Charles Laughton Overview:

Legendary actor, Charles Laughton, was born on Jul 1, 1899 in Scarborough, Yorkshire. Laughton died at the age of 63 on Dec 15, 1962 in Hollywood, CA and was laid to rest in ashes interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) Cemetery in Los Angeles, CA.

MINI BIO:

This light-haired, rubber-faced, thick-lipped English actor ran up such a string of brilliant characterizations in Hollywood (after winning an Oscar for his British-made Henry VIII) that his precise and plummy tones became the most imitated of all. Captain Bligh, Mr. Barrett, Rembrandt, Ruggles of Red Gap, Javert in Les Miserables, Nero and, perhaps best of all, Quasimodo: they were all memorably Laughton. From 1945 till 1953 his overripe performances were the despair of his supporters. But he came good again in his last few films (adding an Oscar nomination for Witness for the Prosecution to the one he had received for Mutiny on the Bounty) before his death from spinal cancer. Married to Elsa Lanchester (1902-1986) from 1929.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Film Stars).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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Charles Laughton was nominated for three Academy Awards, winning one for Best Actor for The Private Life of Henry VIII (as Henry VIII) in 1932/33.

Academy Awards

YearAwardFilm nameRoleResult
1932/33Best ActorThe Private Life of Henry VIII (1933)Henry VIIIWon
1935Best ActorMutiny on the Bounty (1935)Captain BlighNominated
1957Best ActorWitness for the Prosecution (1957)Sir Wilfrid RobartsNominated
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He was honored with one star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Motion Pictures. Charles Laughton's handprints and footprints were 'set in stone' at Grauman's Chinese Theater during imprint ceremony #66 on Jul 24, 1942.

BlogHub Articles:

Ray Milland and head the cast in “The Big Clock”

By Stephen Reginald on Jul 8, 2025 From Classic Movie Man

Ray Milland and head the cast in “The Big Clock” The Big Clock (1948) is an American film noir directed by John Farrow and starring Ray Milland and . The supporting cast included Maureen O’Sullivan (Mrs. John Farrow), George Macready, Rita John... Read full article


, John Mills, and Brenda de Banzie star in “Hobson’s Choice”

By Stephen Reginald on Jul 17, 2023 From Classic Movie Man

, John Mills, and Brenda de Banzie star in “Hobson’s Choice” Hobson’s Choice (1954) is a British romantic comedy film directed by David Lean and starring , John Mills, and Benda de Banzie. The film is based on the play of the same name wri... Read full article


The Night of the Hunter (1955), ’s horrifying masterpiece

By Carol Martinheira on Oct 8, 2021 From The Old Hollywood Garden

The Night of the Hunter (1955), ’s horrifying masterpiece On October 8, 2021October 8, 2021 By CarolIn Uncategorized Can you believe it?s October already? I certainly can?t. But you know what that means. Horror Month is here! And we kick off t... Read full article


and Maureen O’Hara check in at “Jamaica Inn”

By Stephen Reginald on Apr 23, 2021 From Classic Movie Man

and Maureen O’Hara check in at “Jamaica Inn” Jamaica Inn (1939) is a British period adventure movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring and Maureen O’Hara. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Daphne du Maurier. The s... Read full article


Recites The Gettysburg Address

By Amanda Garrett on Nov 19, 2014 From Old Hollywood Films

On Nov. 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. There are many screen versions of that famous speech, but British actor 's rendition in Ruggles of Red Gap (1935) is my personal favorite. Laughton is playing an English valet who quiets a rowdy saloon in the wild We... Read full article


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Charles Laughton Quotes:

Capt. William Kidd: I hate fat men!
Capt. Bonney: But you're a fat man.
Capt. William Kidd: I hate myself too!


Captain William Bligh: Casting me adrift 3500 miles from a port of call. You're sending me to my doom, eh? Well, you're wrong, Christian! I'll take this boat as she floats to England if I must! I'll live to see you, all of ya, hanging from the highest yardarm in the British fleet!

[a waiter brings Jonathan Sr. an enormous, fruit-fillled cocktail]
Anne Terry: What's that?
Jonathan Reynolds: It's a Reynolds Special.
Anne Terry: Oh, but you shouldn't be... what's in it?
Jonathan Reynolds: Oh, oh, nothing but, ah, coconut milk and, ah, vegetable juices. Doctor Harvey orders it for me. It's horrible.
Anne Terry: Then why do you drink it.
Jonathan Reynolds: It reminds me of Doctor Harvey and make me hate him and when I hate him, I feel good.


read more quotes from Charles Laughton...



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Charles Laughton Facts
Served in First World War. In spite of having Public School education and Officer Training (in Stonyhurst College's OTC), he chose to join the Army as a private in 1917. He served with the Huntingdonshire Cyclist Regiment, and later with 7th Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment in the Western Front. Shortly before the armistice he became a casualty due to mustard gas.

Appeared on the cover of the March 31, 1952 issue of "Time" magazine, which was reporting on his tour of the stage production of the "Don Juan in Hell" episode from George Bernard Shaw's 1903 play "Man and Superman." The famous episode, which is part of the third act of the four-act drama, has often been played as its own show. In Laughton's production, he played the character of The Devil. According to the "Time" cover story, entitled "The Happy Ham," the touring show had already raked in a gross profit in excess of $1 million ($1.00 equaling approximately $8.00 in 2008 money, when factored for inflation) by the time he was due to make his third appearance in the show in New York City, at the time the article appeared. The article also reported that during a hiatus in the tour, Laughton launched a separate, six-week-long solo tour in which he gave readings from "Aesop's Fables", the Bible and Charles Dickens. The solo tour grossed $164,000, or which his share was $90,000. The article quoted Laughton as saying, "Contrary to what I'd been told in the entertainment industry, people everywhere have a common shy hunger for literature.".

In later years he was frequently accused by the critics of having a tendency to ham, although he remained a popular star.

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