Roddy mcdowall actor biography book

Virginia McDowall Sibling. Often made grandiloquent speeches at the climax of the films he appeared in. Notorious penchant for overacting and upstaging other actors. Deep, expressive and penetrating brown eyes. The studio erroneously listed him as a leading player rather than a supporting one. When 20th Century-Fox asked the Academy to correct the error, it refused, saying the ballots already were at the printer.

Inthe FBI raided his home and seized his collection of films and television series during an investigation of copyright infringement and movie piracy. The collection consisted of 16mm prints and over 1, videocassettes. The actor was not charged and agreed to cooperate with the FBI. There was then no aftermarket for films, as the commercial video recorder had not been marketed, and studios routinely destroyed old negatives and prints of classic films they felt had no worth.

Film buffs like McDowall had to purchase 16mm prints of films from the studios, or movie prints on the black market, or from other collectors. He claimed that he had once had as many as movies in his collection, but at the time of the investigation he was not sure how many were still in his possession. He had bought Errol Flynn 's movie collection, and had acquired other films through purchases or swaps.

McDowall told the FBI that he had transferred many of his films to videotape in order to conserve space and because tape was longer-lasting than film, and subsequently had sold or traded the prints, plus other prints of movies he had lost interest in, to other collectors. He said that he collected the films due to his love of the cinema and to help protect the movies' heritage.

McDowall starred in seven films for them, for which he also worked as associate producer: Rockya boy and dog story directed by Phil Karlson ; Kidnappedan adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson story, where he played David Balfour, directed by William Beaudine ; Tuna Clippera fishing tale, again directed by Beaudine; Black Midnighta horse story directed by Budd Boetticher ; Killer Sharka shark hunting tale, again with Boetticher; Big Timberas a logger; The Steel Fistan anti-communist drama.

McDowall also had significant success on the Broadway stage. He was in a production of Misalliance that ran for performances and which McDowall said "broke the mould" in how he was judged as an actor. He had a big critical success with Compulsion —58 based on Leopold and Loeb — although McDowall was not cast in the film version. The latter earned him a Tony Award.

He followed it with Midnight Lace Scott and Julie Harris. He was third billed in The Third Day and received billing as a member of the ensemble cast in The Loved One McDowall was given a starring role in Lord Love a Duck He guest-starred in the series The Felony Squad. InMcDowall appeared in one of his memorable roles when he was cast in Planet of the Apes as the ape Cornelius.

He appeared in three sequels and a TV spin-off from the film. As an actor he was in Pretty Maids All in a Row McDowall was not in the first Apes sequel but was in the second, Escape from the Planet of the Apes His final Apes film was Battle for the Planet of the Apes He starred in the short lived TV spin-off series of Planet of the Apes During a guest appearance on The Carol Burnett Showhe came onstage in his Planet of the Apes makeup and performed a love duet with Burnett.

Asked about his career in a interview, McDowall said "I just hope to roddy mcdowall actor biography book working and in interesting things. He also had a regular role in the short-lived sci-fi series The Fantastic Journey TV films included Flood! Inhe had supporting roles in Dead of Winter and Overboardon which he also served as executive producer.

Inhe said "I feel as Henry Fonda did that every job I get may be my last. I'm one of those creatures born to be working. I feel better when I'm working. I don't like it when I'm not working and I've never worked as much as I want to. McDowall served for several years in various capacities on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciencesthe organisation that roddies mcdowall actor biography book the Oscar Awards, and on the selection committee for the Kennedy Center Awards.

He was Chairman of the Actors' Branch for five terms. He was elected President of the Academy Foundation inthe year that he died. He worked to support the Motion Pictures Retirement Home, where a rose garden named in his honour was officially dedicated on 9 October and remains a part of the campus. He published five books of photographs, each featuring photos and profile interviews of his celebrity friends interviewing each other, such as Elizabeth TaylorJudy GarlandJudy HollidayMaureen O'HaraKatharine HepburnLauren Bacalland others.

It started with Double Exposure in McDowall was a Democrat and supported Adlai Stevenson 's campaign during the presidential election. Inthe FBI raided McDowall's home and seized his collection of films and television series in the course of an investigation into film piracy and copyright infringement. His collection consisted of mm prints and more than 1, video cassettes, at a time before the era of commercial videotapes, when there was no legal aftermarket for films.

McDowall had purchased Errol Flynn 's home cinema films and transferred them all to tape for longer-lasting archival storage. No charges were filed. McDowall never married nor had children. McDowall was in a relationship with American actor Montgomery Clift for several years in the early s. Clift later stated that he could never have finished the film without McDowall's moral support.

In AprilMcDowall, a lifelong smoker, was diagnosed with lung cancer. Doctors told him the disease had spread over his body and was incurable. It was just as he wanted it. It was exactly the way he planned. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item.

British actor — This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Herne HillLondon, England. Studio City, CaliforniaU. Biography [ edit ]. Early life [ edit ]. British films [ edit ]. Like many child stars, McDowall found it challenging to transition into adult film roles.

Frustrated with dwindling opportunities in Hollywood, he turned to stage acting. McDowall toured in vaudeville and summer stock before moving to New York in He was featured in memorable Broadway productions, including Compulsion and The Fighting Cock InMcDowall returned to film in the more mature role of Octavian in the extravagant feature Cleopatraco-starring with Richard Burton and longtime friend Elizabeth Taylor.

Shortly after, he made his mark in television with a recurring role as the miscreant Bookworm on the Batman series, opposite Adam West as the caped crusader. InMcDowall starred as the sympathetic scientist Cornelius in the seminal science fiction film Planet of the Apes. The film spawned several sequels and earned McDowall a cult following. He reprised his role as Cornelius in the third installment, Escape from the Planet of the Apes This film not only highlighted his acting prowess but also opened doors to further opportunities in major films.

However, like many child stars, he faced the challenge of transitioning to adult film roles. Frustrated with the limited opportunities available, McDowall ventured into stage acting and found success on Broadway with productions such as "Compulsion" and "The Fighting Cock," earning himself a Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor. These early film and stage experiences laid the foundation for a versatile acting career that would span several decades.

Roddy McDowall's breakout role as Cornelius in the film Planet of the Apes marked a pivotal moment in his acting career, transforming him into a beloved figure within the science fiction genre. As the intelligent and empathetic scientist, McDowall captivated audiences with his poignant performance, which allowed him to explore complex themes of humanity and social commentary.

The film was a critical and commercial success, spawning a franchise that would solidify McDowall's status as a cultural icon. His portrayal of Cornelius not only earned him a dedicated following but also opened doors to a variety of roles that showcased his versatility as an actor. Following the immense success of Planet of the Apes, McDowall reprised his role in several sequels and the accompanying television series, further cementing his connection to the character and the franchise.

In the sequels, McDowall's ability to blend pathos with humor resonated with audiences, allowing him to explore the character's growth and the evolving narrative of ape civilization. His performances contributed significantly to the series' impact, engaging viewers with thought-provoking themes related to evolution, morality, and relationships between species.

Roddy mcdowall actor biography book

McDowall's work on Planet of the Apes remains a defining aspect of his illustrious career, showcasing his talent and dedication to the art of acting. Roddy McDowall was not only a talented actor but also an accomplished photographer whose artistic pursuits extended well beyond the silver screen. His keen eye for detail and ability to capture the essence of his subjects led him to develop a notable career in portrait photography.