Famous American film and theater actor, dancer and singer, Clifton Webb was born on November 19, 1889 in Indianapolis, Indiana. In the 40s of the twentieth century, Clifton was actively involved in acting. He was twice nominated for an Oscar, received a Golden Globe award, took part in musicals and comedies. For more than 15 years, he remained the protagonist of the Twentieth Century Fox studio.
Carier start
It all started with the fact that Webb tried himself as an opera singer and ballroom dancer. Soon he performed on Broadway: musicals and dramatic performances were his path. And only at the age of 53, and for an actor, this age is often considered to be the end of his career, Webb began working in Hollywood. The arrogant newspaper journalist, Valdo Lidecker in the 1994 film Laura, brought him great success: the actor was noticed by film critics and producers. Further, in 1946, he starred in the films: "Dark Corner", "Razor's Edge". In 1948 he took part in a new genre for himself, namely, in the comedy "Cleverly Settled Up". The picture promised him great success and brought great fame. Also on his account are the films: "Cheaper by the Dozen" in 1950, "Titanic" in 1953, "Three Coins in the Fountain" in 1954, "The Man Who Never Was - 1956. Thanks to these works, Webb was one of the main protagonists of Twentieth Century Fox. Clifton Webb was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Next comes the nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role in the family comedy "Cleverly Settled Up". Received a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in Razor's Edge. 1953 - Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in Stars and Stripes Forever.
Becoming an actor
Webb Parmily Hollenbeck or Clifton Webb was born on November 19, 1889 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Members of the Webb family were railroad clerks. When Clifton was two years old, his family broke up, and the future actor with his mother Maybell moved to New York and began dancing at the age of three. At the age of seven, the director of the children's theater pays attention to him. As a result, in 1900, Clifton enters the Carnegie Hall stage. Further, he takes part in a large number of children's performances. Webb, in parallel with dancing, studies music and painting. At the age of 13, he enters the Chase Art School. The artist, George Wesley Bellows, becomes his teacher. Webb 14 years old: first participation in the exhibition. But he was not interested in painting for long, and the study of vocals came to replace the brush.
1906: Role of Master Webb Raum in New York. So he got his future pseudonym. Takes part in the operas Mignon, Madame Butterfly, La Bohème, Hansel and Gretel. And again he wants to change his creative direction: he decides to become a professional dancer. As a result, it is this direction that gives him more recognition. Soon he opens his own dance studio, participates in Broadway musicals, plays in dramatic productions. Critics of the time called Webb the most versatile actor.
Broadway
1913: Webb has more than 20 operettas, musicals, revues. In the 1920s, he played in eight of the largest Broadway productions. After which he is recognized as one of the greatest talents in the country, his versatility fascinates viewers and critics. The Importance of Being Earnest (1939) based on Oscar Wilde's drama, Restless Spirit (three years on Broadway) are famous works of that period.
1917-1935 years
First film role - 1917: dancer in the silent film National Red Cross Parade. 1920 - role in the film "Polly with a Past". New Toys, a film directed by Mary Hay and Richard Bartlemess, earned large royalties. For the next twenty years, Webb did not appear in feature films.
Hollywood
In the 1930s, Webb is invited to Hollywood: Metro Golden Meyer becomes his next target. But work on the film did not begin, after 18 months of inactivity, Webb returns to his homeland, to the Broadway stage. Soon signs a contract with 20th Century Fox.
In 1943, the film "Laura" was released. Webb plays the stately, vicious journalist Valdo Lidecker, who is infatuated with Gene Tierney. The main producer of the studio, Darryl Zanuck, tried to interfere with Webb, but he did not succeed, and the main role went by right to Clifton. Whether personal disagreements have become a problem or simply intolerance of the actor by the producer, no one knows for sure. Because, in the end, the film received a huge response from the audience and a box office success. And so began Webb's twenty-year relationship with the studio. Comedies, melodramas, noir are the most memorable genres of the actor. In 1948, Clifton became a full-fledged star thanks to the role of Lynn Aloysius Belvedere in the comedy "Cleverly Settled". An Oscar nomination for the lead role followed after the premiere.
A unique sense of humor combined with arrogance, talent, strength and hard work made Webb a truly successful actor and audience favorite. Who else could boast such a set of roles at 50? Film historian Bruce Eder said that Webb "was one of the most incredible movie stars imaginable - in an era when male lead roles were supposed to be courageous and courageous, he was cutesy and downright effeminate." And this played into the hands of Clifton, and this is exactly what he was remembered by the audience of that time.
A family. The last years of the actor's life
Webb did not have children and a wife, he lived with his mother and remained a bachelor until the end. Many considered him to be of non-traditional sexual orientation, but whether this is true or not is not fully known. Often times, people who are so focused on work are simply not interested in family and relationship building. Then, perhaps, he would not have become so famous if he had not put all his vital energy into creativity.
Six years after his mother's death, in 1966, Webb dies of a heart attack in Los Angeles. Many noted that just after the loss of his mother, the actor began to have health problems. But the audience, who so fell in love with the image of an eccentric, elegant man, the actor was remembered for many years.
