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Michael Redgrave 1908 - 1985

Michael Redgrave was born on March 20, 1908. He was married to Rachel Kempson on July 20, 1935, and they were together until Michael's death on March 21, 1985. Michael Redgrave had children Vanessa Redgrave, Corin Redgrave, and Lynn Redgrave.

Michael Redgrave

March 20, 1908

March 21, 1985

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Michael Redgrave Michael Redgrave (1908 - 1985)

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Michael Redgrave's History: 1908 - 1985

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03/20

1908

Birthday

March 20, 1908

Birthdate

Unknown

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Professional Career

Michael Redgrave Born March 20, 1908 in Bristol, England, UK Died March 21, 1985 in Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK (Parkinson's disease) Birth Name Michael Scudamore Redgrave Nickname Red Redgrave Height 6' 2½" (1.9 m) Mini Bio (2) Sir Michael Redgrave was of the generation of English actors that gave the world the legendary John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson, and Laurence Olivier, Britain's three fabled "Theatrical Knights" back in the days when a knighthood for thespian was far rare than it is today. A superb actor, Redgrave was a charter member of the post-Great War English acting pantheon and was the sire of an acting dynasty. He and his wife, Rachel Kempson, were the parents of Vanessa Redgrave, Corin Redgrave and Lynn Redgrave and the grandparents of Natasha Richardson, Joely Richardson, and Jemma Redgrave. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Jon C. Hopwood Michael made his professional stage debut on the 30th August 1934 as Roy Darwin in "Counsellor at Law" at the Liverpool Playhouse then spent 2 years at the Liverpool Repertory. He moved to London where he made his debut in September 1936 as Ferdinand in "Love's Labour's Lost" at the Old Vic. In 1941 he joined the Royal Navy as an ordinary seaman then transferred to the reserves and was discharged on medical grounds in November 1942. In 1955 he won the New York Drama Critics Award for his role of Hector in "Tiger at the Gates". In 1963 he won the Evening Standard Award for his performance of Uncle Vanya. His film debut in 1936 was in "Secret Agent". "The Browning Version" (1951) earned him an Evening Standard Award. In 1947 he received an award from the American Board of Film Review for "Mourning Becomes Electra". - IMDb Mini Biography By: Tonyman 5 Family (4) Spouse Rachel Kempson (20 July 1935 - 21 March 1985) (his death) (3 children) Children Lynn Redgrave Vanessa Redgrave Corin Redgrave Parents Roy Redgrave Margaret Scudamore Relatives Natasha Richardson (grandchild) Joely Richardson (grandchild) Luke Redgrave (grandchild) Annabel Clark (grandchild) Kelly Clark (grandchild) Carlo Gabriel Nero (grandchild) Daisy Bevan (great-grandchild) Jemma Redgrave (grandchild) Trivia (27) He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1952 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to drama and created a Knight Bachelor in the 1959 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to drama. Father of Lynn Redgrave, Corin Redgrave, and Vanessa Redgrave. Grandfather of Natasha Richardson, Joely Richardson, Carlo Gabriel Nero, and Jemma Redgrave. Autobiography 1983 "In My Mind's Eye" He was a teacher at Cranleigh School, Surrey. Was once considered for the dual role of Cervantes and Don Quixote, when the stage production of "Man of La Mancha" was undergoing preliminary rough drafts and its ultimate composer and lyricist had not yet joined the project. Was nominated for Broadway's 1956 Tony Award as Best Actor (Dramatic) for portraying Hector on Jean Giraudoux' "Tiger at the Gates." According to his daughter, Vanessa, and son Corin, Sir Michael's favourite film roles were in The Browning Version (1951), The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962) and The Dam Busters (1955), (speaking at a screening to mark the centenary of his birthday, 7th February 2008 at the Barbican centre, London.). In Britain Redgrave's autobiography was called "In My Mind's Eye" while in the U.S. the title was changed to "In My Mind's I.". He played Sergey Sazonov in Nicholas and Alexandra (1971). His daughter Vanessa Redgrave was considered for the role of Tsarina Alexandra in the film before Janet Suzman was cast. He, his daughter Lynn Redgrave and his son Corin Redgrave all appeared in adaptations of the 1898 novella "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James: Michael played the Uncle in The Innocents (1961), Lynn played Miss Jane Cubberly in The Turn of the Screw (1974) and Corin played the Professor in The Turn of the Screw (2009). He and his three children Corin Redgrave, Lynn Redgrave and Vanessa Redgrave all appeared in films directed by Sidney Lumet: Michael in The Hill (1965), Corin in The Deadly Affair (1967), Lynn in The Deadly Affair (1967) and The Last of the Mobile Hot Shots (1970) and Vanessa in The Sea Gull (1968) and Murder on the Orient Express (1974). The actor was tormented by the fact that he was a bisexual, despite being married and raising children. Is regarded by fellow thespian Simon Callow, as being the greatest classical actor of the theatre. Although his surname appears as Redgraves in the opening titles of "Kipps", the mistake was corrected and he is named correctly in the cast list at the end of the film. A memorial service was held for him at St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden on 18th July 1985. After their success with The Lady Vanishes (1938), he and Margaret Lockwood were meant to star in film versions of "Rob Roy" and "The Blue Lagoon" for Gainsborough Productions but both projects were canceled with the advent of World War II. He started filming The Astonished Heart and agreed to Noel, Coward replacing him. Educated at Clifton College and Magdalen College, Cambridge. He was formerly a schoolmaster at Cranleigh Public School 1931 -34. Author of The Actors Ways and Means (1955). Mask or Face (1958 ) and The Mountebanks Tale (1959). 1938 under contract to Gainsborough. Educated Clifton College and Magdalen College, Cambridge. 1934 at Liverpool Repertory. Served in the Royal Navy 41 but was discharged 42. 1934 Spent 3 years at Liverpool Rep. Was a public schoolmaster at Cranleigh School. Author of at least 2 plays. 1942 voted amongst the top 10 money-making stars in British production. Personal Quotes (4) [on Dame Edith Evans] "Acting with her was heaven. It was like being in your mother's arms." I didn't think I'd be any good in films... I couldn't imagine myself on the screen. Besides, there were such exciting things to do in the theatre, so much to learn. [on director Carol Reed] Reed is one of those dedicated beings, the artist completely absorbed by his dream. He eats, drinks and sleeps cinema. [on Edith Evans] We have such things in common - rice pudding on the hearth rug and coats over the back of the chair.
03/21

1985

Death

March 21, 1985

Death date

Unknown
Cause of death

Unknown
Death location

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Obituary

SIR MICHAEL REDGRAVE DEAD; HEAD OF ACTING CLAN WAS 77 By Albin Krebs March 22, 1985 Sir Michael Redgrave, one of Britain's preeminent stage actors and a leading film star since his hero's role in Alfred Hitchcock's 1938 classic ''The Lady Vanishes,'' died yesterday, a day after his 77th birthday. Sir Michael, the patriarch of the Redgrave acting dynasty that includes his daughters Vanessa and Lynn, his son Corin, a grandson and two granddaughters, had been suffering from Parkinson's disease for 12 years. One of the most accomplished of a generation of knighted actors including Lord Olivier, Sir John Gielgud, Sir Alec Guinness, and the late Sir Ralph Richardson, entered a nursing home in Denham, west of London, several weeks ago. Corin Redgrave was at his side when he died. The actress Rachel Kempson, Sir Michael's wife, was recently seen on American television in the series ''The Jewel in the Crown,'' had been in London rehearsing for a television program. Family Returning to London Vanessa Redgrave, a nominee for the Academy Award for best actress for her performance in ''The Bostonians,'' was in Los Angeles for next Monday night's Oscar presentations, but left for London on learning of her father's death. Lynn Redgrave, in New York rehearsing for next month's Broadway opening of, ''Aren't We All,'' said she would probably go to London. A tall, almost gangling, but extremely handsome actor with a sensitive face, a noble bearing, and an appealing voice, Sir Michael was described by one critic as having the stage image of ''an aristocratic mien coupled with a tortured sensibility.'' He was self-taught in his profession, but he admired and read the works of Stanislavsky. He wrote two books, ''The Actor's Ways and Means'' and ''Mask or Face,'' about the acting craft. He also wrote a novel, ''The Mountebank,'' and, in 1983, an autobiography, ''In My Mind's Eye.'' After Sir Michael contracted Parkinson's disease, an incurable affliction of the nervous system, his acting career, which had encompassed dozens of stage and film roles, ended. 'Amazement and Gratitude' ''I'm not going to pretend this is an easy and especially happy time for me,'' he said. ''For a long time, nobody understood the Parkinson's condition, and doctors thought I was just forgetful or drunk, and even now the work isn't easy. But when I do look back, it's almost always in amazement and gratitude at the way my career has gone and the people I've been allowed to know.'' The grandson of a playwright, Michael Scudamore Redgrave was born on March 20, 1908, in Bristol, England. His father, the actor Roy Redgrave, and his mother, the actress Margaret Scudamore, took him on tours of Britain and Australia, and he made his stage debut in his infancy. When he reached the height of six feet, his mother thought he was too tall to go on the stage, and she sent him to Cambridge. For three years after graduation, he taught modern languages. He wrote for newspapers, but in 1934 his interest in acting led him to the Liverpool Playhouse Company, where he played opposite and later married Miss Kempson. In 1936, Sir Michael joined the Old Vic, debuting in ''Love's Labour's Lost.'' His rise was meteoric, as he received praise for his Orlando to Dame Edith Evans's Rosalind in ''As You Like It,'' Antony to Dame Peggy Ashcroft's Cleopatra, and Laertes to Laurence Olivier's Hamlet. Birth of 'A Great Actress' The night of Vanessa Redgrave's birth in 1937, Sir Michael was onstage with Olivier, and at the end of the performance, Olivier told the audience, ''Tonight a great actress has been born.'' In 1978 Sir Michael said he believed Vanessa had proved Lord Olivier right, but added ruefully, about her left-wing enthusiasms, ''there are some days when her politics drive me mad.'' Sir Michael himself had a regrettable ''20 minutes in politics,'' he said in 1941, when he was called briefly ''Red Redgrave'' for endorsing an antiwar Communist-front group. He was banned from the British Broadcasting Corporation, but Prime Minister Winston Churchill quickly overruled the BBC. Sir Michael served in the Navy during the war. Sir Michael's films included ''A Stolen Life,'' ''The Stars Look Down,'' ''Thunder Rock,'' ''Dead of Night,'' ''The Captive Heart,'' ''Fame Is the Spur,'' ''The Browning Version,'' ''The Quiet American,'' ''The Wreck of the Mary Deare'' and ''The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner.'' Sir Michael was nominated for an Academy Award in 1947 for his role as Orin Mannon in ''Mourning Becomes Electra'' opposite Rosalind Russell. His last films were ''The Go-Between'' and ''Nicholas and Alexandra'' in 1971, at which time his illness forced him to confine his work to the radio. Shakespeare on Stage Throughout his film career, which flourished in the 1950s and 60s, the distinguished and versatile actor, knighted in 1959, continued to play Shakespearean stage roles. His performances in the title role of Chekhov's ''Uncle Vanya'' and in Ibsen's ''Master Builder'' in the 1960s were regarded as definitive. The Redgrave family's acting torch seems in no danger of being extinguished with Sir Michael's death. His two daughters and son are comfortably established in their professions, but his grandchildren are already out of the wings. Carlo Redgrave Nero, Vanessa's son by the actor Franco Nero, appeared in the 1978 movie ''Bugsy Malone.'' Natasha Richardson, Vanessa's daughter by her ex-husband, the director John Richardson, appeared recently as Ophelia in the Young Vic company's production of ''Hamlet.'' And Natasha's sister, Joely, recently appeared in the film ''Wetherby,'' in which she played Vanessa Redgrave's character as a child. Lynn Redgrave's daughter has so far shown no interest in acting.

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Michael Redgrave lived 4 years longer than the average family member when died at the age of 77.

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03/20/2023

Michael Redgrave

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Amanda S. Stevenson

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03/20/2023

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Michael Redgrave's Family Tree & Friends

Michael Redgrave's Family Tree

Parent

Michael Redgrave Mar 20, 1908 - Mar 21, 1985

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Child

Sibling

Marriage

Rachel Kempson