Claude rains biography imdb walking
•
William Claude Rains, the first film actor to earn a million dollars for a part, was born on November 10, , in London, England, to Frederick and Emily Eliza Cox Rains and was referred to by his family as "Willie." During Rains' youth, his father transitioned from one temporary job to the next, requiring the family to move often and live on a tight budget. At times, Rains' mother would even host boarders to make ends meet. In , a local minstrel solicited parental permission for their children playing in the streets to appear in the background of his music hall act. This provided Rains his first experience on stage, which he found thrilling and would always remember.
Rains struggled with his speech in his youth, hardly talking at home, teased by classmates, and even scolded by his father, who was also a physically abusive man. With daydreams of escaping to a better life, Rains began cutting school to work as a news vendor at a W. H. Smith store. From there he took notice of a passerb
•
William Claude Rains, born in the Clapham area of London, was the son of the British stage actor Frederick Rains. The younger Rains followed, making his stage debut at the age of eleven in "Nell of Old Drury." Growing up in the world of theater, he saw not only acting up close but the down-to-earth business end as well, progressing from a page boy to a stage manager during his well-rounded learning experience. Rains decided to come to America in and the New York theater, but with the outbreak of World War I the next year, he returned to serve with a Scottish regiment in Europe. He remained in England, honing his acting talents, bolstered with instruction patronized by the founder of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Herbert Beerbohm Tree. It was not long before his talent garnered him acknowledgment as one of the leading stage actors on the London scene. His one and only silent film venture was British with a small part for him, the forgettable -- Build Thy House ().
•
Claude Rains
British actor (–)
For the Heroes character, see Claude (Heroes).
Claude Rains | |
|---|---|
Rains in the trailer for Now, Voyager (). | |
| Born | William Claude Rains ()10 November Clapham, London, England |
| Died | 30 May () (aged&#;77) Laconia, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Citizenship |
|
| Alma&#;mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years&#;active | – |
| Spouses | Isabel Jeans &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#;Marie Hemingway &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#;Beatrix Thomson &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#;Frances Propper &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#;Agi Jambor &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#;Rosemary Clark Schrode &#; &#; (m.&#;; died&#;)&#; |
| Children | 1 |
| Father | Fred Rains |
William Claude Rains (10 November &#;&#; 30 May ) was a British and American actor w