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| birth_place = [[Wheathampstead]], [[Hertfordshire]], England
| birth_place = [[Wheathampstead]], [[Hertfordshire]], England
| death_date = {{death date and age|1972|11|5|1887|8|5|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1972|11|5|1887|8|5|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Boise, Idaho]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Boise, Idaho]], US
| alma_mater = [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]
| known_for = ''[[A Christmas Carol (1938 film)|A Christmas Carol]]''<br>''[[A Study in Scarlet (1933 film)|A Study in Scarlet]]''
| resting_place = Morris Hill Cemetery, Boise
| resting_place = Morris Hill Cemetery, Boise, Idaho, US
| years_active = 1911–1972
| years_active = 1911–1972
| occupation = Actor
| occupation = Actor
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Lydia Bilbrook]]|1909|1923|end=divorced}}<ref>FreeBMD.org.uk Marriage registered June Quarter 1909</ref><br>{{marriage| Billie Austin|1934|1956|end=died}}<br> {{marriage|Barbara Haveman<br>|1956}}
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Lydia Bilbrook]]|1909|1923|end=divorced}}<ref>FreeBMD.org.uk Marriage registered June Quarter 1909</ref><br>{{marriage| Billie Austin|1934|1956|end=died}}<br> {{marriage|Barbara Haveman<br>|1956}} (died 1998)
| children = 2
| children = 2
}}
}}
'''John Reginald Owen''' (5 August 1887 – 5 November 1972) was a British actor. He was known for his many roles in British and American films and television programs.
'''John Reginald Owen''' (5 August 1887 – 5 November 1972) was a British actor, known for his many roles in British and American films and television programmes.


==Career==
==Career==
The son of Joseph and Frances Owen, Reginald Owen studied at Sir [[Herbert Tree]]'s [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] and made his professional debut in 1905.
Owen was born to Joseph and Frances Owen in [[Wheathampstead]], Hertfordshire, England. He studied at the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] and made his professional debut in 1905.
⚫
In 1911, he starred in the original production of ''[[Where the Rainbow Ends]]'' as Saint George, which opened to very good reviews on 21 December 1911. A few years earlier, Reginald Owen met the author [[Clifford Mills|Mrs. Clifford Mills]] as a young actor, and it was he who, on hearing her idea of a Rainbow Story, persuaded her to turn it into a play, and thus ''Where the Rainbow Ends'' was born.<ref>Foreword by Italia Conti to the eighteenth edition (1942) of Where the Rainbow Ends</ref> He co-authored the play with Mills using the pseudonym [[John Ramsey (pseudonym)|John Ramsey]].


⚫
Sometime prior to 1911 Owen met the author [[Clifford Mills|Mrs. Clifford Mills]]. On hearing her idea of a rainbow story, persuaded her to turn it into a play, which became ''[[Where the Rainbow Ends]]''.<ref>Foreword by Italia Conti to the eighteenth edition (1942) of Where the Rainbow Ends</ref> He co-authored the work with Mills using the pseudonym [[John Ramsey (pseudonym)|John Ramsey]].
⚫
He went to the United States in 1920 and worked originally on Broadway in New York City, and later moved to Hollywood, where he began a lengthy film career. He was a familiar face in many [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] productions.
That December he starred as Saint George in its first production, which opened to very good reviews.{{cn|date=November 2023}}


⚫
He went to the United States in 1920 and performed on Broadway. He later moved to Hollywood, where he began a lengthy film career, becoming a familiar face in many [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] productions.
⚫
Owen is perhaps best known today for his performance as [[Ebenezer Scrooge]] in the 1938 film version of [[Charles Dickens]]' ''[[A Christmas Carol (1938 film)|A Christmas Carol]]'', a role he inherited from [[Lionel Barrymore]], who had played the part of Scrooge on the radio every Christmas for years until Barrymore broke his hip in an accident.<ref>Landazuri, Margaret. [http://www.tcm.com/thismonth/article/?cid=86557 ''Archives Spotlight: Young Dr. Kildare'']. Turner Classic Movies.com; accessed 7 December 2007</ref>


⚫
Owen is perhaps best known today for his performance as [[Ebenezer Scrooge]] in the 1938 film version of [[Charles Dickens]]' ''[[A Christmas Carol (1938 film)|A Christmas Carol]]'', a role he inherited from [[Lionel Barrymore]], who had played the part on the radio for years.<ref>Landazuri, Margaret. [http://www.tcm.com/thismonth/article/?cid=86557 ''Archives Spotlight: Young Dr. Kildare'']. Turner Classic Movies.com; accessed 7 December 2007</ref>
Owen was one of several actors to play both [[Sherlock Holmes]] and his companion [[Dr. Watson]], along with [[Jeremy Brett]],<ref name="screen1">{{cite book |author=Alan Barnes |title=Sherlock Holmes on Screen |year=2002 |publisher=Reynolds & Hearn Ltd |pages=39 |isbn=1-903111-04-8 }}</ref> [[Carleton Hobbs]],<ref>{{cite book |author=Allen Eyles |title=Sherlock Holmes: A Centenary Celebration |year=1986 |publisher=[[Harper (publisher)|Harper & Row]] |pages=[https://archive.org/details/sherlockholmesce0000eyle/page/86 86] |isbn=0-06-015620-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/sherlockholmesce0000eyle/page/86 }}</ref> [[Patrick Macnee]],<ref name="screen2">{{cite book |author=Alan Barnes |title=Sherlock Holmes on Screen |year=2002 |publisher=Reynolds & Hearn Ltd |pages=60 |isbn=1-903111-04-8 }}</ref> [[Howard Marion-Crawford]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arthur-conan-doyle.com/index.php/Howard_Marion-Crawford|title=Howard Marion-Crawford - The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia|website=www.arthur-conan-doyle.com|access-date=13 August 2018}}</ref> and [[Edward Woodward]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7b55f596 |title=Hands of a Murderer (1990) |website=BFI |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lib.umn.edu/scrbm/ush/volume-4-section-XK4 |title=USH Volume 4, Section X K -- Actors, Performances, and Recordings: Plays (continued) |website=University of Minnesota Libraries |access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref>


⚫
[[File:Reginald Owen in Petticoat Fever trailer.jpg|180px|thumb|Owen in ''Petticoat Fever'' (1936)]]
Owen first played Watson in the film ''[[Sherlock Holmes (1932 film)|Sherlock Holmes]]'' (1932) starring [[Clive Brook]] as Holmes, and then Holmes in ''[[A Study in Scarlet (1933 film)|A Study in Scarlet]]'' (1933). Having played Ebenezer Scrooge, Sherlock Holmes, and Dr. Watson, Owen has the odd distinction of playing three classic characters of [[Victorian era|Victorian]] fiction only to live to see those characters be taken over and personified by other actors, namely [[Alastair Sim]] as Scrooge, [[Basil Rathbone]] as Holmes and [[Nigel Bruce]] as Watson.

Owen was one of several actors to play both [[Sherlock Holmes]] and his companion [[Dr. Watson]],<ref name="screen1">{{cite book |author=Alan Barnes |title=Sherlock Holmes on Screen |year=2002 |publisher=Reynolds & Hearn Ltd |pages=39 |isbn=1-903111-04-8 }}</ref> assaying Watson in the film ''[[Sherlock Holmes (1932 film)|Sherlock Holmes]]'' (1932) starring [[Clive Brook]] as Holmes, and then Holmes in ''[[A Study in Scarlet (1933 film)|A Study in Scarlet]]'' (1933).


Later in his career, Owen appeared with [[James Garner]] in the television series ''[[Maverick (TV series)|Maverick]]'' in the episodes "[[List of Maverick episodes|The Belcastle Brand]]" (1957) and "[[List of Maverick episodes|Gun-Shy]]" (1958) and guest starred in episodes of the series ''[[Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond|One Step Beyond]]'', ''[[Kentucky Jones]]'', and ''[[Bewitched]]''. He was featured in the [[Walt Disney]] films ''[[Mary Poppins (film)|Mary Poppins]]'' (1964) and ''[[Bedknobs and Broomsticks]]'' (1971). He had a small role in the 1962 [[Irwin Allen]] production of the [[Jules Verne]] novel ''[[Five Weeks in a Balloon]]''. In August 1964, his mansion in Bel Air was rented to [[the Beatles]], who were performing at the [[Hollywood Bowl]], when no hotel would book them.<ref>Author: A.J.S. Rayl; Book: "Beatles '64"; New York, Doubleday, 1989; page 96</ref>
Later in his career, Owen appeared with [[James Garner]] in the television series ''[[Maverick (TV series)|Maverick]]'' in the episodes "[[List of Maverick episodes|The Belcastle Brand]]" (1957) and "[[List of Maverick episodes|Gun-Shy]]" (1958) and guest starred in episodes of the series ''[[Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond|One Step Beyond]]'', ''[[Kentucky Jones]]'', and ''[[Bewitched]]''. He was featured in the [[Walt Disney]] films ''[[Mary Poppins (film)|Mary Poppins]]'' (1964) and ''[[Bedknobs and Broomsticks]]'' (1971). He had a small role in the 1962 [[Irwin Allen]] production of the [[Jules Verne]] novel ''[[Five Weeks in a Balloon]]''. In August 1964, his mansion in Bel Air was rented to [[the Beatles]], who were performing at the [[Hollywood Bowl]], when no hotel would book them.<ref>Author: A.J.S. Rayl; Book: "Beatles '64"; New York, Doubleday, 1989; page 96</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
Owen died from a heart attack at age 85 in [[Boise, Idaho]], and eventually was buried at the Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise.
Owen died from a heart attack at age 85 in [[Boise, Idaho]], and buried at the [[Morris Hill Cemetery Mausoleum|Morris Hill Cemetery]] there.


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
[[File:Reginald Owen in Petticoat Fever trailer.jpg|180px|thumb|right|Owen in ''Petticoat Fever'' (1936)]]
[[File:Reginald Owen in The Miniver Story.JPG|180px|thumb|Owen ''[[The Miniver Story]]'' (1950)]]

⚫
[[File:Reginald Owen in The Miniver Story.JPG|180px|thumb|right|Owen ''[[The Miniver Story]]'' (1950)]]
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* ''[[Henry VIII (film)|Henry VIII]]'' (1911) as Thomas Cromwell
* ''[[Henry VIII (film)|Henry VIII]]'' (1911) as Thomas Cromwell
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* ''[[Stingaree (1934 film)|Stingaree]]'' (1934) as The Governor-General
* ''[[Stingaree (1934 film)|Stingaree]]'' (1934) as The Governor-General
* ''[[Madame Du Barry (1934 film)|Madame Du Barry]]'' (1934) as King Louis XV
* ''[[Madame Du Barry (1934 film)|Madame Du Barry]]'' (1934) as King Louis XV
* ''[[Of Human Bondage (1934 film)|Of Human Bondage]]'' (1934) as Athelny
* ''[[Of Human Bondage (1934 film)|Of Human Bondage]]'' (1934) as Thorpe Athelny
* ''[[The Human Side]]'' (1934) as James Dalton
* ''[[The Human Side]]'' (1934) as James Dalton
* ''[[Music in the Air (film)|Music in the Air]]'' (1934) as Ernst Weber
* ''[[Music in the Air (film)|Music in the Air]]'' (1934) as Ernst Weber
Line 94: Line 96:
* ''[[The Bride Wore Red]]'' (1937) as Admiral Monti
* ''[[The Bride Wore Red]]'' (1937) as Admiral Monti
* ''[[Conquest (1937 film)|Conquest]]'' (1937) as Tallyrand
* ''[[Conquest (1937 film)|Conquest]]'' (1937) as Tallyrand
* ''[[Rosalie (film)|Rosalie]]'' (1937) as Chancellor
* ''[[Rosalie (1937 film)|Rosalie]]'' (1937) as Chancellor
* ''[[Everybody Sing (film)|Everybody Sing]]'' (1938) as Hillary Bellaire
* ''[[Everybody Sing (film)|Everybody Sing]]'' (1938) as Hillary Bellaire
* ''[[Paradise for Three]]'' (1938) as Johann Kesselhut
* ''[[Paradise for Three]]'' (1938) as Johann Kesselhut
Line 101: Line 103:
* ''[[Vacation from Love]]'' (1938) as John Hodge Lawson
* ''[[Vacation from Love]]'' (1938) as John Hodge Lawson
* ''[[A Christmas Carol (1938 film)|A Christmas Carol]]'' (1938) as [[Ebenezer Scrooge]]
* ''[[A Christmas Carol (1938 film)|A Christmas Carol]]'' (1938) as [[Ebenezer Scrooge]]
* ''[[The Girl Downstairs]]'' (1938) as Charlie Grump
* ''[[The Girl Downstairs (film)|The Girl Downstairs]]'' (1938) as Charlie Grump
* ''[[Fast and Loose (1939 film)|Fast and Loose]]'' (1939) as Vincent Charlton
* ''[[Fast and Loose (1939 film)|Fast and Loose]]'' (1939) as Vincent Charlton
* ''[[Hotel Imperial (1939 film)|Hotel Imperial]]'' (1939) as General Videnko
* ''[[Hotel Imperial (1939 film)|Hotel Imperial]]'' (1939) as General Videnko
Line 179: Line 181:


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last= Alistair |first= Rupert |title= The Name Below the Title : 65 Classic Movie Character Actors from Hollywood's Golden Age |chapter= Reginald Owen |pages= 204-207 |date= 2018 |edition= First |type= softcover |publisher= Independently published |location= Great Britain |isbn = 978-1-7200-3837-5}}
* {{cite book |last= Alistair |first= Rupert |title= The Name Below the Title : 65 Classic Movie Character Actors from Hollywood's Golden Age |chapter= Reginald Owen |pages= 204–207 |date= 2018 |edition= First |type= softcover |publisher= Independently published |location= Great Britain |isbn = 978-1-7200-3837-5}}


==External links==
==External links==
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[[Category:1887 births]]
[[Category:1887 births]]
[[Category:1972 deaths]]
[[Category:1972 deaths]]
[[Category:Alumni of RADA]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]
[[Category:English expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
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[[Category:Male actors from Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:Male actors from Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:British expatriate male actors in the United States]]
[[Category:British expatriate male actors in the United States]]
[[Category:Actors from the City of St Albans]]

Latest revision as of 19:29, 16 December 2024

For the British musician, see Reg Owen. For the bishop, see Reginald Owen (bishop). For the architect, see Reginald Wynn Owen.

Reginald Owen
Owen in the trailer for The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
Born
John Reginald Owen

(1887-08-05)5 August 1887
Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England
Died5 November 1972(1972-11-05) (aged 85)
Boise, Idaho, US
Resting placeMorris Hill Cemetery, Boise, Idaho, US
Alma materRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
OccupationActor
Years active1911–1972
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1909; div. 1923)​
[1]
Billie Austin
​
​
(m. 1934; died 1956)​

Barbara Haveman
​
​
(m. 1956)​
(died 1998)
Children2

John Reginald Owen (5 August 1887 – 5 November 1972) was a British actor, known for his many roles in British and American films and television programmes.

Career

[edit]

Owen was born to Joseph and Frances Owen in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and made his professional debut in 1905.

Sometime prior to 1911 Owen met the author Mrs. Clifford Mills. On hearing her idea of a rainbow story, persuaded her to turn it into a play, which became Where the Rainbow Ends.[2] He co-authored the work with Mills using the pseudonym John Ramsey. That December he starred as Saint George in its first production, which opened to very good reviews.[citation needed]

He went to the United States in 1920 and performed on Broadway. He later moved to Hollywood, where he began a lengthy film career, becoming a familiar face in many Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer productions.

Owen is perhaps best known today for his performance as Ebenezer Scrooge in the 1938 film version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, a role he inherited from Lionel Barrymore, who had played the part on the radio for years.[3]

Owen in Petticoat Fever (1936)

Owen was one of several actors to play both Sherlock Holmes and his companion Dr. Watson,[4] assaying Watson in the film Sherlock Holmes (1932) starring Clive Brook as Holmes, and then Holmes in A Study in Scarlet (1933).

Later in his career, Owen appeared with James Garner in the television series Maverick in the episodes "The Belcastle Brand" (1957) and "Gun-Shy" (1958) and guest starred in episodes of the series One Step Beyond, Kentucky Jones, and Bewitched. He was featured in the Walt Disney films Mary Poppins (1964) and Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971). He had a small role in the 1962 Irwin Allen production of the Jules Verne novel Five Weeks in a Balloon. In August 1964, his mansion in Bel Air was rented to the Beatles, who were performing at the Hollywood Bowl, when no hotel would book them.[5]

Death

[edit]

Owen died from a heart attack at age 85 in Boise, Idaho, and buried at the Morris Hill Cemetery there.

Filmography

[edit]
Owen The Miniver Story (1950)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ FreeBMD.org.uk Marriage registered June Quarter 1909
  2. ^ Foreword by Italia Conti to the eighteenth edition (1942) of Where the Rainbow Ends
  3. ^ Landazuri, Margaret. Archives Spotlight: Young Dr. Kildare. Turner Classic Movies.com; accessed 7 December 2007
  4. ^ Alan Barnes (2002). Sherlock Holmes on Screen. Reynolds & Hearn Ltd. p. 39. ISBN 1-903111-04-8.
  5. ^ Author: A.J.S. Rayl; Book: "Beatles '64"; New York, Doubleday, 1989; page 96

Further reading

[edit]
  • Alistair, Rupert (2018). "Reginald Owen". The Name Below the Title : 65 Classic Movie Character Actors from Hollywood's Golden Age (softcover) (First ed.). Great Britain: Independently published. pp. 204–207. ISBN 978-1-7200-3837-5.
[edit]
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