HWOF

Brian Aherne

Source: saint.org

As a young boy, Aherne studied acting at the Italia Conti Academy in London and had some child roles before graduating from Malvern College. He made his first appearance on the London stage at the Garrick Theatre in Where the Rainbow Ends (1913).

Not soon after, while studying to become an architect, he obtained an engagement under Robert Courtneidge, and appeared at London’s Savoy Theatre in a revival of Paddy the Next Best Thing (1923). In 1926 he traveled to Australia with Dion Boucicault Jr. and performed in a succession of plays in both London and Australia until moving to America in 1930.

Aherne made his first appearance on the New York stage at the Empire Theatre on February 9, 1931, playing Robert Browning in The Barretts of Wimpole Street. He continued his stage appearances during his film career, which he commenced in 1924 in silent film. Aherne made his talkie debut in Madame Guillotine (1931). Soon after, he moved on to lead roles in Hollywood, where he made over thirty films, including I Live My Life (1935), the multi-Oscar nominated brilliant ditzy comedy Merrily We Live (1938), Juarez (1939), in which he was Oscar-nominated, Titanic (1953), and The Best of Everything (1959). He also appeared in many TV theatrical series, including The Twilight Zone, and Rawhide.

• Born: William Brian de Lacy Aherne May 2, 1902 Kings Norton, Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom
• Died: February 10, 1986 (aged 83) Venice, Florida, United States
• Spouse(s): Joan Fontaine (1939–1945) Eleanor de Liagre Labrot (1946–1986)
• Occupation(s): Actor, Writer

Read more about Brian Aherne at Wikipedia or at the Internet Movie Database