*** Welcome to piglix ***

Edmund Gwenn

Edmund Gwenn
Edmund Gwenn 1953.jpg
Edmund Gwenn, 1953
Born Edmund John Kellaway
(1877-09-26)26 September 1877
Wandsworth, London, England, UK
Died 6 September 1959(1959-09-06) (aged 81)
Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
Cause of death Pneumonia and some issues with a stroke
Resting place Chapel of the Pines Crematory
Nationality British
Education St. Olave's School
Alma mater King's College London
Occupation Actor
Years active 1895-1959
Height 5'5 ft.
Family Cecil Kellaway (cousin),
Arthur Chesney (brother)
Awards Academy Award, 2 Golden Globes

Edmund Gwenn (26 September 1877– 6 September 1959) was an English actor. On film, he is perhaps best remembered for his role as Kris Kringle in the Christmas film Miracle on 34th Street (1947), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the corresponding Golden Globe Award. He received a second Golden Globe and another Academy Award nomination for the comedy film Mister 880 (1950).

As a stage actor in the West End and on Broadway, he was associated with a wide range of works by modern playwrights, including Bernard Shaw, John Galsworthy and J. B. Priestley. After the Second World War, he lived in the United States where he had a successful career in Hollywood and on Broadway.

Gwenn was born Edmund John Kellaway in Wandsworth, London. His brother was the actor Arthur Chesney and his cousin, Cecil Kellaway. Gwenn was educated at St. Olave's School and later at King's College London. He began his acting career in the theatre in 1895, and learnt his craft as a member of Willie Edouin's company, playing brash comic roles. In 1901 he married Minnie Terry, niece of the famous actress Ellen Terry. In the same year he went to Australia and acted there for three years with the J. C. Williamson company. His wife accompanied him and when Gwenn was in a production of Ben Hur that was a disastrous failure, she restored the couple's fortunes by accepting an engagement from Williamson. Later, the couple appeared on stage together in London in a farce called What the Butler Saw in 1905 and, in 1911, when Irene Vanbrugh made her debut in variety, she chose Terry and Gwenn to join her in a short play specially written by J. M. Barrie.


...
Wikipedia

...