Rex Harrison

Sir Rex Harrison
Harrison in 1976
Born	Reginald Carey Harrison (1908-03-05)5 March 1908 Huyton, Lancashire, England
Died	2 June 1990(1990-06-02) (aged 82) New York City, New York, U.S.
Cause of death	Pancreatic cancer
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1930-1989
Spouse(s)	Colette Thomas (m. 1934-1942) Lilli Palmer (m. 1943-1957) Kay Kendall (m. 1957-1959) Rachel Roberts (m. 1962-1971) Elizabeth Rees-Williams (m. 1971-1975) Mercia Tinker (m. 1979-1990)
Children	2
Relatives	Cathryn Harrison (granddaughter)

Sir Reginald Carey Harrison (5 March 1908 – 2 June 1990) was an English actor. He began his stage career in 1924. He won a Tony Award in 1949, and another for his role of Professor Henry Higgins in the stage production of My Fair Lady in 1957. He played the role in the 1964 movie version, and won a Golden Globe Award and Best Actor Oscar. Harrison appeared in many movies including Cleopatra (1963) and Doctor Dolittle (1967). Harrison wrote two autobiographies. One was published in 1975, and the other after his death in 1991.

Early and Personal life

Reginald Carey Harrison was born on 5 March 1908 in Huyton, then part of Lancashire (now Merseyside), England. He was the youngest of two children born to William Reginald Harrison, a cotton broker, and Edith Mary Harrison. He was educated at Liverpool College, where he first showed interest in acting, eventually leaving school at the age of 16 to pursue a career on the stage.

Rex Harrison's personal life was famously tumultuous. He was married six times and had numerous high-profile affairs. His first marriage was to actress Colette Thomas, with whom he had a son, Noel Harrison, who became an actor and singer. His second marriage was to actress Lilli Palmer, with whom he had another son, Carey Harrison, a writer.

Harrison's third marriage was to actress Kay Kendall, who died of leukemia just two years after they wed in 1957. He stayed by her side during her illness, even delaying his divorce from Palmer so that Kendall could die as “Mrs. Rex Harrison.” His subsequent marriages, to Rachel Roberts, Elizabeth Rees-Williams, and Mercia Tinker, were less publicly turbulent but still marked by personal difficulties.

Career

Theatre Beginnings

Harrison's acting career began in 1924 at the Liverpool Repertory Theatre. He honed his craft in various stage roles across the UK, including a breakthrough appearance at the Malvern Festival in 1931. His smooth, witty demeanour made him a favorite on both British and American stages.

Rise to Fame

Harrison gained prominence in the West End, with one of his early notable performances being in French Without Tears (1936) by Terence Rattigan. His success on stage caught the attention of filmmakers, and he made his film debut in 1930, though it was not until the late 1930s and early 1940s that his film career gained momentum.

Hollywood Success

His career in Hollywood was solidified with his performance in Major Barbara (1941), followed by Blithe Spirit (1945) and Anna and the King of Siam (1946). However, Harrison’s most iconic role came with his portrayal of Professor Henry Higgins in the 1956 stage production of My Fair Lady, a role he reprised in the 1964 film adaptation. His portrayal earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor.

Later Career

In addition to My Fair Lady, Harrison’s other notable film credits include The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947), Cleopatra (1963), in which he starred opposite Elizabeth Taylor, and Doctor Dolittle (1967), which, despite being a box office disappointment, became a beloved family classic. Harrison continued working on both stage and screen throughout his life, performing in plays like Heartbreak House (1975) and Aren't We All? (1984).

Scandals

Harrison's career was almost derailed in 1948 when actress Carole Landis, with whom he was having an affair, committed suicide after a turbulent relationship. Although he was married to Lilli Palmer at the time, the scandal cast a shadow over his career, though it did not stop his rise to fame in the subsequent years.

Death

Rex Harrison died of pancreatic cancer on 2 June 1990 at the age of 82, in New York City. He had been diagnosed with the disease only a short time before. The stage production in which he was appearing at the time, The Circle, came to an end upon his death. He was cremated, and his ashes were scattered in Portofino, Italy, where he had a villa.

Legacy

Harrison’s portrayal of Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady remains one of the most iconic performances in film history. His career spanned over six decades, with his performances celebrated for their wit, charm, and distinctive voice. He left behind an indelible mark on stage and screen, particularly in the realm of sophisticated, often comedic, roles.

In recognition of his contributions to acting, Harrison was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1989.

Other websites

• Rex Harrison on IMDb