Ronald Colman

Ronald Colman was a British-American actor who is best known for A Double Life, The Prisoner of Zenda, and Lost Horizon.

Personal and Family Life

Ronald Charles Colman was born on February 9, 1891, in Richmond, Surrey, England. He was raised in a well-off family; his father was a successful silk merchant. Colman initially wanted to study engineering at Cambridge, but his father’s passing changed his plans. He was married twice, first to Thelma Raye, and later to actress Benita Hume, with whom he had a daughter named Juliet Benita Colman.

Career

Colman started his career in amateur theatre while attending boarding school. After the First World War, he found success in London’s theatre scene before moving to New York, where he starred in Broadway productions. His breakthrough in films came with The White Sister in 1923, leading to a successful Hollywood career characterized by his rich voice and sophisticated roles. He starred in many memorable films and won an Academy Award for A Double Life.

Death and Legacy

Ronald Colman passed away on May 19, 1958, in Santa Barbara, California, due to emphysema. He is remembered as one of the great stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, known for his unique voice and charming performances. His influence remains in classic cinema, and he left behind a significant film legacy despite his passing.

Filmography

Title Release Date Character
Around the World in Eighty Days 1956-10-17 Railway Official
Lost Horizon 1937-03-03 Robert “Bob” Conway
Random Harvest 1942-12-17 Charles Rainier
The Talk of the Town 1942-08-20 Michael Lightcap
Champagne for Caesar 1950-05-11 Beauregard Bottomley
A Double Life 1947-12-25 Anthony John
The Story of Mankind 1957-11-08 The Spirit of Man
Kismet 1944-10-01 Hafiz
The Prisoner of Zenda 1937-09-03 Major Rudolf Rassendyll / The Prisoner of Zenda
A Tale of Two Cities 1935-12-25 Sydney Carton
My Life with Caroline 1941-08-01 Anthony Mason
The White Sister 1923-09-05 Capt. Giovanni Severi
Bulldog Drummond 1929-05-02 Captain Hugh ‘Bulldog’ Drummond
Romola 1924-12-06 Carlo Bucellini
Arrowsmith 1931-12-07 Dr. Martin Arrowsmith
Under Two Flags 1936-04-30 Sgt. Victor
The Unholy Garden 1931-10-06 Barrington Hunt
The Winning of Barbara Worth 1926-10-14 Willard Holmes
Clive of India 1935-01-25 Robert Clive
Condemned 1929-11-03 Michel
Raffles 1930-07-11 A.J. Raffles
The Devil to Pay! 1930-12-18 Willie Hale
Lady Windermere’s Fan 1925-12-26 Lord Darlington
Stella Dallas 1925-11-16 Stephen Dallas
If I Were King 1938-09-28 François Villon
Lucky Partners 1940-08-02 David Grant
The Late George Apley 1947-03-19 George Apley
Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back 1934-08-15 Captain Hugh ‘Bulldog’ Drummond
Cynara 1932-12-24 James Warlock
Her Sister from Paris 1925-08-01 Joseph
Her Night of Romance 1924-11-24 Paul Menford
The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo 1935-11-14 Paul Gaillard
Beau Geste 1926-08-24 Michael ‘Beau’ Geste
The Light That Failed 1939-12-24 Dick Heldar
Two Lovers 1928-03-23 Mark van Rycke
The Rescue 1929-01-12 Tom Lingard
The Masquerader 1933-09-03 Sir John Chilcote / John Loder
Kiki 1926-04-04 Victor Renal
The Magic Flame 1927-09-17 Tito the Clown / The Count
A Thief in Paradise