Roddy MacDowell, an American actor of British descent, 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."
First prominent role
In 1940, the McDowell family moved to America, to the city of Los Angeles. There, Roddy continued to act in the usual role of a boy. And only in the film "How green was my valley" did the young actor get a small but memorable role. His character named Huev, the youngest child in a mining family, has a special place in the plot. The action revolves around his retrospective memories of people around him. However, Huev does not affect the ongoing events.
Introducing the upcoming Hollywood megastar
Another notable role for Roddy MacDowell was high school student Joe Kerraclough in the movie directed by Fred Wilcox, “Lassie Returns Home”. On the set, the young actor met the best friend of his life - Elizabeth Taylor, who was then still just a girl - she was barely nine years old.
Maturity
Roddy MacDowell grew up, and soon he began a period of already serious roles, characteristic and memorable. The most significant character is Octavian Augustus from Cleopatra, a historical drama directed by Joseph Mankevich in 1963. For the role of emperor, Roddy MacDowell was nominated for an Academy Award.
In 1968, the actor performed in a double image, Caesar and Cornelius from the science fiction film "Planet of the Apes." The picture was continued: in different years, three more full-length series were created.
Television and voice acting
Further, Roddy McDowell starred in several successful film projects, including: Overboard with the inimitable Goldie Hawn in the title role, The Adventure of Poseidon, Evil Under the Sun. The actor was often invited to take part in various television projects. in the series “Colombo”, “Batman”, “Twilight Zone”, “Quantum Leap.” In addition to filming, Roddy MacDowell was engaged in voice acting. His voice spoke cartoon characters, such as, for example, Mr. Soyle from “The Adventures of Flick”, created in 1998.
At the end of his career, the actor was actively engaged in public and administrative activities in the apparatus of the Academy of Cinematography, holding various posts in management and the coordination council. McDowell was a valuable worker: he knew film production from the inside, and many years of experience on the set allowed him to solve the most complex administrative tasks.
Roddy McDowell: filmography
During his career, the actor starred in more than one hundred and twenty films and television series. Below is a sample list of films with his participation.
- Pied Piper (1942), character of Ronnie Cavan;
- Thundercloud (1945), the role of Mack Laughlin;
- Macbeth (1948), character Malcolm;
- "Abducted" (1948), the role of David Balfour;
- Theater of Celanes (1952), character Richard Miller;
- The Twilight Zone (1964), the role of Sam Conrad;
- "The Tempest" (1960), the character of 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), character Wils Willets;
- Third Day (1965), the role of Oliver Parsons;
- "The Spy" (1966), character agent Adams;
- The Invaders (1968), the role of Lloyd Lindstrom;
- The Iron Side (1975), character Jamie Shannon;
- "Name of the game" (1971), the role of Earley McCorley;
- Colombo (1968), character Roger Stanford;
- "Running Midas" (1969), the role of Whister;
- "Medical Center" (1976), played by Karl Marris;
- “Taste of Evil” (1971), character Dr. Michael Lomas;
- "Recruits" (1976), the role of Fenner;
- The Sisters of Snoop (1974), character of Lionel Standish;
- Barnaby Jones (1973), played by Stanley Lambert;
- Arnold (1973), the role of Robert;
- The Hell's House and Its Legend (1973), character Benjamin Fisher;
- The Female Police Officer (1974), the role of Moulton;
- Planet of the Apes (1974), character Galen;
- "Funny Lady" (1975), the role of Bobby Moore.
Roddy MacDowell, whose films have always been on the top 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 his game, but human capabilities are limited - there was not enough time for more.
Personal life
The private space of the actor was always limited to the walls of his house in one of the districts of Los Angeles. He lived in solitude, communicating only with the closest people. Perhaps Roddy MacDowell, whose family did not exist, did not consider it necessary to tie the knot.
If you follow the publicly available information, then he had no children. The reasons for this lifestyle are unknown, but since everyone chooses his own path, no one tried to find out how and what Roddy lives in in his own house.
In the spring of 1998, Roddy McDowell, whose personal life was never advertised, appeared at the Academy Awards ceremony in the company of actress Louise Rainer. Each movement was difficult for the actor, many months of malaise affected. This exit to the 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 died on October 3, 1998 from a serious cancer disease. For the past few months, his best friend, screenwriter Denny Osbourne, has been with him. After Roddy's death, actress Angela Lansberry gave a farewell speech on the radio.