Cecil Lauriston Kellaway is a British theater, film and television actor. In the 1920s, he began performing on the theater stage in Australia and soon became widely known as a comedian. In 1937 he starred in Wuthering Heights and has since settled in Hollywood.
In the creative biography of the actor 147 roles in television and film projects. Kellaway was twice nominated for an Oscar. In 1949, for his supporting role in the film "Luck of the Irishman" and in 1968 for his work in the film "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"
Cecil devoted his entire life to theater and cinema. He passed away in 1973 after a serious and prolonged illness. The actor was buried in Westwood Memorial Park, located in Los Angeles.
Biography facts
The future actor was born in the summer of 1890 in South Africa. From early childhood he showed great interest in creativity and acting. True, the parents did not encourage their son's hobbies and tried in every possible way to hinder his interest. They wanted him to choose a serious profession and be able to secure a decent future for himself.
Cecil had a younger brother, Alec. The elder brother had a huge influence on him, including his choice of profession. Alec also became an actor, starring in many famous films during the 1930-1950s, and then took up production activities. He passed away in 1973, a month earlier than his older brother.
The boy's father is Peter Kellaway, he was a physician. He was one of the founders of the use of the electroencephalogram for the assessment of patients with mental disorders. He conducted research using EEG tests by Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated President John F. Kennedy. Peter presented his data at the hearing in this case.
Cecil spent his early years in Cape Town. The family later returned to England, where their parents were from. The boy received his primary education first in South Africa and then in England.
The beginning of a creative career
In the early 1920s, Kellaway traveled to Australia, where he spent many years as an actor and director at the Australian live theater. Then he decided to go to Hollywood to try acting in films.
The first roles did not bring him fame and popularity. Soon the young man realized that the roles offered to him in gangster films did not satisfy him. Cecil was completely disenchanted with cinema and returned to Australia, where he again began working in the theater.
After a while, William Wyler called him and offered him a role in the Wuthering Heights melodrama. The script was based on the novel of the same name by E. Bronte. The film won an Oscar in 1940 for Best Cinematography and 7 nominations for this award, including Best Picture. The film starred famous actors of those years: Laurence Olivier, Merle Oberon, David Niven.
Although Kellaway played only a minor role, his appearance on the screen did not go unnoticed. From that moment on, his career in Hollywood began.
Film career
In 1939 the actor got one of the central roles in the melodrama "Intermezzo". The film stars: Leslie Howard, Ingrid Bergman, Edna Best, John Holliday.
The plot of the film revolves around the relationship between the cellist Brandt and the young pianist Anita. Brandt falls in love with a girl and offers her a joint tour of the country. The wife, having learned about her husband's relationship with Anita, agrees to divorce, but the pianist herself is not ready to destroy the family and leave the children without a father. The film received high marks from viewers and film critics and was twice nominated for an Oscar.
A year later, Kellaway got a role in the fantasy thriller The Invisible Man Returns. The picture was announced as a sequel to the 1933 film "The Invisible Man", although its plot is not related to the first part. The main role in the film was played by Cedric Hardwicke, one of the best theater actors of those years.
The actor played the next role in the thriller "The House of Seven Gables". The film is set in a small town where the Pinchen family lives. Once the head of the family went on to deceive and accused the carpenter Matthew Mole of witchcraft in order to take possession of his lands. During the execution, Matthew cursed his killer and his entire family.
In 1940, Cecil also starred in several more films, including: "Brother" Orchid "," Hand of the Mummy "," Letter ".
In subsequent years, the actor was in great demand in Hollywood. And although he was not offered the main roles, he brilliantly played minor characters and invariably delighted fans with his appearances on the screen. Among his works, it is worth noting roles in the films: "I Married a Witch", "Crystal Ball", "Pirate's Cove", "The Postman Always Calls Twice", "Variety Girl", "Invincible", "First Studio".
In 1948, he played one of the main roles in the fantastic melodrama "The Luck of the Irishman", which earned him a nomination for the main award of the American Film Academy. Cecil repeated his success in 1967 in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
In Kellaway's further career, there are many characters created in popular films and TV shows, including: "The Twilight Zone", "Theater 90", "Perry Mason", "Rawhide", "The Cardinal", "My wife bewitched me", "FBI "," A Weekend in California ".
He last appeared on screen in 1970 in the comedy melodrama Straight and in 1972 in the television detective Call Home.
Personal life
Cecil married in 1919. His chosen one was Doreen Elisabeth Joubert, who gave her husband 2 sons: Peter and Brian. His wife was by his side until the last moment. The couple lived together for 54 years.
Son Brian also chose the acting profession, although he did not become as popular as his father. He passed away in 2010.
