Leslie Howard
April 3, 1893-June 1, 1943
"Ashley Wilkes"
Leslie Howard Stainer was born on April 3, 1893 in Forest Hill, London. Being the son of a Hungarian father and an English mother, Leslie was the oldest of five children. Leslie was discharged from the military after he was diagnosed as being shell shocked during the First World War. David O. Selznick wanted Leslie to play the role of Ashley in Gone With The Wind but, like Clark Gable, he did not want any part of the movie. He was 46 and did not want to play a character who was in his twenties. Selznick struck up a deal. Leslie had always wanted to be a producer and, if he would play the part of Ashley Wilkes, Selznick would allow him to produce the upcoming film, Intermezzo. Leslie was the the only main character who refused to read the novel. Leslie, along with Olivia and Vivien, signed the contract on January 13, 1939.
"I haven't the slightest intentions of playing another weak, watery character. I've played enough ineffectuall characters already."
|
On June 1, 1943, Leslie was on airplane that was mistakenly shot down by the Germans. All were killed. Leslie and Ruth Evelyn Martin were married for twenty-three years.
Filmography
Outward Bound (1930)
|
British Agent (1934)
|
Never the Twain Shall Meet (1931)
|
The Petrified Forest (1936)
|
Five and Ten (1931)
|
Romeo and Juliet (1936)
|
Devotion (1931)
|
Stand-In (1937)
|
A Free Soul (1931)
|
It's Love I'm After (1937)
|
The Animal Kingdom (1932)
|
Pygmalion (1938)
|
Smilin' Through (1932)
|
Intermezzo (1939)
|
Reserved for Ladies (1932)
|
Gone With The Wind (1939)
|
Secrets (1933)
|
The 49th Parallel (1941)
|
Captured (1933)
|
The First of the Few (1942)
|
Berkeley Square (1933)
|
Pimpernel Smith (1942)
|
The Scarlett Pimpernel (1934)
|
The Lamp Still Burns (1943)
|
The Lady is Willing (1934)
|
The Gentle Sex (1943)
|
O Human Bondage (1934)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
1932 Best Actor
|
|
1933 Best Actor
|
|
1938 Volpi Cup for Best Actor
|
|
1938 Best Actor
|
|