Stewart Granger

Stewart Granger, artistic pseudonym of James Lablache Stewart (London, England, May 6, 1913-Santa Monica, California, August 16, 1993), was a British-American classic film actor known for his participation in films such as Scaramouche (1952), King Solomon's Mines (1950) or The Prisoner of Zenda (1952).

Biography

She studied acting at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, and once she finished her training she began acting as an extra in English films.

In the late 1930s he adopted his stage name Stewart Granger, to avoid confusion with the American actor James Stewart, who was gaining popularity in England at the time. For several years he continued acting in the cinema, as an extra or in small roles, and also worked in various theater companies.

Finally, in 1939, Granger landed a leading role in a film, So This Is London. From then on he was one of the most popular romantic actors in England, achieving success after success with the films in which he acted, in almost all of them he played the hero. As expected, he ended up attracting the attention of Hollywood studios, and in 1950 he signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In the following years he appeared in numerous films, in which he embodied romantic and adventurous heroes, roles for which he was predestined.

Granger was in the prime of his life, a tall man who liked to temper his Shakespearean-style performances with some humor and undeniably masculine appeal, with a soft voice and a mane of wavy hair, who made a handsome man. friendly to all audiences. He acted with enormous ease, could communicate emotional intensity and conviction, and seemed to enjoy his characters. Many of the risky scenes were carried out by him, without being dubbed by specialists.

In 1956 Granger acquired US citizenship and began working independently, that is, without being on the payroll of a studio. In the following years she appeared again in British productions, as well as those from other countries. Starting in 1970, she also acted in movies and series made for television, both in the United States and in Europe. Granger also returned from time to time to the theater, where she, too, was enjoying considerable success. Her last stage appearance of hers was on Broadway, in the play The Circle, co-starring Rex Harrison.

Personal life

Granger was married three times. His first marriage lasted ten years and ended in divorce. The second time he married the British actress Jean Simmons, with whom he was also married for ten years and from whom he also divorced. He had an extramarital affair with his film partner Deborah Kerr. He was married to his third wife for five years. That marriage also ended in divorce. He had four children by his three wives.

Stewart died in Santa Monica, just outside Los Angeles, of cancer at the age of 80.

Filmography

• Gold Fino (Fine Gold) (1989)
• Hell Hunters (1986)
• The Last Safari (1967)
• Dragon (1967)
• Target for Killing (1966)
• Code Name Alpha (1965)
• Secret Invasion (1964)
• Old Surehand (1965)
• Sodom and Gomorra (1963)
• Walk or die (1962)
• The Secret Partner (1961)
• Alaska, land of gold (1960)
• Harry Black and tiger (1958)
• Gun Glory (1957)
• The cabin (1957)
• Cruise of destinations (1956)
• The Last Hunt (1956)
• Steps in the fog (1955)
• Moonfleet smugglers (1955)
• Beau Brummell (1954)
• Green fire (1954)
• All the brothers were brave (1953)
• Salome (1953)
• Young Bess (1953)
• The prisoner of Zenda (1952)
• Scaramouche (1952)
• The mines of King Solomon (1950)
• Woman Hater (1949)
• Blanche Fury (1948)
• Saraband for Dead Lovers (1948)
• Captain Boycott (1947)
• The Magic Bow (1947)
• Caesar and Cleopatra (1945)
• Fanny by Gaslight (1944)
• The Lamp Still Burns (1943)
• The Man in Grey (1943)
• Thursday's Child (1943)
• Secret Mission (1942)
• Convoy (1940)
• So This Is London (1939)