Adolphe Menjou facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Adolphe Menjou
Menjou in 1938
Born	Adolphe Jean Menjou (1890-02-18)February 18, 1890 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	October 29, 1963(1963-10-29) (aged 73) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Resting place	Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1914–1960
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Katherine Conn Tinsley ​ ​ (m. 1920; div. 1927)​ Kathryn Carver ​ ​ (m. 1928; div. 1934)​ Verree Teasdale ​ ​ (m. 1934)​
Children	1

Adolphe Jean Menjou (born February 18, 1890 – died October 29, 1963) was an American actor. He had a long career that included both silent films (movies without spoken dialogue) and talkies (movies with sound).

Menjou starred in many famous movies. These include A Woman of Paris by Charlie Chaplin, Paths of Glory with Kirk Douglas, and The Sheik with Rudolph Valentino. He also appeared in Morocco with Marlene Dietrich and A Star Is Born. In 1931, he was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in The Front Page.

Early Life and First Steps

Adolphe Jean Menjou was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on February 18, 1890. His father was French, and his mother was from Ireland. He had a younger brother named Henry.

Adolphe grew up Catholic and attended the Culver Military Academy. He later graduated from Cornell University with a degree in engineering. However, he was drawn to the stage, especially vaudeville (a type of live entertainment with different acts). He made his first movie appearance in 1916. During World War I, he served as a captain in the United States Army Ambulance Service.

Becoming a Star

Menjou in The Spanish Dancer (1923)

After returning from the war, Menjou slowly gained more important roles in movies. He appeared in films like The Sheik (1921) and The Three Musketeers (1921). By 1922, he was often one of the main actors in films for studios like Famous Players-Lasky and Paramount Pictures.

His role in the 1923 film A Woman of Paris helped create his famous image. He became known as a very well-dressed and sophisticated man. He was even voted "Best Dressed Man in America" nine times! People saw him as a smooth and charming actor who could play both romantic heroes and villains.

Menjou in A Star Is Born (1937)

Trailer for Stage Door (1937)

When the stock market crashed in 1929, his contract with Paramount was canceled. But he soon moved to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and continued making movies. His ability to speak French and Spanish was very helpful as movies transitioned to "talkies." In 1930, he starred in Morocco with Marlene Dietrich. He earned an Academy Award nomination for The Front Page. Throughout the 1930s, he played many strong supporting roles in films like A Farewell to Arms and A Star Is Born.

In the 1940s, Menjou's roles became a bit fewer. However, he still appeared in films like Roxie Hart (1942) and State of the Union (1948). He worked with many famous directors, from Frank Borzage to Stanley Kubrick.

Later Career and Television

In the 1950s, Menjou had fewer film roles, but he did get one last main role in the movie The Sniper (1952). He also started appearing on television.

In 1955, he was in an episode of the TV series Science Fiction Theatre. He also guest-starred in a 1961 episode of The DuPont Show with June Allyson. Menjou was also seen on NBC's The Ford Show in 1956. He ended his film career with important roles like General George Broulard in Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory (1957). His very last film role was in Disney's Pollyanna (1960).

Political Views

Adolphe Menjou was a strong supporter of the Republican Party. He believed that the Democratic Party was too close to socialism. He supported President Herbert Hoover's policies during the Great Depression. Menjou was worried that if a Democrat became president, taxes would go up and his money would lose value. He even kept gold in safety deposit boxes to protect his wealth.

In the 1944 election, he joined other famous Republicans at a large rally in Los Angeles. They supported the Republican candidates, Thomas E. Dewey and John W. Bricker. Many Hollywood celebrities, like Walt Disney, were there. However, most Hollywood stars at that time supported the Democratic candidates, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman.

In 1947, Menjou spoke to the House Un-American Activities Committee. This committee was investigating if there were people in Hollywood who were trying to spread ideas that were against the American government. Menjou said that Hollywood was a center for such activities. He was a main member of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals. This group worked to stop communist influence in Hollywood. Other members included John Wayne and Barbara Stanwyck.

Because of his strong political views, Menjou sometimes disagreed with actress Katharine Hepburn. They appeared together in several films, including Morning Glory and State of the Union. Hepburn did not agree with the committee's investigations. Reports say their arguments were frequent and sharp.

Personal Life

Menjou with second wife, actress Kathryn Carver, in 1928.

Adolphe Menjou was married three times. His first marriage, to Kathryn Conn Tinsley in 1920, ended in divorce. He then married actress Kathryn Carver in 1928, but they divorced in 1934. His third and final marriage was to actress Verree Teasdale in 1934. This marriage lasted until his death. They adopted one son, Peter Menjou.

In 1948, Menjou wrote a book about his life called It Took Nine Tailors.

Adolphe Menjou passed away on October 29, 1963, in Beverly Hills, California. He is buried next to his wife Verree at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Legacy

For his important work in the film industry, Adolphe Menjou has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can find it at 6826 Hollywood Boulevard.

Filmography

Radio Appearances

See Also

In Spanish: Adolphe Menjou para niños

• List of actors with Academy Award nominations