Michael Wilding (actor)
| Michael Wilding | |
|---|---|
 From the trailer for Stage Fright (1950) |
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| Born | Michael Charles Gauntlet Wilding 23 July 1912 Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England |
| Died | 8 July 1979 (aged 66) Chichester, West Sussex, England |
| Cause of death | Head injury sustained after a fall |
| Years active | 1933–1973 |
| Spouse(s) | Kay Young (1937–1951) Elizabeth Taylor (1952–1957) Susan Nell (1958–1962) Margaret Leighton (1964–1976) |
| Children | Michael Howard Wilding (b. 1953) Christopher Edward Wilding (b. 1955) |
Michael Charles Gauntlet Wilding (23 July 1912 – 8 July 1979) was an English stage, television and film actor.
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Early life [edit]
Born in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England, Wilding was a successful commercial artist when he joined the art department of a London film studio in 1933. He soon embarked on an acting career.
Career [edit]
He appeared in numerous British films, often opposite Anna Neagle, but had a less productive career in Hollywood. His screen performances include Sailors Three (1940), In Which We Serve (1942), Undercover (1943), Piccadilly Incident (1946), Spring in Park Lane (1948), Stage Fright (1950), Torch Song (1953) and The World of Suzie Wong (1960).
In 1952 British exhibitors voted him the 4th most popular star at the local box office.[1]
His last appearance was in an uncredited, non-speaking cameo in Lady Caroline Lamb (1972), which co-starred his last wife, Margaret Leighton.
He also appeared on television, including the title role in the 1957 episode "The Trial of Colonel Blood" of NBC's anthology series, The Joseph Cotten Show.
Personal life [edit]
Wilding had four wives, Kay Young (married 1937, divorced 1951), actress Elizabeth Taylor (married 1952, divorced 1957), Susan Nell (married 1958, divorced 1962),[2] and actress Margaret Leighton (married 1964 until her death in 1976).
He and Taylor had two sons, Michael Howard Wilding (born 1953) and Christopher Edward Wilding (born 1955). In 1957 he had a short-lived romance with actress Marie McDonald, who was nicknamed "The Body".
In the 1960s, he was forced to cut back on his film appearances because of illness related to his lifelong epilepsy.
Death [edit]
Michael Wilding died in Chichester, West Sussex, as a result of head injuries suffered from a fall down a flight of stairs during an epileptic seizure. His body was cremated and the ashes were scattered.
Filmography [edit]
Television [edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
| 1973 | Frankenstein: The True Story | Sir Richard Fanshawe | TV film |
| 1968 | Mannix | Phillip Montford/Sir Arnold Salt | Episode: A View of Nowhere |
| 1966 | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre | Major Tucker | Episode: The Fatal Mistake |
| The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. | Franz Joseph | Episode: The Lethal Eagle Affair | |
| 1963 | Burke's Law | Dr. Alex Steiner | Episode: Who Killed Sweet Betsy? |
| The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | David Saunders | Episode: Last Seen Wearing Blue Jeans | |
| 1962 | Saints and Sinners | Sir Robert | Episode: A Night of Horns and Bells |
| 1958, 1959 | Playhouse 90 | Sir John Alexander Chris Hughes |
Episode: Verdict of Three Episode: Dark as the Night |
| 1959 | Lux Playhouse | Stephen MacIllroy | Episode: The Case of the Two Sisters |
| 1958 | Target | Episode: The Clean Kill | |
| Climax! | Lt. MacKenzie Barton | Episode: The Volcano Seat (1) Episode: The Volcano Seat (2) |
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| 1957 | The Joseph Cotten Show | Colonel Blood | Episode: The Trial of Colonel Blood |
| 1955, 1956 | The 20th Century Fox Hour | Robert Marryot Captain Robert Wilton |
Episode: Cavalcade Stranger in the Night |
| 1956 | Screen Director's Playhouse | David Scott | Episode: The Carroll Formula |
Box office ranking [edit]
At this peak of his career, British exhibitors voted him among the most popular stars in the country:
- 1947 - 7th most popular British star[3]
- 1948 - 5th most popular star[4]
- 1949 - 2nd most popular star[5]
- 1950 - 6th most popular British star[6]
- 1951 - 10th most popular star[7]
- 1952 - 4th most popular British star[1]
References [edit]
- ^ a b "Vivien Leigh Actress Of The Year.". Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld. : 1885 - 1954) (Qld.: National Library of Australia). 29 December 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^ Wilding, Michael & Pamela Wilcox, Apple Sauce (London: Allen & Unwin, 1982) pp 140-144.
- ^ 'Bing's Lucky Number: Pa Crosby Dons 4th B.O. Crown', The Washington Post (1923-1954) [Washington, D.C] 03 Jan 1948: 12.
- ^ "Bing Crosby Still Best Box-office Draw.". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) (NSW: National Library of Australia). 31 December 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
- ^ "FILM WORLD ANNA NEAGLE: BIGGEST U.K. BOX-OFFICE DRAW.". The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) (Perth, WA: National Library of Australia). 23 January 1950. p. 9. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ "Success Of British Films." Times [London, England] 29 Dec. 1950: 4. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 11 July 2012.
- ^ "Films That Make Money." Times [London, England] 28 Dec. 1951: 7. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 11 July 2012.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Michael Wilding |
| Husband of Elizabeth Taylor | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Conrad Hilton Jr. |
Husband of Elizabeth Taylor (by order of marriage) 1952–1957 |
Succeeded by Mike Todd |
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