advertisement

Roddy McDowall Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Actor

Roddy McDowall

Birthday :

September 17, 1928

Died On :

October 3, 1998

Also Known For :

Movie Actor

Birth Place :

London, England, Herne Hill

Zodiac Sign :

Virgo


Early Years & Education

Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall was born 17th September 1928, to Thomas and Winifred McDowall. He was born in London, England, in the suburb of Herne Hill. His father was a merchant seaman; his mother was trying to break into acting.

Both parents were keen about the theater. McDowall had an older sister, Virginia.McDowall did his secondary school studies at St. Joseph’s College in Upper Norwood.

advertisement
advertisement



Career

Roddy McDowall started his career when he was just a baby. He was a child model, and as a young boy appeared in several movies, including, Murder in the Family (1938), John Halifax (1938), and Scruffy (1938)Between 1938 and 1941, McDowall appeared in 14 movies. After World War II broke out, McDowall’s family moved to the United States. In 1949, he became a citizen of the U.S.

McDowall’s first acting assignment in the U.S. came in 1941 when he won a role in Man Hunt, a movie in the ‘thriller’ genre. His next movie was also in 1941, called, How Green Was My Valley. The movie won an Academy Award for Best Picture, and Roddy McDowall became a household name.

In 1942, McDowall started getting top billing in his movies, and he had become a star. Between 1941 and 1946, McDowall was in 15 movies.

In 1946, Roddy McDowall took a starring role in a stage production called, Young Woodley. He followed this up with another role in a stage production of Macbeth in 1947.McDowall then went back to movies. He signed a three-year deal with Monogram Pictures to make two movies per year. He did seven movies over the next four years.

Roddy McDowall then moved to New York, and he took up acting on television instead of the big screen. He also appeared in several successful Broadway productions, including Camelot that ran between 1960 and 1963, and which also starred Richard Burton and Julie Andrews. He moved back to Hollywood, and in 1963 won the role of Octavius in the classic epic, Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor.

McDowall continued with his prolific work, and he starred in many movies and television programs over the next few years. In 1968, he starred in the movie, Planet of the Apes. He would go on to appear in three sequels, and the television version of the movie.

McDowall’s movie career spanned from 1938 to 1998, and he acted in 101 films. His television appearances were from 1950 to 1999, and he was in 73 shows or series, including several episodes of Batman, Murder She Wrote, and The Carol Burnett Show.

Between 1946 and 1959, he was in 11 stage productions, and McDowall was also on three different radio shows from 1943 to 1952.

As well as working on the screen, Roddy McDowall also worked behind the scenes. He worked for several years on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and he worked on the selection committee for the Kennedy Center Awards. He was Chairman of the Actors’ Branch for five years, and in 1998, he was elected President of the Academy Foundation.McDowall was a talented photographer, and he published five books of his photographs.

advertisement
advertisement

Awards & Honors

Roddy McDowall was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. He also won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1961, and a Saturn Award in 1986.

advertisement
advertisement

Personal

Roddy McDowall didn’t talk about his sexuality, but it is assumed by several people that he was gay. He died on 3rd October 1998, of lung cancer.


September 17 Horoscope

More Actors

More People From England