Edward Arnold (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edward Arnold
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Arnold in 1941
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| Born |
Günther Edward Arnold Schneider
February 18, 1890 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | April 26, 1956 (aged 66) Encino, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | San Fernando Mission Cemetery |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1907–1956 |
| Spouse(s) |
Harriet Marshall
(m. 1917; div. 1927)Olive Emerson
(m. 1929; div. 1949)Cleo McLain
(m. 1951) |
| Children | 3 |
| 5th President of the Screen Actors Guild | |
| In office 1940–1942 |
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| Preceded by | Ralph Morgan |
| Succeeded by | James Cagney |
Edward Arnold (born Günther Edward Arnold Schneider, February 18, 1890 – April 26, 1956) was a famous American actor. He performed in many plays and movies. He was known for playing powerful characters, often villains or important figures.
Contents
Early Life of Edward Arnold
Edward Arnold was born on February 18, 1890, in the Lower East Side of New York City. His parents, Elizabeth and Carl Schneider, were immigrants from Germany. He went to school at the East Side Settlement House.
Edward Arnold's Acting Career
Edward Arnold loved acting from a young age. He started his career on stage and later became a big movie star.
Stage Acting
Arnold became interested in acting when he was 12 years old. He played the character Lorenzo in a play called The Merchant of Venice. He began acting professionally in 1907.
He had important roles in many plays on Broadway in the 1920s and 1930s. One of his famous stage roles was in the 1927 play The Jazz Singer.
Film Acting
Arnold first worked as an extra in movies. His first important movie role was in 1916 in The Misleading Lady. He then returned to stage acting for a while.
He came back to movies in 1932 with his first "talkie" film, Okay America!. A "talkie" is a movie with sound and dialogue. His role in the 1935 film Diamond Jim made him a big star. He played the real-life businessman Diamond Jim Brady in this movie. He played this character again in the 1940 film Lillian Russell.
Edward Arnold appeared in over 150 movies! Even though some people in 1938 called him "box office poison," he always had work. This term meant that some actors were not bringing in enough money at the box office. Instead of playing leading men, he decided to play "character parts." These are roles that are often unique and memorable. He once said, "The bigger I got, the better character roles I received." He was so popular that he often worked on two movies at the same time.
Arnold was very good at playing powerful people, especially villains. He was excellent at showing how these characters secretly pulled strings. Some of his most famous roles were in:
- Come and Get It (1936)
- The Toast of New York (1937)
- You Can't Take It with You (1938)
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
- Meet John Doe (1941)
- The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941), where he played Daniel Webster.
He was also the first actor to play the famous detective Nero Wolfe in the 1936 movie Meet Nero Wolfe. He also played a blind detective named Duncan Maclain in two movies: Eyes in the Night (1942) and The Hidden Eye (1945).
Years after his death, a picture of Edward Arnold appeared in the 1984 movie Gremlins. He was shown as the husband of a character who was very much like the rich, tough characters Arnold often played.
Radio Shows
From 1947 to 1953, Edward Arnold starred in a radio show called Mr. President. He also played a lawyer named Mr. Reynolds on The Charlotte Greenwood Show. In 1953, he hosted another radio show called Spotlight Story.
Television Appearances
Edward Arnold hosted a TV show called Your Star Showcase. This show featured 52 half-hour TV dramas. It started in 1954 and was shown in many cities. He also acted in an episode of Ford Theatre on NBC.
Edward Arnold's Personal Life
Edward Arnold was married three times. His first wife was Harriet Marshall, and they had three children: Elizabeth, Jane, and William. William also had a short career as an actor. Arnold later married Olive Emerson and then Cleo McLain.
He was the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1940 to 1942. This is a union that represents actors. In 1940, he wrote a book about his life called Lorenzo Goes to Hollywood. He also helped start the I Am an American Foundation.
In the 1940s, Arnold became involved in Republican politics. He was even considered as a possible candidate for the United States Senate. In 1950, he announced he would run for a Senate seat in California. However, he soon decided not to run because he felt he didn't have enough time for the campaign. He also ran for a local government position in Los Angeles County but lost. He thought that maybe actors were not the best people to run for political office.
Edward Arnold passed away at his home in Encino, California, when he was 66 years old. He was buried in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery.
Recognition and Awards
Midwestern University gave Edward Arnold an honorary degree in 1951. This means they recognized his achievements. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960. His star is for his work in the recording industry, likely for his radio performances.
Images for kids
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Arnold in 1941
See also
In Spanish: Edward Arnold para niños
