Robert Morley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Morley
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Morley in 1975
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| Born |
Robert Adolph Wilton Morley
26 May 1908 Semley, Wiltshire, England
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| Died | 3 June 1992 (aged 84) Reading, Berkshire, England
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1928–1989 |
| Spouse(s) |
Joan Buckmaster
(m. 1940) |
| Children | 3 |
Robert Morley (born May 26, 1908 – died June 3, 1992) was a famous English actor. He had a long and successful career in both Britain and the United States.
Robert Morley was often chosen to play characters who were a bit grand or important, like a typical English gentleman. He was very good at playing these kinds of roles. In 1939, he was even nominated for an Academy Award for his role as King Louis XVI in the movie Marie Antoinette.
Film experts described Morley as easy to spot because of his strong features. He was known for his "bushy eyebrows, thick lips, and double chin." They said he was especially good at playing characters who talked a lot and were a bit boastful. Robert Morley himself said that when he started acting, people liked his look for playing "important gentleman" roles, like doctors or lawyers.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robert Morley was born in Semley, a small village in Wiltshire, England. His mother was Gertrude Emily, and his father was Robert Wilton Morley, who was a major in the British Army. His mother's family came from Germany and had moved to South Africa.
Morley went to Wellington College for school, but he really did not like it there. After that, he studied acting at RADA, which is a famous drama school. Even though he became a well-known former student of Wellington College, he never wanted to visit it again. He even joked that the only reason he would go back was to burn it down!
Acting Career Highlights
Robert Morley first appeared on the stage in London's West End in 1929. He played a pirate in a play called Treasure Island. He made his first appearance on Broadway in New York in 1938, playing the main role in a play about Oscar Wilde. Even though he started working in movies, he continued to be a busy stage actor and also wrote successful books.
Morley was a very flexible actor, especially when he was younger. He played King Louis XVI in the 1938 film Marie Antoinette. This role earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards.
He also helped write several plays for the stage. One of his plays, Goodness, How Sad (1937), was even made into a movie. Later, he had a huge success with a play called Edward, My Son (1947), which he wrote with Noel Langley. Morley played the main character, Arnold Holt, in the play.
Morley's acting career continued with many memorable movie roles. He played a missionary in The African Queen (1951) and W. S. Gilbert in The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan (1953). He also played the famous writer Oscar Wilde in the 1960 film Oscar Wilde.
Famous Film Roles
In 1965, Robert Morley starred in the British comedy film Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines. In this movie, he played a newspaper owner who decides to organize a big air race from London to Paris. Many different characters from around the world join the race to win a large prize. The film was very popular and is still seen as a classic movie about early aviation.
Morley was also known for playing a typical conservative Englishman in many comedy and adventure films. He was the face of BOAC (which later became British Airways) in their TV commercials during the 1970s. He would say, "We'll take good care of you," which became a famous slogan. Later in his career, he received great praise for his acting in the movie Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?.
In the 1980s, Morley hosted a cooking show on Cable TV called Celebrity Chefs. He was also known for being a very witty storyteller and a great conversationalist. He loved good food, both in real life and in the characters he played.
Personal Life and Awards
Robert Morley married Joan Buckmaster in 1940. Joan was the daughter of another famous actress, Dame Gladys Cooper. They had three children: a son named Sheridan Morley, who became a writer, a daughter named Annabel, and another son named Wilton.
Robert Morley was honored with the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1957. He was also offered a knighthood in 1975, but he chose to decline it. For many years, Morley lived in a town called Wargrave, in Berkshire, England.
Later Years and Passing
Robert Morley passed away in Reading, England, on June 3, 1992. He was 84 years old and died from a stroke.
Images for kids
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Still from the trailer for Marie Antoinette (1938)
See also
In Spanish: Robert Morley para niños
