Американский актер британского происхождения Roddy McDowell was born on September 17, 1928 in the capital of Great Britain. His film debut took place at the age of ten. The boy was invited to participate in the episodes because of the colorful appearance. He looked like a confident teenager, clean and at the same time casually dressed. Roddy starred in five films, where he was not even included in the credits. All roles were called the same - "boy".
The first noticeable role
In 1940, the McDowell family moved toAmerica, to the city of Los Angeles. There, Roddy continued to act in the usual role of the boy. And only in the film "How Green Was My Valley" the young actor got a small, but rather memorable role. His character named Hewv, the youngest child in a mining family, occupies a special place in the plot. The action revolves around its retrospective memories relating to the people around them. However, Hewev does not affect the events.
Meet the future megastar of Hollywood
Another significant role of Roddy McDowell washigh school student Joe Kerraklaf in the film directed by Fred Wilcox "Lessie returns home." On the set, the young actor met the best friend of his life - Elizabeth Taylor, who was then just a girl - she was barely nine years old.
Maturity
Roddy McDowell matured, and soon hethe period of already serious roles, characteristic and memorable, began. The most significant character is Octavian Augustus from Cleopatra, a historical drama directed by Joseph Mankiewicz in 1963. For the role of Emperor Roddy McDowell was nominated for an Oscar.
In 1968, the actor performed in a double manner, Caesar and Cornelius from the science fiction film Planet of the Apes. The picture had a continuation: in different years three more full-length series were created.
Television and voice acting
Read More Roddy McDowell starred in severalsuccessful film projects, among which were: "Overboard" with the inimitable Goldie Hawn in the lead role, "Adventure" Poseidon "," Evil Under the Sun ". The actor was often invited to take part in various television projects. He played in the TV shows" Colombo ", “Batman,” “Twilight Zone,” “Quantum Leap.” In addition to filming, Roddy McDowell was engaged in voice acting. Cartoon characters spoke in his voice, such as Mr. Soyle from “The Adventures of Flick,” created in 1998.
На закате своей карьеры актер активно занимался public and administrative activities in the apparatus of the Academy of Cinematography, occupying various posts in the management and coordination council. McDowell was a valuable worker: he knew the film industry from the inside, and his many years of experience on the set allowed him to solve the most complex administrative tasks.
Roddy McDowell: Filmography
During his career, the actor has appeared in more than one hundred and twenty motion pictures and television series. Below is a selective list of films with his participation.
- The Pied Piper (1942), the character of Ronnie Cavan;
- Thundercloud (1945), the role of Maka Laughlin;
- Macbeth (1948), the character of Malcolm;
- "Kidnapped" (1948), the role of David Balfour;
- "Theater Celanes" (1952), character Richard Miller;
- Twilight Zone (1964), the role of Sam Conrad;
- "The Tempest" (1960), the character Ariel;
- Midnight Lace (1960), the role of Malcolm Stanley;
- "Ben Casey" (1966), character Dwight Franklin;
- "In Battle" (1967), the role of Murphy;
- Eleventh Hour (1964), character Alec Harnes;
- Cleopatra (1963), the role of Octavian Augustus;
- "Vertical Take-Off" (1967), the character of Wils Willets;
- The Third Day (1965), the role of Oliver Parsons;
- "Spy" (1966), character agent Adams;
- The Invaders (1968), the role of Lloyd Lindstrom;
- "The Iron Side" (1975), character Jamie Shannon;
- "The Name of the Game" (1971), the role of Airlie McCorley;
- Colombo (1968), character Roger Stanford;
- Running Midas (1969), the role of Wister;
- "Medical Center" (1976), played by Karl Marris;
- "Smack of Evil" (1971), character Dr. Michael Lomas;
- Recruits (1976), the role of Fenner;
- "Sisters of Snoop" (1974), character Lionel Standish;
- "Barnaby Jones" (1973), played by Stanley Lambert;
- "Arnold" (1973), the role of Robert;
- "Hell House and Its Legend" (1973), character Benjamin Fisher;
- Policewoman (1974), the role of Moulton;
- "Planet of the Apes" (1974), character Galen;
- "Funny Lady" (1975), the role of Bobby Moore.
Roddy McDowell, whose filmshave always been in the first lines of the ratings for a long time, was considered one of the best actors in Hollywood and could decorate more than one film project with their play, but human capabilities are limited - there was not enough time for more.
Personal life
Частное пространство актера всегда ограничивалось the walls of his house in one of the districts of Los Angeles. He lived alone, communicated only with the closest people. Perhaps Roddy McDowell, whose family has not developed, did not consider it necessary to tie the knot.
If you follow publicly available information, thenhe had no children either. The reasons for this way of life are unknown, but since everyone chooses his own path, no one tried to find out how and how Roddy lived in his own home.
In the spring of 1998, Roddy McDowell, personal lifewhich was never advertised, appeared at the Oscar awards ceremony in the company of actress Louise Rainer. Each movement of the actor was given with difficulty, had many months of indisposition. This access to people was necessary for Roddy, as if he came to say goodbye to colleagues and friends. The hall met him with applause, the last in his life.
McDowell passed away on October 3, 1998severe oncological disease. For the past few months, his best friend, screenwriter Denny Osborne, has been beside him. After the death of Roddy, actress Angela Lansberry gave a farewell speech on the radio.
