Ronald Colman

Ronald Colman (born February 9, 1891, Richmond, Surrey, England – died May 19, 1958, Santa Barbara, California, USA) was an English actor, popular in US films of the 1930s and 1940s. After serving in the British army during the First World War, he started a stage career in England. He met with some success, until post-war business depression and unemployment closed many of the theatres. In 1920, he decided to come to the United States, where he obtained a role in support of Robert Warwick in "The Dauntless Three", after which, George Arliss signed him for "The Green Goddess". His chance to enter motion pictures arrived in 1922, when he supported Ruth Chatterton and Henry Miller in "La Tendresse". Henry King saw him, and offered him the leading role, opposite Lillian Gish, in "The White Sister". He followed this picture with "Romola", and Samuel Goldwyn signed him to a contract which ran for many years. He signed a contract with 20th Century-Fox, but, upon its expiration, decided to go freelance.