Matinee Classics - Victor McLaglen Biography & Filmography

Victor McLaglen ACTOR

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VICTOR MCLAGLEN BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Victor McLaglen, born December 10, 1886, was a British actor most noted for his American films. He was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in England. When he was only a child, his family moved to South Africa, for his father was a bishop. At age fourteen, McLaglen left home to fight in the British Army during the Second Boer War. However, he did not advance very far, because his true age was discovered. Four years following, he relocated to Canada and became a successful boxer. In 1913, McLaglen went back to England and served in the Royal Regiment during World War I. He also continued boxing, and was even named Heavyweight Champion of the British Army in 1918. When the war ended, he decided to look into a new hobby: acting. Ironically, four out of his eight brothers went on to become actors, too.

In the early twenties, McLaglen was most seen in British silent films. His very first starring role, which was also his debut role, was in “The Call of the Road” (1920). He was well received for his part. This led to appearing in more movies like “The Prey of the Dragon” (1921), “A Romance of Old Baghdad” (1922), and “The Romany” (1923). In a great deal of his first films, he had the lead part. A few years after his opening role, McLaglen was presented the opportunity to play the main character in an American western film titled “The Beloved Brute” (1924). He took up the offer and moved to Hollywood. Here, he received both lead and supporting roles in a large number of films, including parts in “Men of Steel” (1926) “A Girl in Every Port” (1928), “A Devil with Women” (1930) with Mona Maris and Humphrey Bogart, and “The Captain Hates the Sea” (1935) starring with The Three Stooges, Arthur Treacher, Walter Catlett, Akim Tamiroff, Leon Errol and Walter Connolly. McLaglen quickly transformed into a popular character, often portraying a large (he was 6’3”), rough, but good-hearted man of action. He also, however, had a flair for playing drunks. This ability of his was proven when he played Irish rebel, heavy-drinking Gypo Nolan in the drama “The Informer” (1935) also starring Heather Angel, Preston Foster, Margot Grahame, Wallace Ford, Joe Sawyer, Una O'Connor and J. M. Kerrigan. For this part, McLaglen won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Into the 1940's, he continued to portray villains, heroes, and brutes alike in a cornucopia of movies such as “China Girl” (1942) co-starring Gene Tierney, George Montgomery, Lynn Bari, Sig Ruman, Robert Blake, Philip Ahn and Tom Neal, in which he plays a hero, “Tampico” (1944) with Edward G. Robinson and Lynn Bari, where the actor is a brute, and “The Princess and the Pirate” (1944), in which the villain is played by McLaglen. The actor was given a new momentum when he was cast as a lovable and mischievous Irishman in films alongside of John Wayne such as “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” (1949) which also starred Joanne Dru, John Agar, Ben Johnson, Mildred Natwick, Harry Carey Jr., George O'Brien and Tom Tyler, and “The Quiet Man” (1952) starring with Maureen O'Hara, Mildred Natwick, Ward Bond Barry Fitzgerald and Francis Ford which was director John Ford's brother. For his part in “The Quiet Man”, McLaglen was again nominated for an Oscar, but this time in the Best Supporting Actor category. Also, in this case, he was not the winner of the award.

In the 1950's, he continued acting in lots of movies, and additionally starting appearing on television shows like “Schlitz Playhouse” (1952) and “Have Gun – Will Travel” (1958). His final movie was the adventure “Sea Fury” (1958), and in it he portrayed Captain Bellow. However, McLaglen’s final contribution to the performing arts was actually in a television show titled “Rawhide” (1959) featuring Clint Eastwood. This action/adventure/drama series was, in fact, directed by the actor’s own son, Andrew V. McLaglen.

About a month after the appearance he made on his son’s show, McLaglen passed away. On November 7, 1959, at the ripe age of 73, he died of a fatal heart attack. For his involvement in the motion picture industry, the actor was given a permanent place in Hollywood: a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Filmography

Year Title

1959 Rawhide

1958 Sea Fury

1958 The Italians They Are Crazy

1958 Have Gun - Will Travel

1957 The Abductors

1957 Studio 57

1956 Around the World in Eighty Days

1955 Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre

1955 Lady Godiva of Coventry

1955 The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theater