Matinee Classics - George Zucco Biography & Filmography

George Zucco ACTOR

PHOTOS

GEORGE ZUCCO BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

George Zucco was born on January 11th, 1886 in Manchester, England to Marian and George De Sylla Zucco. After high school he decided to focus on a career as an actor. He began with stage acting in 1908 in Canada and later joined the American vaudeville circuit.

He took a break from his entertaining career during World War I to return to England and join the army. After being injured and being discharged from the Army, Zucco returned back to pursuing his career in entertainment and by the 1920's he had become one of the most leading male actors of his era.

Zucco appeared on such British sound films as, "The Dreyfus Case" (1931) and "The Man Who Could Work Miracles" (1936). Now having experience as a stage performer as well as a couple film roles, he felt ready to make the move to America.

Zucco first appeared on Broadway in a production called, "Victoria Regina" (1935-1936), for which his performance caught the eyes of Hollywood and he was soon signed to a contract and working on such American films as, "Sinner Take All" (1936). As his career progressed other film roles followed such as, "Charlie Chan in Honolulu" (1938), "Arrest Bulldog Drummond" (1939), "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" (1939), "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1939) and "The Mummy's Hand" (1940).

Moving into the 1940's he was not as in high demand as an actor, however, Zucco did add a couple successful film roles to his resume prior to his retirement. He was seen on the big screen in, "The Flying Serpent" (1946), "Captain from Castile" (1947), "Joan of Arc" (1948), "Who Killed Doc Robbin" (1948), "Madame Bovary" (1949) and his final film role was an un-credited role in, "David and Bathsheba" (1951).

He then retired from the industry and lived with his one and only wife, Stella Francis whom he had married in 1930. The couple had one child together and remained married and living in Los Angeles. Sadly, his health declined so rapidly, he spent his remaining years living in the assisted living facility called, Monterey Sanitarium, until he passed away on May 28th, 1960 after suffering from pneumonia. His remains were cremated and interred at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills, California. George Zucco will always be remembered for his role on so many classic horror films.