Ian Hunter (13 June 1900 – 22 September 1975) was a Cape Colony-born British actor of stage, film and television.

Biography

Hunter was born in the Kenilworth area of

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

Cape Colony The Cape Colony ( nl, Kaapkolonie), also known as the Cape of Good Hope, was a British colony in present-day South Africa named after the Cape of Good Hope, which existed from 1795 to 1802, and again from 1806 to 1910, when it united with t ...

where he spent his childhood. In his teen years, he and his parents returned to the family in England to live. Sometime between that arrival and the early years of World War I, Hunter began exploring acting. But in 1917, aged 17, he joined the army to serve in France for the remainder of the First World War. On his return Hunter studied under Elsie Fogerty at the

Central School of Speech and Drama The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama was founded by Elsie Fogerty in 1906, as The Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art, to offer a new form of training in speech and drama for young actors and other students. It became a ...

, then based in the Royal Albert Hall, London. Within two years he did indeed make his stage debut. He decided to work in British silent films taking a part in '' Not for Sale'' (1924) directed by

W.P. Kellino William Philip Gislingham (c. 1874 in London, England – 31 December 1957, in London, Middlesex, England) was a British music hall musician and acrobat (part of the Famous Kellinos) and, using the name W. P. Kellino, film director. He founded ...

for Stoll Pictures. Hunter made his first trip to the U.S. because

Basil Dean Basil Herbert Dean CBE (27 September 1888 – 22 April 1978) was an English actor, writer, producer and director in the theatre and in cinema. He founded the Liverpool Repertory Company in 1911 and in the First World War, after organising unof ...

, the British actor and director, was producing

Richard Brinsley Sheridan Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan (30 October 17517 July 1816) was an Irish satirist, a politician, a playwright, poet, and long-term owner of the London Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He is known for his plays such as '' The Rivals'', '' The ...

's ''

The School for Scandal ''The School for Scandal'' is a comedy of manners written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It was first performed in London at Drury Lane Theatre on 8 May 1777. Plot Act I Scene I: Lady Sneerwell, a wealthy young widow, and her hireling Sn ...

'' at the Knickerbocker Theater. However, the production folded after one performance. It was a more concerted effort with film the next year back in Britain, again with Kellino. He then met the film director Alfred Hitchcock in 1927 and was featured in Hitchcock's '' The Ring'' (1927) and stayed for the director's '' Downhill'' (US: ''When Boys Leave Home'', 1927) and '' Easy Virtue'' (1928), based on the Noël Coward play. By late 1928, he returned to Broadway for only a months run in the original comedy ''Olympia'' and stayed in America to work in Hollywood on '' Syncopation'' (1929) for

RKO RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, was an American film production and distribution company, one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheu ...

, his first sound film. He returned to London for Dean's thriller '' Escape'' (1930). In ''

The Girl from 10th Avenue ''The Girl from 10th Avenue'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by Alfred E. Green. The screenplay by Charles Kenyon is based on the 1914 play ''Outcast'' by Hubert Henry Davies. The film was released in the United Kingdom as ''Men on Her M ...

'' (1935) with

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her pe ...

, Hunter made his connection with

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

But before settling in with them through much of the 1930s, he did three pictures in succession with British director

Michael Powell Michael Latham Powell (30 September 1905 – 19 February 1990) was an English filmmaker, celebrated for his partnership with Emeric Pressburger. Through their production company The Archers, they together wrote, produced and directed a seri ...

. He then appeared as the Duke in '' A Midsummer Night's Dream'' (1935) for Warner Bros. It marked the start of a string of nearly 30 films for the studio. Among the best remembered was his jovial

King Richard the Lionheart Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199) was King of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine and Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, and Count of Poitiers, Anjou, Maine, and Nantes, and was overl ...

in ''

The Adventures of Robin Hood ''The Adventures of Robin Hood'' is a 1938 American Technicolor swashbuckler film from Warner Bros. Pictures. It was produced by Hal B. Wallis and Henry Blanke, directed by Michael Curtiz and William Keighley, and stars Errol Flynn, Olivia d ...

'' (1938). Hunter was also paired in seven movies with

Kay Francis Kay Francis (born Katharine Edwina Gibbs; January 13, 1905 – August 26, 1968) was an American stage and film actress. After a brief period on Broadway in the late 1920s, she moved to film and achieved her greatest success between 1930 an ...

between 1935 and 1938. Hunter appeared in '' The Little Princess'' (1939) as Captain Reginald Crewe. And he was the benign guardian angel-like Cambreau in Loew's '' Strange Cargo'' (1940) with

Clark Gable William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901November 16, 1960) was an American film actor, often referred to as "The King of Hollywood". He had roles in more than 60 motion pictures in multiple genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades ...

. He was staying regularly busy in Hollywood until into 1942 when he returned to Britain to serve in the war effort. He appeared once more on Broadway in 1948 and made '' Edward, My Son'' (1949) for MGM-British with

George Cukor George Dewey Cukor (; July 7, 1899 – January 24, 1983) was an American film director and film producer. He mainly concentrated on comedies and literary adaptations. His career flourished at RKO when David O. Selznick, the studio's Head ...

directing and

Spencer Tracy Spencer Bonaventure Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American actor. He was known for his natural performing style and versatility. One of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, Tracy was the first actor to win two cons ...

and Deborah Kerr in the lead roles. Hunter worked once more for Michael Powell ('' The Queen's Guards'', 1961) and then retired in the middle of that decade after nearly 100 films. Among dozens of film roles, his best-remembered appearances include '' That Certain Woman'' (1937) with

, ''

Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is sep ...

'' (1939, as King Edward IV), and '' Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' (1941, as Dr. Lanyon). Hunter returned to the Robin Hood legend in the TV series ''

'' from 1955 in the recurring role of Sir Richard of the Lea. His numerous West End roles included appearances in '' London Life'' (1924), '' The High Road'' (1927), '' A Song of Sixpence'' (1930), '' Good Losers'' (1931), '' Can the Leopard...?'' (1931), '' Take a Chance'' (1931), '' Touch Wood'' (1934) and '' South Sea Bubble'' (1956).

Filmography

* '' Not for Sale'' (1924) as Martin Bering * '' Confessions'' (1925) as Charles Oddy * '' A Girl of London'' (1925) as Peter Horniman * '' The Ring'' (1927) as Bob Corby * '' Downhill'' aka ''When Boys Leave Home'' (1927) as Archie * '' His House in Order'' (1928) as Hilary Jesson * '' Easy Virtue'' (1928) as The Plaintiff's Counsel * '' The Physician'' (1928) as Dr. Carey * '' The Valley of Ghosts'' (1928) as Andrew McLeod * '' The Thoroughbred'' (1928) as Allen Stockbridge * '' Syncopation'' (1929) as Alexander Winston * '' Escape'' (1930) as Detective * '' Cape Forlorn'' aka ''The Love Storm'' (1931) as Gordon Kingsley * '' Sally in Our Alley'' (1931) as George Miles * '' The Water Gipsies'' (1932) as Fred Green * ''

The Sign of Four ''The Sign of the Four'' (1890), also called ''The Sign of Four'', is the second novel featuring Sherlock Holmes by British writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle wrote four novels and 56 short stories featuring the fictional detective. Pl ...

'' aka ''The Sign of Four: Sherlock Holmes' Greatest Case'' (1932) as Dr. John H. Watson * '' Marry Me'' (1932) as Robert Hart * '' The Man from Toronto'' (1933) as Fergus Wimbush * '' The Silver Spoon'' (1934) as Captain Watts-Winyard * '' Orders Is Orders'' (1934) as Capt. Harper * '' The Church Mouse'' (1934) as Johnathan Steele * '' No Escape'' (1934) as Jim Brandon * '' Something Always Happens'' (1934) as Peter Middleton * ''

Death at Broadcasting House ''Death at Broadcasting House'', also known as ''Death at a Broadcast'', is a 1934 British mystery film directed by Reginald Denham and starring Ian Hunter, Austin Trevor, Henry Kendall, and Jack Hawkins. Novel The original plot comes from a ...

'' aka ''Death at a Broadcast'' (1934) as Detective Inspector Gregory * '' Lazybones'' (1935) as Sir Reginald Ford * ''

'' (1935) as Geoffrey D. 'Geoff' Sherwood * ''

The Night of the Party ''The Night of the Party'' is a 1934 British mystery thriller film directed by Michael Powell and starring Leslie Banks, Ian Hunter, Jane Baxter, Ernest Thesiger and Malcolm Keen. In the United States it was released as ''The Murder Party''. ...

'' aka ''The Murder Party'' (1935) as Guy Kennington * '' The Phantom Light'' (1935) as Jim Pearce * '' Jalna'' (1935) as Renny Whiteoaks * ''

The Crusades The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and sometimes directed by the Latin Church in the medieval period. The best known of these Crusades are those to the Holy Land in the period between 1095 and 1291 that were in ...

'' (1935) as Second Knight Pleading to King Richard for Food (uncredited) * '' A Midsummer Night's Dream'' (1935) as Theseus - Duke of Athens * '' I Found Stella Parish'' (1935) as Keith Lockridge * '' The Morals of Marcus'' (1935) as Sir Marcus Ordeyne * '' The White Angel'' (1936) as Reporter Fuller of the London Times * '' To Mary - with Love'' (1936) as Bill Hallam * '' The Devil Is a Sissy'' (1936) as Jay Pierce * ''

Stolen Holiday ''Stolen Holiday'' is a 1937 film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Kay Francis, Claude Rains and Ian Hunter. It is loosely based on the Stavisky Affair, a French political scandal. A Russian con artist worms his way into the upper reach ...

'' (1937) as Anthony Wayne * ''

Call It a Day ''Call It a Day'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Olivia de Havilland, Ian Hunter, Anita Louise, Alice Brady, Roland Young, and Frieda Inescort. Based on the 1935 play '' Call It a Day'' by Dodie Smith, the ...

'' (1937) as Roger Hilton * '' Another Dawn'' (1937) as Colonel John Wister * ''

Confession A confession is a statement – made by a person or by a group of persons – acknowledging some personal fact that the person (or the group) would ostensibly prefer to keep hidden. The term presumes that the speaker is providing information th ...

'' (1937) as Leonide Kirow * '' That Certain Woman'' (1937) as Lloyd Rogers * ''

52nd Street 52nd Street is a -long one-way street traveling west to east across Midtown Manhattan, New York City. A short section of it was known as the city's center of jazz performance from the 1930s to the 1950s. Jazz center Following the repeal of ...

'' (1937) as Rufus Rondell * ''

'' (1938) as King Richard the Lion-Heart * '' Always Goodbye'' (1938) as Phillip Marshall * '' Secrets of an Actress'' (1938) as Peter Snowden * '' The Sisters'' (1938) as William Benson * '' Comet Over Broadway'' (1938) as Bert Ballin * '' Yes, My Darling Daughter'' (1939) as Lewis Murray * '' The Little Princess'' (1939) as Captain Crewe * ''

Broadway Serenade ''Broadway Serenade'' (also known as ''Serenade'') is a 1939 musical drama film distributed by MGM, produced and directed by Robert Z. Leonard. The screenplay was written by Charles Lederer, based on a story by Lew Lipton, John Taintor Foote an ...

'' (1939) as Larry Bryant * '' Tarzan Finds a Son!'' (1939) as August Lancing * '' Maisie'' (1939) as Clifford Ames * '' Bad Little Angel'' (1939) as Jm Creighton (Sentinel editor) * ''

'' (1939) as King Edward IV * ''

Broadway Melody of 1940 ''Broadway Melody of 1940'' is a 1940 MGM film musical starring Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell and George Murphy (Astaire's first male dancing partner on film). It was directed by Norman Taurog and features music by Cole Porter, including " Begin ...

'' (1940) as Bert C. Matthews * '' Strange Cargo'' (1940) as Cambreau * '' Dulcy'' (1940) as Gordon Daly * ''

The Long Voyage Home ''The Long Voyage Home'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by John Ford. It stars John Wayne, Thomas Mitchell and Ian Hunter. It features Barry Fitzgerald, Wilfrid Lawson, John Qualen, Mildred Natwick, and Ward Bond, among others. The f ...

'' (1940) as Smitty * '' Bitter Sweet'' (1940) as Lord Shayne * ''

Gallant Sons ''Gallant Sons'' is a 1940 American mystery film directed by George B. Seitz and written by William R. Lipman and Marion Parsonnet. The film stars Jackie Cooper, Bonita Granville, Gail Patrick, Gene Reynolds, June Preisser, Ian Hunter, Leo Gorcey ...

'' (1940) as 'Natural' Davis * '' Come Live with Me'' (1941) as Barton Kendrick * '' Andy Hardy's Private Secretary'' (1941) as Steven V. Land * ''

Ziegfeld Girl Ziegfeld Girls were the chorus girls and showgirls from Florenz Ziegfeld's theatrical Broadway revue spectaculars known as the '' Ziegfeld Follies'' (1907–1931), in New York City, which were based on the Folies Bergère of Paris. Desc ...

'' (1941) as Geoffrey Collis * ''

Billy the Kid Billy the Kid (born Henry McCarty; September 17 or November 23, 1859July 14, 1881), also known by the pseudonym William H. Bonney, was an outlaw and gunfighter of the American Old West, who killed eight men before he was shot and killed at th ...

'' (1941) as Eric Keating * '' Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' (1941) as Dr. John Lanyon * '' Smilin' Through'' (1941) as Reverend Owen Harding * ''

A Yank at Eton ''A Yank at Eton'' is an American comedy-drama film directed by Norman Taurog for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and starring Mickey Rooney, Ian Hunter, and Peter Lawford. Released in 1942, it is a kind of junior thematic sequel to MGM's British-made f ...

'' (1942) as Roger Carlton * '' It Comes Up Love'' (1943) as Tom Peabody * '' Forever and a Day'' (1943) as Dexter Pomfret * '' Bedelia'' (1946) as Charlie Carrington * '' White Cradle Inn'' aka ''High Fury'' (1947) as Anton * ''

The White Unicorn ''The White Unicorn'' is a 1947 British drama film directed by Bernard Knowles and starring Margaret Lockwood, Joan Greenwood, Ian Hunter and Dennis Price. Kyra Vayne appeared as the singer. It was made at Walton Studios by the independent p ...

'' aka ''Milkwhite Unicorn'' and ''Bad Sister'' (1947) as Philip Templar * '' Edward, My Son'' (1949) as Doctor Larry Woodhope * ''

It Started in Paradise ''It Started in Paradise'' is a 1952 British drama film directed by Compton Bennett and starring Jane Hylton, Martita Hunt and Muriel Pavlow. Set in the world of haute couture, the film was squarely aimed at female audiences. Its storyline ...

'' (1952) as Arthur Turner * ''

Appointment in London ''Appointment in London'' (known as ''Raiders in the Sky'' in the U.S.) is a 1953 British war film set during the Second World War and starring Dirk Bogarde. The film was directed by Philip Leacock and based on a story by John Wooldridge, who ...

'' aka ''Raiders in the Sky'' (1952) as Logan * ''The Divine Creatures'' (1952, TV Movie) as Florent * '' Don't Blame the Stork'' (1954) as Sir George Redway * '' Eight O'Clock Walk'' (1954) as Geoffrey Tanner, Q.C. * ''Fire One'' (1954, TV Movie) as Mr. Dennison * ''It's Never Too Late'' (1954, TV Movie) as Charles Hammond * '' The Battle of the River Plate'' aka ''Pursuit of the Graf Spee'' (1956) as Captain Charles Woodhouse - HMS Ajax * ''South Sea Bubble'' (BBC TV 1956) as Sir George Shotter * ''

Fortune Is a Woman ''Fortune Is a Woman'' is a 1957 black and white British-American film noir crime film directed by Sidney Gilliat and starring Jack Hawkins and Arlene Dahl. Its plot concerns an attempted insurance fraud that goes badly wrong. In the United Stat ...

'' aka ''She Played with Fire'' (1957) as Clive Fisher * '' Rockets Galore'' aka ''Mad Little Island'' (1958) as Air Commodore Watchorn * '' North West Frontier'' (1959) as Sir John Windham * ''

The Bulldog Breed ''The Bulldog Breed'' is a 1960 British comedy film starring Norman Wisdom and directed by Robert Asher. Plot Norman Puckle (Norman Wisdom), a well-meaning but clumsy grocer's assistant, cannot seem to do anything right. After being rejected b ...

'' (1960) as Adm. Sir Bryanston Blyth * '' Doctor Blood's Coffin'' (1961) as Dr. Robert Blood, Peter's Father * ''

The Treasure of Monte Cristo ''The Treasure of Monte Cristo'' is a 1961 British film directed by Monty Berman and Robert S. Baker. The film features Rory Calhoun as an army captain in 1815 who goes off in search of a treasure on the island of Monte Cristo. It is a preq ...

'' (1961) as Colonel Jackson * '' The Queen's Guards'' (1961) as Mr. George Dobbie * ''

Guns of Darkness ''Guns of Darkness'' is a 1962 British drama film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring David Niven, Leslie Caron and James Robertson Justice. It is based on the 1960 novel ''Act of Mercy'' by Francis Clifford, which was retitled ''Guns of ...

'' (1962) as Dr. Swann * '' Kali Yug: Goddess of Vengeance'' (1963) as Robert Talbot * ''Kali-Yug, The Bárbaros's Fury'' (1963) as Robert Talbot (final film role)

References

External links

* * *
Photos of Ian Hunter from ''The Long Voyage Home''
by

Ned Scott Ned Scott (April 16, 1907 – November 24, 1964) was an American photographer who worked in the Hollywood film industry as a still photographer from 1935–1948. As a member of the Camera Club of New York from 1930–34, he was heavily influ ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunter, Ian 1900 births 1975 deaths English male film actors 20th-century English male actors Male actors from Cape Town British expatriate male actors in the United States South African emigrants to the United Kingdom