4 . His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. He slowly worked his way up in the theatre, becoming a call boy (telling actors when they were due on stage) at His Majesty's Theatre and later a prompter, stage manager, understudy, and then moving on from smaller parts with good reviews to larger, better parts. Claude found this ramp business a bit embarrassing and very funny. Important: Use our map link to see location / directions. He remained in England, honing his acting talents, bolstered with instruction patronized by the founder of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Herbert Beerbohm Tree. His screen test for A Bill of Divorcement (1932) for a New York representative of RKO was a failure but, according to some accounts, led to his being cast in the title role of James Whale's The Invisible Man (1933) after his screen test and unique voice were inadvertently overheard from the next room. Jessica Rains remarked that the "Invisible Man" re-issue was the first time that she saw her father on the silver screen at the age of 10 (Claude Rains' daughter was born in 1938, according to IMDB). There were a couple of stories here that were fairly interesting, like how the early special effects were made and how Claude Rains was found. They managed a farm together in Pennsylvania, which he enjoyed immensely. He knew everybody's part. William Claude Rains (1889 - 1967) . Fred Rains. During a stage and film career that spanned six decades, Rains encompassed some of the most memorable and exciting characters ever created by an actor. [1] Dia dikenal karena telah banyak memerankan film-film Hollywood seperti The Invisible Man (1933), pernah berperan juga sebagai ilmuwan, raja yang korup, dan senator di . We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 24 January. Claude Rains, in full William Claude Rains, (born November 10, 1889, London, Englanddied May 30, 1967, Laconia, New Hampshire, U.S.), British motion picture and stage character actor noted for his smooth distinguished voice, polished ironic style, and intelligent portrayal of a variety of roles, ranging from villains to sympathetic gentlemen. Skals layered depiction of Claude Rains reveals a complex, almost inscrutable man whose nuanced characterizations were, in no small way, based on the more shadowy parts of his psyche. Claude Rains and Frances . He married six times and was divorced from the first five of his wives: Isabel Jeans (married 19131915); Marie Hemingway (to whom Rains was married for less than a year in 1920); Beatrix Thomson (19248 April 1935); Frances Propper (9 April 1935 1956); and the classical pianist Agi Jambor (4 November 1959 1960). As Skal shows, numerous contradictions informed the life and career of Claude Rains. In 1926 he immigrated . Her screen name is Jessica Rains, as there was already a Jennifer Rains registered in the Actors' Equity. Explore genealogy for Claude Rains born 1889 London, England died 1967 New Hampshire, USA including ancestors + more in the free family tree community. He was the firm but thoroughly sympathetic Dr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). Jessica Rains Actress Age, Biography and Wiki Jessica Rains (Jennifer Rains) was born on 24 January, 1938 in Los Angeles, CA, is an Actress. The Heritage Auctions web sites will not function without JavaScript, so we recommend enabling it. He played opposite the challenging Bette Davis in three movies through the decade and came out her equal in acting virtuosity. [4] He lived in the slums of London, and, in his own words, on "the wrong side of the River Thames". It was a great, singular career that has long deserved a thoughtful biography, which David J. Skal, working with Rains daughter, Jessica, doesnt quite provide in Claude Rains: An Actors Voice -- a short, workmanlike, rather dispassionate book. Claude Rains - Madness, Magic, & Mayhem Hardcover - October 15, 2022 by John T. Soister (Author), Jessica Rains (Author), JoAnna Jones (Author), 3 ratings See all formats and editions Kindle from $9.95 Read with Our Free App Hardcover $45.00 1 Used from $46.45 4 New from $45.00 Paperback $35.00 1 Used from $37.26 4 New from $35.00 They will join items from Ray Bradbury, an author and screenwriter considered to be the father of science-fiction, as well as those most recently donated by George Johnson, the last remaining writer from "The Twilight Zone" series who is still able to travel. Rains died of an abdominal hemorrhage . He designed his own tombstone. Frequently Asked Questions, Ethnographic Art: American Indian, Pre-Columbian & Tribal, Modern & Contemporary, Prints & Multiples, and Urban Art, Jewelry, Timepieces and Luxury Accessories, All Jewelry, Timepieces & Luxury Accessories. These roles include Dr. Gogol in Mad Love (1935), Dr. Pretorius in The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Frollo or Qasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939), Wolf von Frankenstein in Son of Frankenstein (1939), Professor Higgins in Pygmalion (1938), Mr. Doolittle in My Fair Lady (1964), Klaatu in Day the Earth Stood Still, The (1951), Duke de Lorca in Adventures of Don Juan (1948) and Henry Potter in It's A Wonderful Life (1946). His one and only silent film venture was British with a small part for him, the forgettable -- Build Thy House (1920). Now, Voyager (1942) -- (Movie Clip) My Daughter's Bad Manners, Now, Voyager (1942) -- (Movie Clip) I Feel So Undressed, Now, Voyager (1942) -- (Movie Clip) He Wishes He Understood Me, Now, Voyager (1942) -- (Movie Clip) Not Boston, You Know, Now, Voyager (1942) -- (Movie Clip) I Met A Doctor In Rio. I'm so glad of that. Sign Up now to stay up to date with all of the latest news from TCM. His only child, Jennifer, was born on 24 January 1938, the daughter of Frances Propper. His some 40 films during that period ranged from subtle comedy to psychological drama with a bit of horror revisited; many would be golden era classics. ", To help honor his life and work, Rains, an actress in her own right, donated a number of items from her father's estate to the archives at Collier Library at the University of North Alabama. And his mouth could take on both a forbidding scowl and the warmest of smiles in an instant. [23] He acquired the 380-acre (1.5 km 2) Stock Grange Farm, built in 1747 in West Bradford Township, Pennsylvania (just outside Coatesville ), in 1941. The younger Rains followed, making his stage debut at the age of eleven in "Nell of Old Drury. " This was acting as it should be: flexible, self-effacing, yet so often, at the movies end, enigmatic in ways that abide in memory. Gielgud said that he once wrote that "The London stage suffered a great loss when Claude Rains deserted it for motion pictures," and that he later added, "but when I see him now on the screen and remember him, I must admit that the London stage's loss was the cinema's gain. The first time Jessica ever saw her father in a film was in 1950. Given his childhood speech impediments and his origins in a destitute London neighborhood, the ascent of Claude Rains to the stage and screen was remarkable. The other people in the theater were not watching the movie, but rather watching Claude Rains explain to his daughter how he made the film. In this Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009 photo, Jessica Rains, left, daughter of author Claude Rains talks at Bibb Graves Hall on the University of North Alabama campus, while author David Skal autographs his book about Rains' actor father, in Florence Ala. Three movie scripts, including one from Casablanca which starred Claude Rains with Humphrey Bogart, are being donated to the university. Claude Rains may have played the Invisible Man but he was anything but invisible in Hollywood. ", Rains' debut speaking role in the theatre, This supporting role marked Rains' return to the stage after being wounded in WWI. She is an actress and producer, known for Sleeper (1973), Honky Tonk Freeway (1981) and Kotch (1971). His fifth wife, Agi, was a widow who had lost her husband in 1949. By never fully explaining himself, he commanded our wondering attention long after the film was over. "He was. They married on 30 August 2015. Growing up in the world of theater, he saw not only acting up close but the down-to-earth business end as well, progressing from a page boy to a stage manager during his well-rounded learning experience. She is an actress and producer, popularly known for Sleeper (1973), Honky Tonk Freeway (1981) and Kotch (1971). On 30 May 1967, he died due to an abdominal hemorrhage, at the age of 77. [9], Raine played at the National Theatre in Mike Bartlett's Earthquakes in London as teenage wild-child Jasmine; and then as a secretary in the revival of Clifford Odets's Rocket to the Moon. [6], She starred as the lead character Jenny Lee in the first three series of the BBC One drama Call the Midwife. Her net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Because his father was an actor, the young Rains would spend time in theatres and was surrounded by actors and stagehands. Later that year, she appeared as Doctor Who's original producer, Verity Lambert, in the fact-based drama An Adventure in Space and Time, showing the creation of the series as part of its fiftieth anniversary celebrations.[16]. These talents were recognised by Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, the founder of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Claude Rains Born: 10-Nov - 1889 Birthplace: London, England Died: 30-May - 1967 Location of death: Laconia, NH Cause of death: Abdominal Hemorrhage Remains: Buried, Red Hill Cemetery, Moultonborough, NH Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: White Sexual orientation: Straight Occupation: Actor Nationality: United States [23] He acquired the 380-acre (1.5 km 2) Stock Grange Farm, built in 1747 in West Bradford Township, Pennsylvania (just outside Coatesville ), in 1941. Other memorabilia include photographs with Claude Rains from the sets of some of his films, DVDs of his works and the recent biography on Rains' life written by David Skal. When he finished a picture, he would quietly retreat to one of several country places he owned over his American career, which began in 1920s theater. Rains moved to America in 1912 owing to the opportunities that were being offered in the New York theatres. Eventually we worked together quite a lot and became really great friends, really great friends. Born into the English working class, Claude Rains (1889-1967) overcame a severe speech impediment to become a fixture of the London theater scene. She is the daughter of Claude Rains, and Frances Propper. By David J. Skal with Jessica Rains. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. [18] Rains became the first actor to receive a million-dollar salary when he portrayed Julius Caesar in a large-budget but unsuccessful version of Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra (1945), filmed in Britain. Mailing Address: [6][13] His agent, Harold Freedman, was a family friend of Carl Laemmle, who controlled Universal Pictures at the time, and had been acquainted with Rains in London and was keen to cast him in the role. Emily Rains. (UNA) has become one stopping-off point where people can get that information and that experience. But by the time I first met him in the 1920s he was already much in demand as a character actor in London. The CLAUDE RAINS: AN INVISIBLE MAN author did a LOT of delving in studio archives (especially Warners) for memos, contracts and every other kind of Rains-related paperwork; AND, she talked to a large number of Rains' friends and neighbors from the latter years of his life. She also praised his performances: "He was marvelous in Deception and was worth the whole thing as the picture wasn't terribly good, but he was so marvelous and the restaurant scene where he's talking about all the foodbrilliant, and of course in Mr. Skeffington he was absolutely brilliant as the husband, just brilliant. Imprint: The University Press of Kentucky. He had piercing dark eyes and a beautifully throaty voice, although he had, like Marlene Dietrich, some trouble with the letter 'R'. In an interview for Turner Classic Movies, Gielgud fondly remembered Rains: I learnt a great deal about acting from this gentleman. There are currently no items available for purchase in this Department. He was extremely attractive and needless to say, all the girls in my class were hopelessly in love with him. benefits from the insights of his daughter, Jessica Rains, who provides firsthand accounts of the enigmatic man behind her father's refined screen presence and genteel public persona. William Claude Rains, born in the Clapham area of London, was the son of the British stage actor Frederick Rains. Jessica never went back! Photo: Eagle Lion. Raine began a relationship with fellow actor Tom Goodman-Hill in 2010 after they met while appearing in the play Earthquakes in London. Bette Davis in an interview with Dick Cavett said about Rains: Well, of course he petrified me. Rains filmed some 21 movies in the 1930s, 24 in the 1940s, seven in the 1950s and six in the 1960s, an amazing cadre of performances in celluloid cinematography. William Claude Rains, the first film actor to earn a million dollars for a part, was born on November 10, 1889, in London, England, to Frederick and Emily Eliza Cox Rains and was referred to by his family as "Willie." During Rains' youth, his father transitioned from one temporary job to the . YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Of course in the finished film he played the scene flawlessly, as he always did. Claude Rains starred in numerous . There he observed actors as well as the day-to-day running of a theatre. Jessica Rains (Jennifer Rains) was born on 24 January, 1938 in Los Angeles, CA, is an Actress. He had had a deprived and brutal south London childhood. The girls hid under his cape as he rang each doorbell. [16] He played the villainous role of Prince John in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). Her screen name is Jessica Rains, as there was already a Jennifer Rains registered in the Actors' Equity. By 1936, he was at Warner Bros. with its ambitious laundry list of literary epics in full swing. [14] She also played the part of Kasey in Ed Harris' radio play The Wall,[15] first broadcast in February 2011. Rains did return to New York in 1927 to begin what would be nearly 20 Broadway roles. Jessica Rains's birth sign is Aquarius. [19] Rains followed it with Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious (1946) as a refugee Nazi agent opposite Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman. Heritage Live! Raine was born Jessica Helen Lloyd,[1] on 20 May 1982,[2] in Eardisley, Herefordshire,[1] where she was raised on her father's farm. Jessica Rains on Claude Rains - (TCM Original) Jessica Rains in a TCM "Word of Mouth" remembering her father Claude Rains and his friend and colleague Bette Davis. Drawing on over thirty hours of newly released audio interviews with Rains and enriched by daughter Jessica Rains's contributions, Claude Rains is an intimate portrait and the first full biography of this gifted actor. Jessica Rains, the only child of Claude Rains, is a producer and actress who lives in Venice, CA. According to his daughter, Jessica Rains, he grew up with "a very serious Cockney accent and a speech impediment" which took the form of a stutter . Given his childhood speech impediments and his origins in a destitute London neighborhood, the ascent of Claude Rains to the stage and screen was remarkable. Contribute. Claude Rains was presumably called up in February 1916, joined the Liverpool Scottish and one account suggests he lost most of the sight of one eye and his voice temporarily due to gas in November of that year. His wife is Rosemary McGroarty Clark (August 1960 - 31 December1964)( her death), Agi Jambor (4 November1959 - 29 July1960)( divorced), Frances Propper (8 April1935 - 1956)( divorced)( 1 child), Beatrix Thomson (November 1924 - 8 April1935)( divorced), Marie Hemingway (1920 - 1920)( divorced), Isabel Jeans (1913 - 1918)( divorced). Jessica Rains was born on January 24, 1938 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was buried at the Red Hill Cemetery in Moultonborough, New Hampshire. He went on to live in New Hampshire and passed away there on May 30, 1967 at age 77 from an abdominal hemorrhage. He also did not go to see the rushes of the day's filming "because he told me, every time he went he was horrified by his huge face on the huge screen, that he just never went back again.". In fact he was one of the best and most popular teachers there. In 2017, Raine played Alison Laithwaite in The Last Post, which she has described as "my favourite character I've played so far, ever. Three Things to Know About Heritage Live! [11] He never returned to combat but continued to serve with the Bedfordshire Regiment. Jessica allowed me to be the first to get to be able to see them, and that's what I built my book around.". Dutch postcard by HEMO. I don't know whatever happened to him. . Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. William Claude Rains (10 November 1889 - 30 May 1967) was an English stage and film actor whose career spanned 46 years. He is most remembered for The Invisible Man. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? However, at the outbreak of World War I in 1914, he returned to England to serve in the London Scottish Regiment,[9] alongside fellow actors Basil Rathbone, Ronald Colman, Herbert Marshall and Cedric Hardwicke. Jaquith in Now, Voyager (1942) and the smoothly sardonic but engaging Capt. Rains portrayed Faulkland in Richard Brinsley Sheridan's The Rivals, presented at London's Lyric Theatre in 1925. Late in Claude Rains's distinguished career, a reverent film journalist wrote that Rains \\"was as much a cinematic institution as the medium itself.\\" Given his childhood speech impediments and his origins in a destitute London neighborhood, the ascent of Claude Rains (1889-1967) to the stage and sc. It was a beautiful weekend! Actor. His fifth wife, Agi Jambor, was born in 1908. "Casablanca," which starred Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart, won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay in 1942. The fall colors were in full flourish. Rains later revealed to his daughter that he'd enjoyed playing the prince as a homosexual, by using subtle mannerisms. The first time I played with him was in Carlotta (Juarez), and I had to make an entrance [into] the King of France's domain for a rehearsal, and he's playing the King of France (N.B. When he came to California to do a film, I had to "hear him his lines" as he drove me to school every morning, 10 miles [16km]. After his American film debut as Dr. Jack Griffin in The Invisible Man (1933), he appeared in such highly regarded films as The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), The Wolf Man (1941), Casablanca and Kings Row (both 1942), Notorious (1946), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965). He starred in The Jeffersonian Heritage, a 1952 series of 13 half-hour radio programmes recorded by the National Association of Educational Broadcasters and syndicated for commercial broadcast on a sustaining (i.e., commercial-free) basis.[20]. While working for the Theater Guild, he was offered a screen test with Universal Pictures in 1932. Generally he had no problem remembering his lines despite getting along in years. As an actress, she is known as Jessica Rains. 2000 Ranked 2000's Ranked Documentaries Ranked In 2009, Chamberlain recorded a tribute to the actor when Rains was featured as Turner Classic Movies' Star of the Month: [21]. He was the surreptitiously nervous and malignant Alexander Sebastian in Notorious (1946) and the egotistical and domineering conductor Alexander Hollenius in Deception (1946). Rainss difficulties in his formative years provided reserves of gravitas and sensitivity, from which he drew inspiration for acclaimed performances in The Invisible Man, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Casablanca, Notorious, Lawrence of Arabia, and other classic films. As Jessica Rains remembers, one of the "great prides" of Claude Rains' life was Stock Grange, a 600-acre farm built in 1747 in the Brandywine countryside outside of West Chester, Pennsylvania. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Claude Rains: An Actor's Voice: By David J Skal at the best online prices at eBay! She is an actress and producer, known for Sleeper (1973), Honky Tonk Freeway (1981) and Kotch (1971). Stocky but handsome, Rains had broad shoulders and a mop of thick brown hair which he brushed over one eye. [24] Here, he became a "gentleman farmer" and could relax and enjoy farming life with his then wife (Frances) churning the butter, their daughter collecting the eggs, with Rains himself ploughing the fields and cultivating the vegetable garden. Rains' only child, Jennifer Rains, an actress, was born in January 1938 to Frances Propper. Rains invested these roles with a slight but palpable air of mystery. His daughter Jennifer was born on January 24, 1938. Along with Vanessa Redgrave (for Julia (1977)), Kate Winslet (for Iris (2000), Mare Winningham (for Georgia (1995)) and Philip Seymour Hoffman (for _The Master (2012)), he is one of the few performers to be nominated for a Supporting Oscar (for Mr. Skeffington (1944)) for playing the title role in a movie. . Publicity still for Caesar and Cleopatra (1945). The majority of the items were used to help David J. Skal write his book on Rains, An Actor's Voice. Rains was a very small man and Bergman was quite tall, so in order to shoot them in close-up together (in the key scene) the resourceful Alfred Hitchcock had a ramp installed, so as Rains approaches Bergman on camera he appears taller than his co-star. Claude Rains, better known by the Family name William Claude Rains, was a popular actor. Rains' first wife, Isabel Jeans played the role of Lady Elizabeth Mulhammer in the 1953 Edinburgh premiere. 304 Pages, 6.00 x 9.00 x 1.25 in, 63 halftones. Rich L.A. homeowners are snapping them up, Jonathan Majors dubs Michael B. Jordan Michael B. Handsome at Walk of Fame ceremony, Review: Natural beauty and a touching ecological tale center the female-forward Blueback, Disneys Peter Pan & Wendy trailer criticized for depictions of Hook and Tinker Bell, Review: The path to redemption is murky in taut political thriller What We Do Next, Will Smith gives first awards acceptance speech since Oscars controversy. AbeBooks.com: Claude Rains: An Actor's Voice (Screen Classics) (9780813124322) by Skal, David J.; Rains, . "[12] Soon after changing his accent, he became recognised as one of the leading stage actors in London. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 78 years old group. For Warner Bros., he played Dr. Alexander Tower, who commits murder-suicide to spare his daughter a life of insanity in Kings Row (1942) and the cynical police chief Captain Renault in Casablanca (also 1942). "[29] He was buried at the Red Hill Cemetery in Moultonborough, New Hampshire. He additionally made several audio recordings, narrating some Bible stories for children on Capitol Records, and reciting Richard Strauss's setting for narrator and piano of Tennyson's poem Enoch Arden, with the piano solos performed by Glenn Gould. Bette Davis often cited Rains as one of her favorite actors and colleagues. His daughter Jessica, when describing her father's voice, said, "The interesting thing to me was that he became a different person. Claude Rains may have played the Invisible Man but he was anything but invisible in Hollywood. He came to the United States in 1913 but returned to England during. She was a pianist-composer and Bach expert who taught music at Bryn Mawr. The character is actually the Emperor of the French Napoleon III) in rehearsal. All rights reserved (About Us). As an actress, she is known as Jessica Rains. Though deeply self-conscious about his short stature, Rains drew notorious ardor from female fans and was married six times. Member. Claude Rains (William Claude Rains) was born on 10 November, 1889 in Clapham, London, England, UK, is an Actor, Soundtrack. He possessed an air of nobility and became an emblem of sophistication, but he never shed the insecurities that traced back to his upbringing in an abusive and poverty-stricken family. Suggest an alternative Share your comments about this record He stood at a mere 56, yet his enormous talent and immense stage presence made him a giant among his colleagues. In 2019, Raine played Genevieve Taylor, a British liaison officer for Europol in the Netherlands, in the BBC One drama series Baptiste. Late in Claude Rains's distinguished career, a reverent film journalist wrote that Rains "was as much a cinematic institution as the medium itself." Given his childhood speech impediments and. Universal was embarking on its new-found role as horror film factory, and they were looking for someone unique for their next outing, The Invisible Man (1933). Skals portrait also benefits from the insights of Jessica Rains, who provides firsthand accounts of the enigmatic man behind her fathers refined screen presence and genteel public persona. Discover Jessica Rains's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. We have estimated In the 1940s and '50s he owned a 380-acre farm in eastern Pennsylvania, which he lived on and farmed when he wasn't busy acting. Got something to say? Claude Rains was in an on-screen matchup with Vivien Leigh in Caesar and Cleopatra (1945). 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved. [24] Leave us your thoughts. It was 'his' voice, nobody else spoke like that, half American, half English and a little Cockney thrown in. Search our Auction Archives below to find item values. He taught her to pronounce words the way he did, and he was . FLORENCE, Ala. -- Keeping her father's memory alive has become a sort of cause for Jessica Rains. With It was show business that saved him. Jessica Rains remembering Claude Rains and Bette Davis Kate Patskevich 2.22K subscribers Subscribe 111 Share 7.9K views 5 years ago Jessica Rains in a TCM "Word of Mouth" remembering her. Like most horror fans, I knew the name of Claude Rains because of his starring role in The Invisible Man (1933), as well his performances in The Wolf Man (1941), and Phantom of the Opera (1943). Dallas, Texas 75261-4127 What are my Entertainment & Multimedia Worth? [12], Raine's first screen credits were an appearance in a 2009 episode of Garrow's Law and a small role in the 2010 film Robin Hood. In Hollywood he was a supporting actor who achieved A-list stardom. While working for the Theatre Guild, he was offered a screen test with Universal Pictures in 1932. Claude Rainss income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. Jessica recalled a memorable Halloween following the release of the Phantom of the Opera (1943). We have detected that you do not have JavaScript enabled. Jessica Rains was born on January 24, 1938 in Los Angeles, California, USA as Jennifer Rains. He spent much of his time between film takes reading up on agricultural techniques to try when he got home. At 84 years old, Jessica Rains height not available right now. And if you search him out now, you will be entranced by paradoxes: the power of his subtlety, the urgency of his patience, the admirably muted passion of his proud professionalism. The handicap of a bad Bloody Idiots Who Couldnt Learn Their Lines, MacGuffins Deceptions Domestic Recriminations, Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts, Performing Arts / Film / History & Criticism. 19.5% of the successful bid (minimum $14) per lot. Before serving in World War I, which cost him his sight in one eye, he was doing small roles. People did talk about his height; he was only 5 feet 6, often wore elevator shoes, generally combed his hair in a pompadour that added another inch to his height and frequently stood on boxes when performing with statuesque actresses like Bergman. Published by: The University Press of Kentucky. Show more Bette Davis. Claude Rains: truly a class act, on and off screen. At age 29, he played the role of Clarkis in his only silent film, the British film Build Thy House (1920). "The Jeffersonian Heritage," Broadcasting-Telecasting, 8 September 1952, 36 (trade advertisement). Louis Renault -- perhaps his best known role -- in Casablanca (1942). On the way up, we stopped in Concord for lunch then proceeded to the small, country cemetery . [2] During his lengthy career, he was greatly admired by many of his acting colleagues, such as Bette Davis, Vincent Sherman, Ronald Neame, Albert Dekker, Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud, Charles Laughton and Richard Chamberlain.