Edward Erskholme Clive (28 August 1879 – 6 June 1940) was a Welsh stage actor and director who had a prolific acting career in Britain and America. He also played numerous supporting roles in Hollywood movies between 1933 and his death.

Biography

E. E. Clive was born on 28 August 1879 in Blaenavon in

Monmouthshire Monmouthshire ( ; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South East Wales, south east of Wales. It borders Powys to the north; the English counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the north and east; the Severn Estuary to the s ...

. He attended Pembroke Preparatory School and the University of Wales. His father, a minister, opposed Clive's becoming an actor. Clive studied for a medical career, and had completed four years of medical studies at

St Bartholomew's Hospital St Bartholomew's Hospital, commonly known as Barts, is a teaching hospital located in the City of London. It was founded in 1123 by Rahere, and is currently run by Barts Health NHS Trust. History Early history Barts was founded in 1123 by ...

before switching his focus to acting at age 22. Touring the provinces for a decade, Clive became an expert at virtually every sort of regional dialect in the British Isles. He moved to the U.S. in 1912, where after working in the Orpheum

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which began in France in the middle of the 19th century. A ''vaudeville'' was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a drama ...

circuit he set up his own stock company in

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

. By the 1920s, his company was operating in Hollywood; among his repertory players were such up-and-comers as

Rosalind Russell Catherine Rosalind Russell (June 4, 1907November 28, 1976) was an American actress, model, comedian, screenwriter, and singer,Obituary '' Variety'', December 1, 1976, p. 79. known for her role as fast-talking newspaper reporter Hildy Johnson in ...

. He also worked on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

in several plays. Clive's obituary in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' stated that he acted in "1,159 Legitimate Plays Before Going into Moving Pictures". Clive made his film debut as a village police constable in 1933's ''

The Invisible Man ''The Invisible Man'' is an 1897 science fiction novel by British writer H. G. Wells. Originally serialised in '' Pearson's Weekly'' in 1897, it was published as a novel the same year. The Invisible Man to whom the title refers is Griffin, a s ...

'' with

Claude Rains William Claude Rains (10 November 188930 May 1967) was a British and American actor whose career spanned almost seven decades. He was the recipient of numerous accolades, including four Academy Award nominations for Academy Award for Best Supp ...

, then spent the next seven years showing up in wry supporting and bit parts, where he often portrayed comical versions of English stereotypes, sometimes also as a humourless authority figure.Quinlan's Film Character Actors: E E Clive He often played butlers, reporters, aristocrats, shopkeepers and cabbies during his short film career. Though his roles were often small, Clive was a well-known and prolific character actor of his time. Among his best-known roles was the incompetent

Burgomaster Burgomaster (alternatively spelled burgermeister, ) is the English form of various terms in or derived from Germanic languages for the chief magistrate or executive of a city or town. The name in English was derived from the Dutch . In so ...

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 Cinema of the United States, Hollywood. He is best remembered for several horror films: ''Fra ...

's horror classic ''

Bride of Frankenstein ''Bride of Frankenstein'' is a 1935 American Gothic 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 ...

'' (1935). He was a semi-regular as 'Tenny the Butler' in

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

' ''

Bulldog Drummond Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond is a fictional character, created by H. C. McNeile and published under his pen name "Sapper". Following McNeile's death in 1937, the novels were continued by Gerard Fairlie. Drummond is a First World War veteran who ...

'' "B" series starring

John Howard John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian former politician who served as the 25th prime minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007. He held office as leader of the Liberal Party of Australia. His eleven-year tenure as prime min ...

; he also played butlers in other movies like ''

Bachelor Mother ''Bachelor Mother'' (1939) is an American romantic comedy film directed by Garson Kanin, and starring Ginger Rogers, David Niven, and Charles Coburn. The screenplay was written by Norman Krasna from an Academy Award-nominated story by Felix ...

'' with

David Niven James David Graham Niven (; 1 March 1910 – 29 July 1983) was an English actor, soldier, raconteur, memoirist and novelist. Niven was known as a handsome and debonair leading man in Classic Hollywood films. His accolades include an Academ ...

and

Ginger Rogers Ginger Rogers (born Virginia Katherine McMath; July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an American actress, dancer and singer during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starri ...

. In 1939, Clive appeared in '' The Little Princess'' as the lawyer Mr. Barrows, and the first two entries of the classic

Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...

series starring

Basil Rathbone Philip St. John Basil Rathbone MC (13 June 1892 – 21 July 1967) was an Anglo-South African actor. He rose to prominence in the United Kingdom as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in more than 70 films, primarily costume drama ...

. One of Clive's last roles was Sir William Lucas in the 1940 literature adaption ''

Pride and Prejudice ''Pride and Prejudice'' is the second published novel (but third to be written) by English author Jane Austen, written when she was age 20-21, and later published in 1813. A novel of manners, it follows the character development of Elizabe ...

'' (1940) with

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier ( ; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director. He and his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud made up a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage of the m ...

and

Greer Garson Eileen Evelyn Greer Garson (29 September 1904 – 6 April 1996) was a British-American actress and singer. She was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer who became popular during the Second World War for her portrayal of strong women on the homef ...

. Clive died on 6 June 1940, of a heart ailment, in his Hollywood home. Clive was a member of the Euclid lodge of

Freemasons Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...

in Boston.

Complete filmography

*'' Cheaters at Play'' (1932) – Steward *''Horse Play'' (1933) – Scotland Yard Officer (uncredited) *''

'' (1933) – Constable Jaffers *'' Long Lost Father'' (1934) – Spot Hawkins *''

The Poor Rich ''The Poor Rich'' is a 1934 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and written by Ebba Havez and Dale Van Every. The film stars Edward Everett Horton, Edna May Oliver, Andy Devine, Leila Hyams, Grant Mitchell and Thelma Tod ...

'' (1934) – Lord Fetherstone *'' Riptide'' (1934) – Major Mills (uncredited) *'' One More River'' (1934) – Chayne *'' Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back'' (1934) – Bobby With Mustache *'' Charlie Chan in London'' (1934) – Detective Sergeant Thacker *''

The Gay Divorcee ''The Gay Divorcee'' is a 1934 American Musical film, musical romantic comedy film directed by Mark Sandrich and starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It also features Alice Brady, Edward Everett Horton, Erik Rhodes (actor, born 1906), Erik ...

'' (1934) – Chief Customs Inspector (uncredited) *'' Father Brown, Detective'' (1934) – Sergeant Dawes *'' The Little Minister'' (1934) – Sheriff Greer (uncredited) *''Tin Pants'' (1934) *''

David Copperfield ''David Copperfield''Dickens invented over 14 variations of the title for this work; see is a novel by English author Charles Dickens, narrated by the eponymous David Copperfield, detailing his adventures in his journey from infancy to matur ...

'' (1935) – Sheriff's Man (uncredited) *''

The Mystery of Edwin Drood ''The Mystery of Edwin Drood'' is the final novel by English author Charles Dickens, originally published in 1870. Though the novel is named after the character Edwin Drood, it focuses more on Drood's uncle, John Jasper, a precentor, choirm ...

'' (1935) – Mayor Thomas Sapsea *''

Gold Diggers of 1935 ''Gold Diggers of 1935'' is an American Warner Bros. musical film directed and choreographed by Busby Berkeley, his directorial debut. It stars Dick Powell, Adolphe Menjou, Gloria Stuart, and Alice Brady, and features Hugh Herbert, Gle ...

'' (1935) – Westbrook – Thorpe's Chauffeur (uncredited) *''

'' (1935) – Burgomaster *'' We're in the Money'' (1935) – Jevons, Courtney's Butler *'' Atlantic Adventure'' (1935) – McIntosh *'' Page Miss Glory'' (1935) – Monogram Shirtmaker (uncredited) *'' Three Kids and a Queen'' (1935) – Coachman (uncredited) *'' A Feather in Her Hat'' (1935) – Higgins – Pub Proprietor (uncredited) *'' Remember Last Night?'' (1935) – Coroner's Photographer (uncredited) *'' The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo'' (1935) – Waiter (uncredited) *'' Stars Over Broadway'' (1935) – Crane *'' Kind Lady'' (1935) – Gramophone Man (uncredited) *''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by English author Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long impr ...

'' (1935) – Judge in 'Old Bailey' *'' Captain Blood'' (1935) – Clerk of the Court *''

The Widow from Monte Carlo ''The Widow from Monte Carlo'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Arthur Greville Collins and starring Warren William, Dolores del Río, Louise Fazenda and Colin Clive. It was based on the play '' A Present from Margate'' by Ian Hay ...

'' (1935) – Lord Holloway *'' Sylvia Scarlett'' (1935) – Customs Inspector (uncredited) *'' The Dark Hour'' (1936) – Foot, the Butler *''

Little Lord Fauntleroy ''Little Lord Fauntleroy'' is a children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was published as a serial in ''St. Nicholas Magazine'' from November 1885 to October 1886, then as a book by Charles Scribner's Sons, Scribner's (the publisher of ...

'' (1936) – Sir Harry Lorridaile *'' Love Before Breakfast'' (1936) – Yacht Captain (uncredited) *''

The Unguarded Hour ''The Unguarded Hour'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Sam Wood and starring Loretta Young, Franchot Tone and Roland Young. In England, a prominent young prosecutor in a murder trial is unaware that his wife is involved. It is based ...

'' (1936) – Lord Hathaway *'' Dracula's Daughter'' (1936) – Sergeant Wilkes *''

The King Steps Out ''The King Steps Out'' is a 1936 American musical comedy film directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Grace Moore, Franchot Tone and Walter Connolly. It is based on the early years of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known as "Sisi" or "Sissi ...

'' (1936) – Tutor (uncredited) *''

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 per ...

'' (1936) – London Producer (uncredited) *'' Trouble for Two'' (1936) – King *'' The Golden Arrow'' (1936) – Walker *''

Palm Springs Palm Springs (Cahuilla language, Cahuilla: ''Séc-he'') is a desert resort city in Riverside County, California, United States, within the Colorado Desert's Coachella Valley. The city covers approximately , making it the largest city in Rivers ...

'' (1936) – Morgan *'' Ticket to Paradise'' (1936) – Barkins *'' The White Angel'' (1936) – Dr. Smith, a Surgeon (uncredited) *'' Piccadilly Jim'' (1936) – London Gossip Editor Bill Mechan *'' Cain and Mabel'' (1936) – Charles Fendwick *''

Libeled Lady ''Libeled Lady'' is a 1936 American screwball comedy film directed by Jack Conway and starring Jean Harlow, William Powell, Myrna Loy, and Spencer Tracy. The screenplay was written by Maurine Dallas Watkins, Howard Emmett Rogers, and George Opp ...

'' (1936) – Fishing Instructor *'' Isle of Fury'' (1936) – Dr. Hardy *'' All American Chump'' (1936) – J. Montgomery Brantley *'' The Charge of the Light Brigade'' (1936) – Sir Humphrey Harcourt *''

Tarzan Escapes ''Tarzan Escapes'' is a 1936 Tarzan film based on the character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It was the third in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ''Tarzan'' series to feature Johnny Weissmuller as the "King of the Apes". Previous films were '' Tarza ...

'' (1936) – Masters *''

Lloyd's of London Lloyd's of London, generally known simply as Lloyd's, is a insurance and reinsurance market located in London, England. Unlike most of its competitors in the industry, it is not an insurance company; rather, Lloyd's is a corporate body gover ...

'' (1936) – Magistrate *'' Camille'' (1936) – Saint Gaudens (uncredited) *'' Bulldog Drummond Escapes'' (1937) – Tenny *''

On the Avenue ''On the Avenue'' is a 1937 American musical film directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring Dick Powell, Madeleine Carroll, Alice Faye, George Barbier, and The Ritz Brothers. Many of the songs were composed by Irving Berlin. Many of the plo ...

'' (1937) – Cabby *'' They Wanted to Marry'' (1937) – Stiles *'' Maid of Salem'' (1937) – Bilge *'' Ready, Willing and Able'' (1937) – Sir Samuel Buffington (Credits) / Bloomington (in Film) *''

Personal Property Personal property is property that is movable. In common law systems, personal property may also be called chattels or personalty. In civil law (legal system), civil law systems, personal property is often called movable property or movables—a ...

'' (1937) – Cosgrove Dabney *'' Night Must Fall'' (1937) – Guide *'' The Road Back'' (1937) – General (uncredited) *''

The Emperor's Candlesticks ''The Emperor's Candlesticks'' is an 1899 historical novel by Baroness Orczy. Written soon after the birth of her son John, it was her first book as an author rather than translator and was a commercial failure. As in the Scarlet Pimpernel, th ...

'' (1937) – Auctioneer *'' Love Under Fire'' (1937) – Captain Bowden *'' Bulldog Drummond Comes Back'' (1937) – Tenny *'' Danger – Love at Work'' (1937) – Wilbur *''

It's Love I'm After ''It's Love I'm After'' is a 1937 American screwball comedy film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, and Olivia de Havilland. Based on the story "Gentlemen After Midnight" by Maurice Hanline, with a screenplay by Cas ...

'' (1937) – First Butler *''

The Great Garrick ''The Great Garrick'' is a 1937 American historical comedy film directed by James Whale and starring Brian Aherne, Olivia de Havilland, and Edward Everett Horton. The film also features Lionel Atwill, Luis Alberni, Melville Cooper, and fu ...

'' (1937) – Pictures Vendor (uncredited) *''

Live, Love and Learn ''Live, Love and Learn'' is a 1937 American romantic comedy film starring Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell, and Robert Benchley. The movie was directed by George Fitzmaurice. Plot A wealthy woman marries a poor bohemian artist. When he be ...

'' (1937) – Mr. Palmiston *'' Beg, Borrow or Steal'' (1937) – Lord Nigel Braemer *''

Bulldog Drummond's Revenge ''Bulldog Drummond's Revenge'' is a 1937 American adventure mystery film directed by Louis King, produced by Stuart Walker, written by Edward T. Lowe Jr. and Herman C. McNeile (novel), and featuring John Barrymore. The picture stars John H ...

'' (1937) – Tenny *'' Arsène Lupin Returns'' (1938) – Alf *''

The First Hundred Years ''The First Hundred Years'' was the first ongoing TV soap opera in the United States that began as a daytime serial, airing on CBS from December 4, 1950 until June 27, 1952. A previous daytime drama on NBC, '' These Are My Children'', aired i ...

'' (1938) – Chester Blascomb *'' Bulldog Drummond's Peril'' (1938) – Tenny *'' Kidnapped'' (1938) – Minister MacDougall *'' Bulldog Drummond in Africa'' (1938) – Tenny *'' Gateway'' (1938) – Room Steward *''

Submarine Patrol ''Submarine Patrol'' is a 1938 film directed by John Ford. The screenplay was by Rian James, Darrell Ware, and Jack Yellen. The film starred Richard Greene, Nancy Kelly and Preston Foster. The supporting cast features George Bancroft, Eli ...

'' (1938) – British Officer (uncredited) *'' Arrest Bulldog Drummond'' (1938) – Tenny *'' The Last Warning'' (1938) – Major Barclay *'' Mr. Moto's Last Warning'' (1939) – Port Commandant General (uncredited) *'' The Little Princess'' (1939) – Mr. Barrows *'' I'm from Missouri'' (1939) – Mr. Arthur, Duke of Cricklewood *'' Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police'' (1939) – Tenny *''

The Hound of the Baskervilles ''The Hound of the Baskervilles'' is the third of the four Detective fiction, crime novels by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle featuring the detective Sherlock Holmes. Originally serial (literature), serialised in ''The Strand Magazine'' from ...

'' (1939) – Cabby *''

Rose of Washington Square ''Rose of Washington Square'' is a 1939 American musical drama film, featuring the already well-known popular song with the same title. Set in 1920s New York City, the film focuses on singer Rose Sargent and her turbulent relationship with con a ...

'' (1939)''Great Movie Musicals on DVD'' – A Classic Movie Fan's Guide
by John Howard Reid – Google search with book preview – Barouche Driver *'' Man About Town'' (1939) – Hotchkiss, Arlington's Butler *''

'' (1939) – Merlin's Butler *'' Bulldog Drummond's Bride'' (1939) – Tenny *''

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes ''The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'' is a collection of short stories by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle, first published on 14 October 1892. It contains the earliest short stories featuring the consulting detective Sherlock Holmes, which h ...

'' (1939) – Inspector Bristol *'' Raffles'' (1939) – Barraclough *'' The Honeymoon's Over'' (1939) – Col. Shelby *''

The Earl of Chicago ''The Earl of Chicago'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Robert Montgomery, Edward Arnold, Reginald Owen and Edmund Gwenn. Made during 1939 and released in January 1940, it was the first MGM film of the 1940 ...

'' (1940) – Mr. Redwood *'' Congo Maisie'' (1940) – Horace Snell *''

Adventure in Diamonds ''Adventure in Diamonds'' is a 1940 American crime film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring George Brent, Isa Miranda, John Loder (actor), John Loder and Nigel Bruce. It was also released under the alternative title of ''Diamonds are Dange ...

'' (1940) – Mr. MacPherson *''

'' (1940) – Sir William Lucas *''

Foreign Correspondent A correspondent or on-the-scene reporter is usually a journalist or commentator for a magazine, or an agent who contributes reports to a newspaper, or radio or television news, or another type of company, from a remote, often distant, locati ...

'' (1940) – Mr. Naismith (uncredited) *'' Flowing Gold'' (1940) – Mr. Naismith (uncredited) (final film role)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Clive, E. E. 1879 births 1940 deaths Welsh male film actors Welsh vaudeville performers Male actors from Monmouthshire 20th-century Welsh male actors Welsh expatriate male actors in the United States