Stewart Granger American actor Date of Birth: 05.05.1913 Country: USA

1. Biography of Stewart Granger
2. Early Life
3. Early Career
4. World War II and Rising Fame
5. Marriage to Jean Simmons and Hollywood Success
6. Later Years and Legacy

Biography of Stewart Granger

Stewart Granger was a popular Anglo-American actor in the 1940s and 1950s, known for his roles as noble heroes in romantic films.

Early Life

Born on May 5, 1913, in West London, Stewart Granger was named James Lablache Stewart after his father, Major James Stewart, a British empire knight. His great-grandfather was the famous Italian opera singer Luigi Lablache. Granger attended a prestigious college in Epsom, England, before enrolling in the Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He decided to pursue a career in theater and cinema, but faced a problem as there was already an actor named James Stewart. To avoid confusion, he adopted the stage name Stewart Granger, combining his real surname with his grandmother's maiden name. However, he remained known as Jimmy to his friends and colleagues.

Early Career

Granger made his film debut in 1933 in a minor role in a British film. However, he appeared in few films in the following years and primarily focused on his theater career. It was during a stint at a theater in Birmingham that he met actress Elspet March, who became his first wife in 1938.

World War II and Rising Fame

With the outbreak of World War II, Granger was enlisted in a Scottish infantry regiment. However, due to a stomach ulcer, he never saw action and returned to civilian life. In the early 1940s, his film career began to flourish. He landed significant roles at the British film studio "Gainsborough Pictures," appearing in films such as "Secret Mission" (1942) and "The Man in Grey" (1943), which made him popular in the United Kingdom.

Marriage to Jean Simmons and Hollywood Success

In 1945, while filming "Caesar and Cleopatra," Granger met young actress Jean Simmons. They developed a friendship that eventually turned into a romance. They co-starred in the film "Adam and Evelyne" in 1949 and got married the following year, organized by the famous American adventurer Howard Hughes. They tied the knot in Tucson, Arizona, after being flown there on one of Hughes' private planes. By this time, Granger had divorced his first wife, Elspet March.

In 1949, after an unsuccessful stage production in London, Granger decided to try his luck in Hollywood. The MGM studio was looking for an actor for the lead role in "King Solomon's Mines," and Granger was chosen to play Allan Quartermain. The film was a huge success, and MGM offered him a seven-year contract. He went on to appear in several successful films for the studio, including "Scaramouche" (1952), "The Prisoner of Zenda" (1952), and "Moonfleet" (1955). For the first two films, Granger had to take fencing lessons from a former Olympic champion. He became so adept at sword fighting that his photo with a sword appeared on the cover of "Life" magazine.

Later Years and Legacy

Granger also starred in "Young Bess" (1953), which marked his third collaboration with his wife Jean Simmons. In 1956, he became an American citizen. Granger continued his successful career in Hollywood throughout the 1950s, with his last film appearance being in "North to Alaska" (1960) alongside John Wayne. In the same year, his marriage to Simmons ended.

After that, Granger returned to his homeland and continued his acting career in European films. He appeared in British, Italian, and German movies, with one of his notable roles being in the Soviet Union well-known film "The Old Shurhand" (also known as "The Faithful Hand of the Indians"). Granger married for the third time, but this marriage was short-lived and ended after five years.

One of his last notable works was in the British film "The Wild Geese" in 1978. Granger's final roles were on television, with his last performance being in the TV film "Chameleons" in 1989.

Stewart Granger passed away on August 16, 1993, in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 80, after battling prostate cancer.