Brian Aherne

For other people with the same name, see Brian Ahern.

Brian Aherne
Aherne in the trailer for I Confess (1953)
Born
William Brian de Lacy Aherne

(1902-05-02)2 May 1902
Kings Norton, England
Died10 February 1986(1986-02-10) (aged 83)
Venice, Florida, U.S.
Alma materItalia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
OccupationActor
Years active1910–1967
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1939; div. 1945)​
Eleanor de Liagre Labrot
​
​
(m. 1946)​

William Brian de Lacy Aherne (2 May 1902 – 10 February 1986) was an English actor of stage, screen, radio and television, who enjoyed a long and varied career in Britain and the United States.

His first Broadway appearance in The Barretts of Wimpole Street in 1931 teamed him with Katharine Cornell, with whom he appeared in many productions. In films, he played opposite Madeleine Carroll, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich, Rita Hayworth and Carole Lombard, and was Oscar-nominated for his role as Emperor Maximilian in Juarez (1939). On TV, he appeared in The Twilight Zone episode, "The Trouble With Templeton", Wagon Train and Rawhide.

Early life and career

Early life

He was born in King's Norton, Worcestershire, the second and younger son of the architect William de Lacy Aherne and his wife Louise (née Thomas).[1] His elder brother Pat Aherne was also an actor.[2]

Educated in Edgbaston, Birmingham, he received stage training at Italia Conti Academy in London as a child actor and then completed his education at Malvern College.[3]

English stage

He first appeared on the stage in Birmingham with the Pilgrim Players (which developed into the Birmingham Repertory Theatre) on 5 April 1910 in Fifinella, and he made his first appearance on the London stage at the Garrick Theatre, 26 December 1913 in Where the Rainbow Ends, a play by Clifford Mills and John Ramsey, with music by Roger Quilter, which ran at various theatres for over 25 years.

He then studied with a view to becoming an architect, but, having had considerable amateur experience in Birmingham and with Liverpool's Green Room Club, he obtained an engagement under Robert Courtneidge, and appeared at London's Savoy Theatre, opening on 26 December 1923, as Jack O'Hara in a revival of Paddy the Next Best Thing, the play by W. Gayer-Mackay and Robert Ord (from the novel).[4]

He then toured with Violet Vanbrugh as Hugo in The Flame and appeared at the London Playhouse in May 1924 as Langford in Leon Gordon's White Cargo, in which he played all through 1924–1925.

English films

Aherne's first screen appearance was in The Eleventh Commandment in 1924. He made several appearances in productions at Cricklewood Studios by Stoll Pictures, then the largest British film company, including two directed by Sinclair Hill: The Squire of Long Hadley (1925) and A Woman Redeemed (1927).[5] He was also in King of the Castle (1925) and the comedy Safety First (1926).

In 1926. he accompanied Dion Boucicault Jr. to Australia, where he appeared in several plays by J.M. Barrie (as Valentine Brown in the comedy Quality Street, John Shand in the comedy What Every Woman Knows, Crichton in The Admirable Crichton, Simon and Harry in Mary Rose) and Willocks in Aren't We All?, another comedy by Frederick Lonsdale.[6][7]

Aherne reappeared in London at the Strand in March 1927, again as Langford, in White Cargo and continued on the London stage in a succession of plays until late 1930 when he went to the U.S.

His latter silents were two films Shooting Stars and Underground by director Anthony Asquith. Aherne made his sound debut in The W Plan (1930), directed by Victor Saville. He appeared opposite Madeleine Carroll in Madame Guillotine (1931).

U.S. career

Aherne as Robert Browning and Katharine Cornell as Elizabeth in the original Broadway production of The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1931)

Broadway

Aherne made his first appearance on the New York City stage at the Empire Theatre on 9 February 1931, playing Robert Browning in Rudolf Besier's play The Barretts of Wimpole Street opposite Katharine Cornell. The play was a big success, running for 370 performances. Cornell and Aherne remained lifelong friends and he played in many of her productions.

Aherne returned to Broadway in 1932 for Lucrece, which starred Cornell. It only had a short run. He then went to Hollywood, where he made his American film debut in The Song of Songs (1933) with Marlene Dietrich.

He returned to England, where he starred in the film of Basil Dean's The Constant Nymph (1933).

In 1934, he was reunited with Cornell on Broadway in Romeo and Juliet, playing Mercutio; Cornell was Juliet, and Basil Rathbone was Romeo. It only ran 77 performances.

Hollywood

In Hollywood, Aherne supported Ann Harding in The Fountain (1934), released by RKO Pictures. At Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Aherne co-starred with Helen Hayes in What Every Woman Knows (1934), and Joan Crawford in I Live My Life (1935), which was a big hit. In 1935, Aherne and Cornell revived The Barretts of Wimpole Street on Broadway for 24 performances.[8] Aherne returned to RKO for Sylvia Scarlett (1935) with Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, a notorious flop.

He returned to Broadway, where he appeared in Cornell's production of Saint Joan (1936), co-starring Maurice Evans. Back in Hollywood, he appeared in Beloved Enemy (1936) with Merle Oberon at Goldwyn Productions.[9] Then, in 1937, he appeared as Iago on Broadway in Othello.[10]

At Warner Bros., Aherne was top-billed in The Great Garrick (1937), directed by James Whale. He supported Constance Bennett in the hit comedy Merrily We Live (1938) for Hal Roach Studios, distributed by MGM. He was Oscar-nominated for his role as Emperor Maxmilian in Juarez (1939).[11]

Hal Roach gave Aherne the star role in Captain Fury (1939) as a bushranger in colonial Australia. He supported Carole Lombard in Vigil in the Night (1940) at RKO, then reunited with Madeleine Carroll in My Son, My Son! (1940) for Edward Small.

Columbia

Aherne was billed over Rita Hayworth in The Lady in Question (1940) at Columbia. He made Hired Wife (1940) at Universal with Rosalind Russell; for that studio, he did The Man Who Lost Himself (1941) with Kay Francis.

MGM put Aherne in support of Jeanette MacDonald for Smilin' Through (1941). He supported Claudette Colbert in Skylark (1941) at Paramount and Rosalind Russell in My Sister Eileen (1942) at Columbia. He stayed at that studio to support Loretta Young in A Night to Remember (1942) and was one of many stars in Forever and a Day (1943).

At Columbia, Aherne supported Merle Oberon in First Comes Courage (1943) and Rosalind Russell in The Beautiful Cheat (1943).

In 1943, he quit films to become a flight instructor for the Royal Air Force at Falcon Field, Arizona.[12] In November 1943, it was reported Columbia paid him $144,958 for the year, making him the second highest paid person at Columbia after Harry Cohn.[13]

He fell ill with influenza while touring army camps in 1944.[14]

Postwar

In 1945, he and Cornell returned to Broadway in a revival of The Barretts of Wimpole Street.[15] He stayed in New York to appear in The French Touch (1945–1946), directed by René Clair.

Aherne returned to movies with RKO's The Locket (1946), billed after Laraine Day. He was top-billed in Smart Woman (1948), co-starring producer Constance Bennett. He did Drums Along the Amazon (1948) for Republic.

Aherne was in a Broadway revival of She Stoops to Conquer (1949–1950).

Television

Aherne made his television debut with "Dear Brutus" for The Ford Theatre Hour (1950), which he had performed on stage in Boston.[16] He followed it with "The Magnificent Gesture" for Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950),[17] "A Well-Remembered Voice" for Lux Video Theatre, "The Old Flame" for The Billy Rose Show (1951), "The Buccaneer" for Pulitzer Prize Playhouse (1951), and Betty Crocker Star Matinee (1952).

He and Cornell reunited on stage in The Constant Wife (1951–1952). Then Aherne returned to Hollywood. He had supporting roles in I Confess (1953), directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and Titanic (1953) as Captain E.J. Smith.

Aherne did Escapade (1953) on Broadway and "Two for Tea" for Lux Video Theatre and "Element of Risk" and "Breakdown" for Robert Montgomery Presents (1953).

20th Century Fox asked Aherne back to Hollywood to play King Arthur in Prince Valiant (1954) and to play a supporting part in A Bullet Is Waiting (1954).

He did Quadrille (1954–1955) on Broadway with the Lunts, then "Now in Rehearsal" for the Eddie Cantor episode of The Colgate Comedy Hour (1955). Aherne did "The Martyr" for General Electric Theater (1955), "Reunion in Vienna" for Producers' Showcase (1955), and "The Round Dozen" and "Appearances and Reality" for The Star and the Story (1955).

Aherne went to MGM for The Swan (1956). On TV, he did "One Minute from Broadway" for Sneak Preview (1956), "Night Shriek" for Climax! (1956), "The Sacred Trust" and "The Lamp of Father Cataldo" for Crossroads (1956), "The Transfer" for The Errol Flynn Theatre (1956), "Safe Enough" for Studio 57 (1957), and "Story Without a Moral" for Goodyear Theatre (1959).

In 1957, he went on a national tour of My Fair Lady, playing Professor Henry Higgins. In 1960, he played the title role of "The Trouble with Templeton" on the television series The Twilight Zone.

Aherne was invited back to 20th Century Fox for a sizable supporting role in the big budget The Best of Everything (1959). Aherne's final Broadway appearance was in Dear Liar (1960) with Cornell, where he played George Bernard Shaw ("with great vivacity" according to The New York Times[18]) opposite Cornell's Mrs Patrick Campbell. He acted in the movie Susan Slade (1961). He did "The Bruce Saybrook Story" on Wagon Train (1961), and "The Gentleman's Gentleman" on Rawhide (1961). He also appeared as guest host on the TV panel show The Name's the Same.

Final years

Aherne's final film roles included Lancelot and Guinevere (1963) as King Arthur, The Waltz King (1964) for Disney (as Johann Strauss I), and The Cavern (1964).

He settled in Switzerland. He appeared in a play in England and agreed to return to Hollywood to play Rosalind Russell's love interest in Rosie! (1967).[19]

In 1970, he appeared as a mystery guest on What's My Line?.

Radio career

Aherne co-starred in the "Florence Nightingale" episode of Theatre Guild on the Air 13 April 1952.[20] In 1945, he played sleuth Simon Templar in the mystery series The Saint. He also appeared in an episode of The Burns and Allen Show titled "Brian Aherne's Shorts" on March 28, 1944.

Personal life and death

Between 1939 and 1945, Aherne was married to actress Joan Fontaine; the marriage ended in divorce.[21] He married Eleanor de Liagre Labrot in 1946,[22] and their union lasted until his death in 1986.[23]

Aherne published his autobiography A Proper Job in 1969 as well as A Dreadful Man (1979), a biography of his close friend George Sanders.[24]

Aherne was a pilot and charter member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.[25]

Aherne died of heart failure in Venice, Florida at the age of 83 on 10 February 1986. He was cremated at Sarasota Crematory.[26]

Recognition

He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1772 Vine Street.[27][28][29]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1924 The Eleventh Commandment Norman Barchester
1925 The Squire of Long Hadley Jim Luttrell
King of the Castle Colin O'Farrell
1926 Safety First Hippocrates Rayne
1927 A Woman Redeemed Geoffrey Maynefleet
1928 Shooting Stars Julian Gordon
Underground Bill
1930 The W Plan Colonel Duncan Grant
1931 Madame Guillotine Louis Dubois
1933 The Song of Songs Richard Waldow
The Constant Nymph Lewis Dodd
1934 The Fountain Lewis Allison
What Every Woman Knows John Shand
1935 I Live My Life Terence "Terry" O'Neill
Sylvia Scarlett Michael Fane
1936 Beloved Enemy Dennis Riordan
1937 The Great Garrick David Garrick
1938 Merrily We Live E. Wade Rawlins
1939 Juarez Maximilian I of Mexico nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Captain Fury Captain Michael Fury
1940 Vigil in the Night Dr. Robert S. Prescott
My Son, My Son! William Essex
The Lady in Question Andre Morestan
Hired Wife Stephen Dexter
1941 The Man Who Lost Himself John Evans / Malcolm Scott
Smilin' Through Sir John Carteret
Skylark Jim Blake
1942 My Sister Eileen Robert Baker
A Night To Remember Jeff Troy
1943 Forever and a Day Jim Trimble
First Comes Courage Captain Allan Lowell
What a Woman! Henry Pepper
1946 The Locket Dr. Harry Blair
1948 Smart Woman Robert Larrimore
Angel on the Amazon Anthony Ridgeway Alternative titles: Drums Along the Amazon
The Jungle Wilderness
1953 I Confess Chief Prosecutor Willy Robertson
Titanic Captain Edward John Smith
1954 Prince Valiant King Arthur
A Bullet Is Waiting David Canham
1956 The Swan Father Carl Hyacinth
1959 The Best of Everything Fred Shalimar
1961 Susan Slade Stanton Corbett
1963 Lancelot and Guinevere King Arthur Alternative title: Sword of Lancelot
1964 The Cavern Gen. Braithwaite
1967 Rosie! Oliver Stevenson (final film role)
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1950 Armstrong Circle Theatre
1950–1953 Robert Montgomery Presents Phillip Armstrong 3 episodes
1951 Pulitzer Prize Playhouse 1 episode
1951–1953 Lux Video Theatre Mr. Don/Reggie 2 episodes
1955 General Electric Theater Colonel Tafferty 1 episode
Producers' Showcase Rudolf Maximilian 1 episode
1955–1956 Crossroads Father Cataldo 3 episodes
1956 Climax! David 1 episode
Cavalcade of America John Kirk 1 episode
Sneak Preview 1 episode
1959 Goodyear Theatre James Rupert/James Spencer 1 episode
1960 The Twilight Zone Booth Templeton 1 episode
1961 Rawhide Woolsey 1 episode
1961 Wagon Train Lord Bruce Saybrook 1 episode
1963 The Wonderful World of Disney Johann Strauss Sr. 2 episodes

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1940 12th Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor Juarez Nominated

Footnotes

  1. ^ "Let GEORGE DO IT!". Picturegoer. 23 November 1935. p. 37. ProQuest 1771207630. WOODLANDER.—Brian Aherne, b. May 2, 1902, King's Norton, Worcestershire; 6 ft. 1 in., blond hair, blue eyes, son of William de Lacy Aherne and Louise Thomas. Educated at Edgaston, Birmingham and Malvern College. Hobbies: golf, tennis, motoring and dancing.
  2. ^ "Our Foreign Imports: PAT AHERNE SAILS; Hollywood Contract". Kinematograph Weekly. 1 December 1932. p. 44B. ProQuest 2640078422. He began as a car salesman in Birmingham, and after stage work was juvenile hero of 'Blackeyes,' 'Huntingtower,' and 'Auld Lang Syne.' Brian Aherne, now doing well in the States, is his brother.
  3. ^ The Hollywood Walk of Fame : Brian Aherne biography
  4. ^ "Personality Actor". Voice. Vol. 17, no. 25. Tasmania, Australia. 17 June 1944. p. 4. Retrieved 16 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "BRIAN AHERNE'S SUCCESS IN "UNDERGROUND"". Werribee Shire Banner. No. 1386. Victoria, Australia. 25 September 1930. p. 6. Retrieved 16 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "THE STORY Of BRIAN AHERNE". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. IV, no. 32. 9 January 1937. p. 6 (Movie World). Retrieved 16 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "PORTRAIT of an ACTOR". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 8, no. 9. 3 August 1940. p. 24 (The Movie World). Retrieved 16 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Brian aherne and HIS FILMS". Picture show. No. 35. 27 June 1936. p. 20. ProQuest 1880314806.
  9. ^ "Brian Aherne faithful to footlights". Los Angeles Times. 16 October 1936. ProQuest 164640908.
  10. ^ B. A. (7 January 1937). "THE PLAY". The New York Times. ProQuest 102024220.
  11. ^ "NEWS of the TALKIES". The Chronicle. Vol. LXXXII, no. 4, 676. Adelaide. 3 August 1939. p. 51. Retrieved 16 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Brian aherne to teach flying". The New York Times. 18 June 1943. ProQuest 106609371.
  13. ^ "BRIAN AHERNE GETS $144,958 FOR FILM WORK". Los Angeles Times. 5 November 1943. ProQuest 165492356.
  14. ^ "Brian aherne is better". The New York Times. 2 January 1944. ProQuest 107060191.
  15. ^ "Katharine Cornell and Brian Aherne to star in revival of 'The Barretts' here in April". The New York Times. 26 February 1945. ProQuest 107270108.
  16. ^ "Brian Aherne to appear in 'Dear Brutus'". The Christian Science Monitor. 10 August 1950. ProQuest 508243377.
  17. ^ "Two Dramas Added For Summer Airing! Satan To Make Bow". The Cincinnati Enquirer. 6 June 1950. p. 16. Retrieved 17 April 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ B. A. (18 March 1960). "Katharine Cornell and Brian Aherne star". The New York Times. ProQuest 115030788.
  19. ^ Norma, L.B. (15 October 1967). "'Rosie' lures Aherne from semi-retirement". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 169978520.
  20. ^ Kirby, Walter (13 April 1952). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 48. Retrieved 11 May 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  21. ^ "Joan Fontaine awarded divorce from Brian Aherne". Los Angeles Times. 3 June 1944. ProQuest 165524777.
  22. ^ "Mrs. Eleanor Labrot And Brian Aherne, Actor, Are Married; Alfred de Liagre's Daughter Wed; Her Brother is Theatrical Producer". New York Herald Tribune. 28 January 1946. p. 44B. ProQuest 1291135607.
  23. ^ Bird, David (11 February 1986). "Brian Aherne, 83; Stage and Film Star Admired for Suavity". New York Times. p. D30. ProQuest 110871613. He is survived by his wife, the former Eleanor de Liagre, whom he married in 1946.
  24. ^ Brian Aherne. A Dreadful Man: The Story of Hollywood's Most Original Cad, George Sanders. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1979. ISBN 0-671-24797-2.
  25. ^ "A Plane-Crazy America". AOPA Pilot: 79. May 2014.
  26. ^ Wilson, Scott (19 August 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. p. 11. ISBN 978-1-4766-2599-7. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  27. ^ "Hollywood Walk of Fame database". HWOF.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.
  28. ^ "Brian Aherne, 83, An Actor For 75 Years". Sun-Sentinel. 11 February 1986. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2011.[text–source integrity?]
  29. ^ Obituary Variety, 12 February 1986.

References

  • Parker, John, editor, Who's Who in the Theatre, 10th edition revised, London, 1947, p. 200-1.

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