Nigel Bruce facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nigel Bruce
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Bruce in The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937)
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| Born |
William Nigel Ernle Bruce
4 February 1895 Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
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| Died | 8 October 1953 (aged 58) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Chapel of the Pines Crematory |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1920–1953 |
| Spouse(s) |
Violet Pauline Shelton
(m. 1921; died 1953) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives |
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William Nigel Ernle Bruce (born February 4, 1895 – died October 8, 1953) was a well-known British actor. He was famous for playing Dr. Watson in a series of movies and radio shows. In these, he starred alongside Basil Rathbone, who played Sherlock Holmes.
Bruce also had memorable roles in movies directed by Alfred Hitchcock, like Rebecca and Suspicion. He appeared in the Charlie Chaplin film Limelight and the original Lassie Come Home movie.
Contents
Nigel Bruce's Early Life
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Nigel Bruce was born in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. His parents were traveling the world at the time. He was the second son of Sir William Waller Bruce, a Baronet, and Angelica Lady Bruce. His older brother, Sir Michael Bruce, became a writer and adventurer.
Nigel went to The Grange School and then Abingdon School from 1908 to 1912. He was a great sportsman there. He played for the first cricket team and the athletics team. He also played for the school's second football team.
After leaving school at 17 in 1912, Bruce worked as a clerk in London. In 1914, he joined the British Army as a soldier. When World War I started in August 1914, he went to the Western Front. In January 1915, he was badly injured in his legs by machine-gun fire. He spent the rest of 1915 recovering in the hospital. He was discharged from the army because of his injuries.
Nigel Bruce's Acting Career
After leaving the army, Nigel Bruce decided to become an actor. He made his first stage appearance on May 12, 1920, in London. Later that year, he traveled to Canada as a stage manager and actor. He continued to perform on stage regularly.
Eight years later, he started acting in silent films. In 1926, he made his Broadway debut in a play called This Was a Man. He returned to Broadway several times in the 1930s.
In 1934, Bruce moved to Hollywood, U.S. His acting career there became very successful. He often played kind, slightly confused gentlemen in his films. He acted in 78 movies during his career. Some of his notable films include Treasure Island (1934) and The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936).
He also appeared in two important films: Becky Sharp (1935), which was the first full-length movie in Technicolor. And Bwana Devil (1952), which was the first 3-D movie. He played a less friendly character in The Rains Came (1939), which won an Oscar for its special effects.
Playing Dr. Watson
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Nigel Bruce's most famous role was playing Dr. Watson. He starred in 14 Sherlock Holmes films from 1939 to 1946. He also played Watson in over 200 radio shows called The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. In all these, Basil Rathbone played Sherlock Holmes. Even though Watson often seemed older, Bruce was actually three years younger than Rathbone.
Many people remember Dr. Watson because of Nigel Bruce's portrayal. However, some fans of the original Sherlock Holmes books felt that Bruce's Watson was too clumsy and not as smart as the character in the books. The Watson in the books was intelligent and capable, even if he wasn't a detective like Holmes.
Despite these criticisms, Basil Rathbone praised Bruce's acting. He said that Watson was one of the most lovable characters on screen. Historians also note that Bruce made Watson a very important part of the Sherlock Holmes movies. Before Bruce, Watson was often a minor character in films. After him, it became almost impossible to imagine Holmes without Watson.
Nigel Bruce's Family Life
Nigel Bruce was married to a British actress named Violet Campbell. He lovingly called her "Bunny." They were married from 1921 until his death in 1953. They had two daughters together.
Later Years and Legacy
Nigel Bruce was known as "Willie" to his friends. He was a key member of the British acting community in Los Angeles. He was also the captain of the Hollywood Cricket Club, which had many British members. Unlike some other actors, Bruce kept his British citizenship even though he lived in the United States for a long time.
His last film, World for Ransom, was released after he passed away in 1954. In 1947, he started writing his autobiography called Games, Gossip and Greasepaint. This book was never fully published, but parts of it have been shared online.
How Nigel Bruce Died
Nigel Bruce died from a heart attack in Santa Monica, California, in 1953. He was 58 years old. His body was cremated, and his ashes are at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles.
Images for kids
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The Squeaker (1930 film).jpg
Nigel Bruce in The Squeaker (1930)
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The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934 film).jpg
Nigel Bruce as The Prince of Wales in The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934)
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The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936 film).jpg
Nigel Bruce in The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)
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Rebecca (1940 film).jpg
Nigel Bruce in Rebecca (1940)
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Suspicion (1941 film).jpg
Nigel Bruce in Suspicion (1941)
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Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1942).jpg
Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1942)
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Lassie Come Home (1943).jpg
Nigel Bruce in Lassie Come Home (1943)
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The Spider Woman (1943).jpg
Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson in The Spider Woman (1943)
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The Pearl of Death (1944).jpg
Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson in The Pearl of Death (1944)
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The Woman in Green (1945).jpg
Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson in The Woman in Green (1945)
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Terror by Night (1946).jpg
Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson in Terror by Night (1946)
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Dressed to Kill (1946 film).jpg
Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson in Dressed to Kill (1946)
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Limelight (1952 film).jpg
Nigel Bruce in Limelight (1952)
See also
In Spanish: Nigel Bruce para niños
- List of Old Abingdonians
