Matinee Classics - Roland Young Biography & Filmography

Roland Young ACTOR

PHOTOS

ROLAND YOUNG BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Roland Young was born on November 11th, 1887 in London, England. After high school he went on to study at Sherborne College and London University. Later he enrolled ay the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art to study acting.

In 1908 he began his career in the industry as a stage actor in London appearing in such productions as, "Find the Woman", and after gaining some years of experience he relocated to the United States and began appearing on Broadway.

Some of his early stage productions included, "Hindle Wakes" (1912), "The Seagull" (1916), "A Doll's House" (1918), "Hedda Gabler" (1923) and "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" (1927).

He took a brief break from acting to become a United States Citizen and then joined the United States Army during World War I. Once he completed his military service he began to break into the film industry appearing on such silent films as, "Sherlock Holmes" (1922), "Grit" (1924), "Camille" (1926), "Walls Tell Tales" (1928) and "Her Private Life" (1929).

Young then signed a contract with MGM and his first talking film was in 1929 in, "The Unholy Night" followed by such film roles as, New Moon" (1930), "The Squaw Man" (1931), "Pagan Lady" (1932), "David Copperfield" (1935), "Ruggles of Red Gap" (1935), "The Man Who could Work Miracles" (1936), "Topper" (1937) and "The Philadelphia Story" (1940).

Many remember him as the character, Cosmo Topper from his 1937 film, "Topper". He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role and the film was highly successful. The film also had one of numerous sequels, "Topper Takes a Trip" (1939) and "Topper Returns" (1941).

Some of his more final roles in his career were on television in such series as, "The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre" (1949), "Pulitzer Prizer Playhouse" (1951), "Studio One in Hollywood" (1951), "Lux Video Theatre" (1951) and "The Doctor" (1953).

Roland was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to the Motion Picture industry as well as to television.

Roland Young married twice throughout his lifetime, first to Marjorie Kummer in 1921 and this marriage lasted until 1940. He then married Dorothy Patience May DuCroz in 1948 and they remained married until he passed away on June 5th, 1953 in New York city, New York from natural causes at the age of sixty five.

Filmography

1953 That Man from Tangier

1953 The Doctor

1951 Lux Video Theatre

1951 Studio One in Hollywood

1951 St. Benny the Dip

1951 Pulitzer Prize Playhouse

1950 Let's Dance

1949 The Great Lover

1949 The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre

1948 You Gotta Stay Happy

1948 Bond Street