Charles Boyer (1899 - 1978)

Charles Boyer Born August 28, 1899 in Figeac, Lot, France Died August 26, 1978 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA (suicide) Nickname The Latin Lover Height 5' 9" (1.75 m) Charles Boyer studied philosophy before he went to the theater where he gave his debut in 1920. Although he had at first no intentions to pursue a career at the movies (his first movie was L'homme du large (1920) by Marcel L'Herbier) he used his chance in Hollywood after several filming stations all over Europe. In the beginning of his career his beautiful voice was hidden by the silent movies but in Hollywood he became famous for his whispered declarations of love (like in movies with Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich or Ingrid Bergman). In 1934 he married Pat Paterson, his first and (unusual for a star) only wife. He was so faithful to her that he decided to commit suicide two days after her death in 1978. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Volker Boehm Spouse (1) Pat Paterson (14 February 1934 - 24 August 1978) ( her death) ( 1 child) Trivia Took a fatal dose of barbiturates two days after his wife's death, which was also two days before his own seventy-ninth birthday. Had one son: Michael Charles Boyer (born December 9, 1943); committed suicide September 21, 1965. He apparently played Russian roulette with a .38-caliber revolver after quarreling with a girlfriend. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6300 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960. Following his death, he was interred with his wife Pat Paterson at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. Received a degree in philosophy from the Sorbonne. Half bald by his twenties, he only wore a toupee for his movie roles. Out in public, he never wore it. Won a special Tony Award in 1952 "for distinguished performance in 'Don Juan in Hell', thereby assisting in a new theatre trend". He was also nominated for Broadway's 1963 Tony Award as Best Actor (Dramatic) for "Lord Pengo". Vice president of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1964. Off-screen was a happily married bookworm; referred to by his friends as a "stick-in-the-mud". Chuck Jones used his French voice and mannerisms when he created famed cartoon skunk Pepé Le Pew. Boyer was the first choice of director Claude Chabrol in 1959 for "A Double Tour", but the role was ultimately played by Jacques Dacqmine. Anatole Litvak thought Boyer was the best actor he ever worked with. Boyer reportedly turned down offers to star in If I Were King (1938), The Great Waltz (1938), Wuthering Heights (1939). His favorite film was the romantic drama Love Affair (1939). Became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1942. In addition to English and French, he spoke German, Italian and Spanish. Always considered the right side of his face to be the more expressive, and was consistently photographed from that side, right up to the end of his film career. Appears in six Oscar Best Picture nominees: Love Affair (1939), All This, and Heaven Too (1940), Hold Back the Dawn (1941), Gaslight (1944), Around the World in 80 Days (1956) and Fanny (1961), with Around the World in 80 Days the only winner. Lost the Best Actor Oscar to Spencer Tracy twice consecutively for films released in 1937 and 1938. Often associated with the catchphrase "Come with me to the casbah", though he never actually said it on screen. Signed with Ufa in 1928 to make French versions of German films in Berlin. Personal Quotes Mostly I've played other roles, but even when I've played other parts people see me differently. In America, when you have an accent, in the mind of the people they associate you with kissing hands and being gallant. I think that has harmed me, just as it has harmed me to be followed and plagued by a line I never said. That love at first sight should happen to me was Life's most delicious revenge on a self-opinionated fool.