Rex Harrison was a prominent actor from the golden age of Hollywood. He was born in 1924 and passed away in 2006. During his lifetime, he was nominated for an Oscar several times. His death was a shock to many.
Early life
Rex Harrison was an English actor. He first became known as an actor in the 1930s. After WWII, he became a renowned playwright.
Harrison’s career as an actor was hampered by a scandal. His affair with actress Carole Landis was a major blow to his career. They had a scandalous relationship that eventually led to his divorce.
When the affair was over, Harrison re-established his friendship with Frank Sinatra. Their friendship was also strained. Harrison suspected that Sinatra was putting moves on Palmer and had to admit his suspicions.
The rumor mill was rife with speculation about Harrison’s connection to Landis. However, no proof existed. Rather, it is believed that the two actors were friends.
The two stars worked together in many plays, including My Fair Lady. In the film version, Harrison won an Oscar for his role. Sadly, he died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 66.
He also received a Golden Globe for his performance in the movie. During his career, Harrison appeared in several other films.
He was knighted in 1989. Later in life, he starred in a number of plays. One of his last was a stage production of W. Somerset Maugham’s “The Circle”. A television film was also produced.
As a child, Harrison suffered from a measles outbreak. It damaged his left eye. This incident changed his performance onstage.
Throughout his career, Harrison was accused of being rude. In the mid-60s, Harrison appeared in Doctor Doolittle and was criticized for his behavior.
Rex Harrison passed away on June 2, 1990. His ashes were scattered at the grave of his former wife, Lilli Palmer. Maggie Smith spoke at his memorial in New York City.
Acting career
Rex Harrison’s acting career spans a total of 66 years. In addition to his work in film and television, he also made appearances on stage. He was born in Huyton, Lancashire, England. His first job was a cotton broker. However, he was determined to pursue an acting career.
Harrison made his West End debut in 1936. He then toured and appeared in various plays, and he eventually found his way to the New York stage.
Harrison’s acting career took a break during World War II. Eventually, he became a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force. It wasn’t until 1947 that he began an affair with actress Carole Landis. They later divorced.
He was married to German actress Lilli Palmer from 1942 until 1957. Their marriage was broken up by a scandal. This incident would have a significant impact on Harrison’s career.
Harrison continued to act on stage until almost the end of his life. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1989.
After his death, his ashes were scattered in Portofino, Italy. Several actors attended the funeral, including Cliff Robertson, Maggie Smith, and Seth MacFarlane.
One of his most famous roles was as Professor Henry Higgins in the 1964 film version of ‘My Fair Lady’. The movie won an Academy Award for Best Actor, and it also earned eight Oscars in other categories.
Harrison’s other film roles included Cleopatra (1963), Anna and the King of Siam (1946), and The Honey Pot (1968). Onstage, he played Lord Porteous in W. Somerset Maugham’s “The Circle.”
He was knighted in 1989. Two Hollywood Walk of Fame stars honor him.
Aside from his acting career, Harrison was also a social activist. He was known for portraying eccentric English gentlemen.
Relationship with Carole Landis
There are many theories as to what happened to the relationship between Rex Harrison and Carole Landis. Some claim that it was a suicide, others claim that the two had a fling. What is for sure is that Carole Landis was the most beautiful girl to have ever walked the red carpet.
Among other things, she starred in the movie One Million B.C., which was a big hit at the box office. She also wrote a book about her wartime experiences that was later turned into a film.
The most important thing to know about the relationship between Rex Harrison and Carole is that it ended in tragedy. The two had an affair for a short time, but it ended in the most bizarre of ways.
When they were together, it seemed like the perfect relationship. Carole Landis was beautiful, and she knew how to seduce men. Sadly, she was unable to have children of her own due to endometriosis.
On the day of her death, Carole Landis made an impulsive decision. Instead of buying a new pair of shoes, she left her house to go to a private dinner with Rex Harrison.
Rex and Carole had just recently gotten back together. They were at a hotel in London. Afterwards, they headed out to nightclubs and bars. After a while, they started to make love.
But the relationship between Rex Harrison and Carole would not last long. Carole’s death was ruled a suicide. However, her family still claims that Rex killed her to keep her from becoming a public scandal.
While the relationship between Rex Harrison and Carole was torrid, it ended in tragedy. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time that a star has taken their own life.
Oscar nominations
Rex Harrison was a British actor with a long career in stage and film. He received his first Oscar nomination for Cleopatra in 1963.
Harrison also received a Tony Award for his performance in My Fair Lady. In 1989, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
During his career, he had six wives. His first wife was Colette Thomas. She gave birth to his son, Noel. After their divorce in 1942, he married Lilli Palmer. Their marriage ended in 1957. Harrison later married Elizabeth Harris.
Harrison continued to work in both the London and New York stages as well as in motion pictures during the 1970s. It was during this period that he became involved in a scandal. He was accused of having an affair with actress Carole Landis. The two were married and had a child, Carey Harrison.
In 1977, a production company financed a movie version of Harrison’s career-long role as Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady. The movie was based on the 1956 Broadway production. Although it was a box office bomb, it did earn Harrison an Academy Award for Best Actor.
Harrison’s next big role was as Julius Caesar in Cleopatra. He was also in the acclaimed musical, Pygmalion. Though it wasn’t a success, it earned Harrison five nominations.
At the height of his career, he earned three Golden Globes. However, his third nomination was not translated into an Oscar nomination.
Harrison died at age 82 from pancreatic cancer. Shortly after his death, he had a memorial at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Maggie Smith spoke at the ceremony.
After his death, Harrison was remembered as “Sexy Rexy,” thanks to columnist Walter Winchell.
Death from pancreatic cancer
Rex Harrison, the English actor who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1989, died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 82. His death comes three weeks after his last Broadway performance.
Harrison’s first acting role was a line. He joined the Liverpool Repertory Company at the age of 16. However, the star was never a student and did not go to drama school. Despite that, he won an Academy Award for his screen version of the play “Pygmalion”.
Harrison also won the Tony award for best actor in a musical for the role of Professor Henry Higgins in “My Fair Lady” in 1957. That same year, he was nominated for a Tony for his role in “Heartbreak House” by George Bernard Shaw.
Sir Rex Harrison married six wives in his lifetime. He had two sons by previous marriages. In 1978, he married actress Mercia Tinker. Their marriage lasted until 1990.
Rex Harrison died in Los Angeles on June 2, 1990. His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at a villa in Italy. A memorial service will be held on June 18 in Manhattan.
Before his death, Harrison had worked in many plays. He was most famous for his portrayal of Professor Henry Higgins in “My fair lady.” His other roles included the King in the film “Anna and the King of Siam,” and the waspish professor of phonetics in “Pygmalion.”
Harrison was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in July 1989. He is survived by his wife and his sister. The funeral will be private. Afterward, a memorial will be held at the Little Church around the Corner in New York.
Although he was a great actor, Harrison also had a bit of a shady history. He was accused of having an affair with actress Carole Landis. But he denied that charge.
