Colin Clive (born Colin Glenn Clive-Greig; 20 January 1900 – 25 June 1937) was a British stage and screen actor. His most memorable role was Henry Frankenstein, the creator of the monster, in the 1931 film ''

Frankenstein ''Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley. ''Frankenstein'' tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific exp ...

'' and its 1935 sequel, ''

Bride of Frankenstein ''Bride of Frankenstein'' is a 1935 American science fiction horror film, and the first sequel to Universal Pictures' 1931 film ''Frankenstein''. As with the first film, ''Bride of Frankenstein'' was directed by James Whale starring Boris Karl ...

''.

Early life

Clive was born in

Saint-Malo Saint-Malo (, , ; Gallo: ; ) is a historic French port in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, on the English Channel coast. The walled city had a long history of piracy, earning much wealth from local extortion and overseas adventures. In 1944, the A ...

, France, to an English

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...

, Colin Philip Greig, and his wife, Caroline Margaret Lugard Clive. He attended Stonyhurst College and subsequently

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS or RMA Sandhurst), commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is one of several military academy, military academies of the United Kingdom and is the British Army's initial Commissioned officer, officer train ...

, where an injured knee disqualified him from military service and contributed to his becoming a stage actor."Colin Clive," ''The Stage'' (1 July 1937), p. 7. bituary/ref> He was a member of the

Hull Repertory Theatre Company The Hull Repertory Theatre Company was a theatre company in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1924 by Arthur Whatmore. In the 1930s it was managed by Pepino Santangelo who developed it and it became the Hull N ...

for three years. Clive created the role of Steve Baker, the white husband of racially mixed Julie LaVerne, in the first London production of ''

Show Boat ''Show Boat'' is a musical theatre, musical with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is based on Edna Ferber's best-selling 1926 Show Boat (novel), novel of the same name. The musical follows the lives of the pe ...

''; the production featured Cedric Hardwicke and

Paul Robeson Paul Leroy Robeson ( ; April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was an American bass-baritone concert artist, stage and film actor, professional football player, and activist who became famous both for his cultural accomplishments and for his ...

. Clive first worked with

James Whale James Whale (22 July 1889 – 29 May 1957) was an English film director, theatre director and actor, who spent the greater part of his career in Hollywood. He is best remembered for several horror films: ''Frankenstein'' (1931), '' The Old ...

in the Savoy Theatre production of '' Journey's End'' and subsequently joined the British community in Hollywood, repeating his stage role in the film version.

Hollywood

Clive's first screen role, in '' Journey's End'' (1930), was also directed by

. Clive played the tormented alcoholic Captain Stanhope, a character that (much like Clive's other roles) mirrored his personal life. He was an in-demand leading man for several major film actresses of the era, including

Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress in film, stage, and television. Her career as a Hollywood leading lady spanned over 60 years. She was known for her headstrong independence, spirited perso ...

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 p ...

, Corinne Griffith, and Jean Arthur. He starred as Edward Rochester in the 1934 adaptation of ''

Jane Eyre ''Jane Eyre'' ( ; originally published as ''Jane Eyre: An Autobiography'') is a novel by the English writer Charlotte Brontë. It was published under her pen name "Currer Bell" on 19 October 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. The firs ...

'' opposite Virginia Bruce. He was a descendant of

Robert Clive Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive, (29 September 1725 – 22 November 1774), also known as Clive of India, was the first British Governor of the Bengal Presidency. Clive has been widely credited for laying the foundation of the Britis ...

and appeared in a featured role in '' Clive of India'' (1935), a biopic of his ancestor. Colin Clive, together with Leo G. Carroll, starred in a radio play titled ''The Other Place.'' It was written by John L. Balderston for the radio program '' The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour'' hosted by Rudy Vallee''.'' It was aired on 14 November 1935.

Personal life

Clive was married to Jeanne de Casalis in June 1929, though they were estranged for several years before his death.

Death

Colin Clive suffered from severe chronic

alcoholism Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol that results in significant mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognized diagnostic entity. Predomina ...

and died from complications of

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in w ...

in 1937 at age 37. Clive's alcoholism was apparent to his co-stars, as he was often seen napping on set and sometimes was so intoxicated that he had to be held upright for over-the-shoulder shots. Clive was tormented by the medical threat of amputation of his long-damaged leg.

Forrest J Ackerman Forrest James Ackerman (November 24, 1916 – December 4, 2008) was an American magazine editor; science fiction writer and literary agent; a founder of science fiction fandom; a leading expert on science fiction, horror, and fantasy films; a pr ...

recalled visiting Clive's body: "I actually saw him in death, lying in a bed at a mortuary where it was possible for the public to view his body. He looked remarkably as he had when lying in bed in ''The Bride of Frankenstein''." Over 300 mourners turned out. One of the pallbearers was Peter Lorre. His

cenotaph A cenotaph is an empty tomb or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been reinterred elsewhere. Although the vast majority of cenot ...

is located at Chapel of the Pines Crematory.

Roles

Stage

*''Peter and Paul'' (September 1925) *''Advertising April'' (November 1925)

Film

*'' Journey's End'' (1930) as Capt. Denis Stanhope (film debut) *''

'' (1931) as Henry Frankenstein *'' The Stronger Sex'' (1931) as Warren Barrington *'' Lily Christine'' (1932) as Rupert Harvey *'' Christopher Strong'' (1933) as Sir Christopher Strong *'' Looking Forward'' (1933) as Geoffrey Fielding *'' The Key'' (1934) as Capt. Andrew 'Andy' Kerr *'' One More River'' (1934) as Sir Gerald Corven *''

'' (1934) as Edward Rochester *'' Clive of India'' (1935) as Capt. Johnstone *'' The Right to Live'' (1935) as Maurice *''

'' (1935) as Henry Frankenstein *'' The Girl from 10th Avenue'' (1935) as John Marland *''

Mad Love __NOTOC__ Mad Love may refer to: Books *''Mad Love'' (French ''L'amour fou''), collection of poems by André Breton *'' The Batman Adventures: Mad Love'', an Eisner and Harvey award-winning comic by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm * Mad Love (publisher), ...

'' (1935) as Stephen Orlac *'' The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo'' (1935) as Bertrand Berkeley *'' The Widow from Monte Carlo'' (1935) as Lord Eric Reynolds *'' History Is Made at Night'' (1937) as Bruce Vail *'' The Woman I Love'' (1937) as Capt. Thelis (final film)

Notes

References

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External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Clive, Colin 1900 births 1937 deaths People from Saint-Malo English male film actors English male stage actors 20th-century deaths from tuberculosis Burials at Chapel of the Pines Crematory People educated at Stonyhurst College 20th-century English male actors British expatriate male actors in the United States British expatriates in France Tuberculosis deaths in California Alcohol-related deaths in California