his acting career, Harrison received numerous awards and accolades. He won his first Tony Award for his role as Henry VIII in "Anne of the Thousand Days." He also won a Tony Award for his portrayal of Henry Higgins in the musical "My Fair Lady." Other notable roles that brought him fame include Enrico IV, "Aren't We All?" at Haymarket Theatre in 1984, and "The Admirable Crichton" at Brooks Atkinson Theatre.
Film Career
Harrison made his film debut in 1930 in "The Great Game." Some of his earlier film appearances 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). However, his role as Professor Henry Higgins in the musical "My Fair Lady" brought him unparalleled fame. The film adaptation released in 1964 earned Harrison an Academy Award for Best Actor.
Despite being described as the "best comic actor," Harrison also portrayed several dramatic roles. He played Julius Caesar in "Cleopatra" (1963), Pope Julius II in "The Agony and the Ecstasy" (1965), where he portrayed Michelangelo, and appeared in films such as "Staircase" and "Shalimar."
Personal Life
Harrison's personal life was eventful, as he was married six times. After divorcing his first wife, Collette Thomas, in 1942, he married German actress Lilli Palmer. However, their relationship became strained following a sexual scandal involving the young screen star Carole Landis, who tragically committed suicide. Harrison, by then known as "Sexy Rexy," started a relationship with British actress Kay Kendall and divorced Lilli to marry the terminally ill Kay.
In 1962, Harrison married actress Rachel Roberts. This union, as well as another marriage to Elizabeth Harris, also ended in divorce. In 1978, Harrison married Mercia Tinker, and their marriage remained happy until his death.
