Colin Clive

Colin Clive
Born	Colin Glenn Clive-Greig 20 January 1900(1900-01-20) Saint-Malo, Brittany, France
Died	25 June 1937 (aged 37) Hollywood, California, United States
Spouse(s)	Jeanne De Casalis

Colin Clive (20 January 1900 – 25 June 1937) was a British stage and screen actor best remembered for his portrayal of Dr. Frankenstein in James Whale's two Universal Frankenstein films Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein.^[1]

Early life

Clive was born in Saint-Malo, France, to a British colonel, and he attended Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where an injured knee disqualified him from military service and contributed to his becoming a stage actor. On stage, one of his roles was Steve Baker, the white husband of racially mixed Julie LaVerne, in the first London production of Show Boat. This production also featured Sir Cedric Hardwicke, and Paul Robeson. Clive first worked with James Whale in the Savoy Theatre production of Journey's End and subsequently joined the British community in Hollywood in the 1930s, repeating his stage role in the 1930 film version of Journey's End, which was directed by Whale.

Hollywood

Although Colin Clive made only three horror films, Whale's two Frankenstein movies and Mad Love (1935), he is widely regarded as one of the essential stars of the genre by many film buffs. His portrayal of mad Dr. Frankenstein has proved inspiration and a launching pad for scores of other mad scientist performances in films over the years.

Clive was also an in-demand leading man for a number of major film actresses of the era, including Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Corinne Griffith, and Jean Arthur. He also starred as Edward Rochester in a 1934 adaptation of Jane Eyre opposite Virginia Bruce. He was related to Clive of India and appeared in a featured role in a film biography of his relative in 1935.^[1]

From June 1929 until his death, Clive was married to Jeanne De Casalis, an English actress born in South Africa. Although she worked in films and on stage, her greatest success was as a comedienne on radio sitcoms in England, playing the dithering "Mrs. Feather". De Casalis did not accompany her husband to Hollywood. There has been speculation that De Casalis was a lesbian and Clive either gay or bisexual, and their marriage was one of convenience. David Lewis the longtime companion of Clive's frequent director James Whale, flatly states that Clive was not gay.^[2]

Death

Colin Clive developed chronic alcoholism and died of pneumonia in 1937 at age 37.^[1] His cenotaph is located at Chapel of the Pines Crematory, but his ashes were scattered at sea in 1978 after they spent over 40 years unclaimed in the basement of the funeral parlor where his body was brought after his death.

Filmography

• Journey's End (1930)
• The Stronger Sex (1931)
• Frankenstein (1931)
• Lily Christine (1932)
• Christopher Strong (1933)
• Looking Forward (1933)
• The Key (1934)
• One More River (1934)
• Jane Eyre (1934) (as Mr. Rochester)
• Clive of India (1935)
• The Right to Live (1935)
• Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
• The Girl from 10th Avenue (1935)
• Mad Love (1935)
• The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo (1935)
• The Widow from Monte Carlo (1935)
• History Is Made at Night (1937)
• The Woman I Love (1937)

Notes

References

• Curtis, James (1998). James Whale: A New World of Gods and Monsters. Boston, Faber and Faber. ISBN 0571192858.

External links

• Colin Clive at the Internet Movie Database
• Colin Clive at the Internet Broadway Database
• Colin Clive at Find a Grave