Edmund Gwenn (real name Edmund John Kellaway) is a British theater, radio and film actor of the last century. One of the few actors from the 1930s-1950s who was able to achieve fame not only in his homeland, but also in Hollywood.
The actor won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe in 1948 for his role as the old man Chris Kringle, confident that he is a real Santa Claus, in the film Miracle on 34th Street. It is believed that he became the only artist to receive an Academy Award for his portrayal of Santa Claus in the history of cinema.
In 1951, he was again nominated for an Oscar for his role in the film Mister 880, but this time he did not get the award.
In the creative biography of Edmund, there are about a hundred roles in film and television. Since 1940, he also worked in radio and took part in popular radio shows, including "The Unknown" and "Stars over Hollywood".
Biography facts
The future actor was born in England in the fall of 1877. He was the oldest child. In those days, this meant that he had to continue his father's work and high hopes were pinned on him. The boy's father was a British civil servant and dreamed that his eldest son would reach great heights, in the future he would take a high post.
But Edmund from an early age dreamed of something completely different and could not imagine himself in public service. It seemed to him that nothing more boring in life could be.
For some time he really wanted to become a sailor and devote his life to the navy. But all these dreams were quickly dispelled after one of his close relatives who served in the Royal Navy was brought to trial, violating the provisions of the charter.
Also, Edmund was not in very good health and his eyesight was too weak. In addition, his mother, who adored her son, constantly imagined terrible pictures of shipwrecks and, of course, was categorically opposed to him going to sea.
After receiving his primary education, the young man continued his studies first at St. Olaf's College and then King's College London.
In his student years, he was actively involved in sports, played rugby and mastered boxing. But the theater became the biggest hobby. The young man was delighted with the play of the famous actor Henry Irvig and dreamed of also being on stage. When he told his father that he wanted to become an actor, he caused him real anger. The father promised that if he finds out that his son is performing in the theater, he will deprive him of his livelihood and throw him out of the house. But Edmund decided not to give up and get what he wanted, no matter what.
Creative way
In 1885, he first appeared on the stage and played several roles in amateur performances. At first, the young actor went on stage with a glued beard and a lot of makeup. He was afraid that someone might recognize him and inform his family that their son is a theater actor. Interestingly, Gwenn's younger brother, Arthur, later also became an actor and performed under the name of A. Chesney.
For several years, Edmund played small roles in performances and toured the country with various theaters. He worked with E. Tyrl's repertoire troupe, which was constantly on the road and gave one performance every day.
In 1899, he performed for the first time on the stage of the theater in the West End in the production of "A Jealous Mistake". In 1901, Gwenn went to Australia, where he spent 3 years and only in 1904 returned to London to pursue a career. The reason for the return was an invitation from Bernard Shaw himself to play in his new performance.
Since 1908, Gwenn has been full-time in the theater and has played many roles in classical plays. During the First World War, the young man was drafted into the army. He spent many months under fire and delivering ammunition to the front lines. Having started the war as a private, he rose to the rank of captain.
Returning from the war, Gwenn again began to play on stage, and in 1921 he starred in films for the first time.
During his work in cinema, the actor has appeared in almost a hundred films, including: "Dirty Game", "I was a spy", "Money", "Good Companions", "Friday the Thirteenth", "Viennese Waltzes", "Wild Woman", Sylvia Scarlett, Walking the Dead, Yankees in Oxford, Pride and Prejudice, Foreign Correspondent, The Devil and Miss Jones, Charlea's Aunt, Trouble with Harry, Lassie Comes Home, "Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven", "Undercurrent", "Miracle on 34th Street", "Life with Father", "Native Hills", "Outstanding Woman", "Mister 880", "Beijing Express", "Les Miserables "," Sally and St. Anne "," Green Dolphin Street "," Bigamist "," They "," Trouble with Harry "," Millionaire "," Alfred Hitchcock Presents "," Theater 90 ".
The last time on the screen Gwenn appeared in 1956 in the film "Calabuch", where he played the main role of Professor Hamilton.
Personal life
Edmund was married only once. This happened during his youth, when he was an aspiring theater actor. The niece of the famous artist Ellen Terry became his wife.
The marriage lasted several months, but by the end of 1901 it broke up. Since then, Edmund has never met his only love. He remained a bachelor for the rest of his life.
The actor remained a subject of England all his life, despite the fact that for many years he lived in America and starred in Hollywood. During World War II, his home in London was completely destroyed. He moved to the United States, where he bought a house in Beverly Hills.
The actor spent the last days of his life in Woodland Hills in a nursing home. There he suffered a stroke, and after a while he fell ill with pneumonia. The actor passed away in September 1959.
