Fredric March

Actor

About

Also Known As

Ernest Frederick Mcintyre Bickel

Birth Place

Racine, Wisconsin, USA

Born

August 31, 1897

Died

April 14, 1975

Cause of Death

Cancer

Biography

Filmography

The Iceman Cometh (1973)

...tick...tick...tick... (1970)

Mayor Jeff Parks

Hombre (1967)

Alexander Favor

Seven Days in May (1964)

President Jordan Lyman

The Condemned of Altona (1963)

Gerlach

The Young Doctors (1961)

Dr. Joseph Pearson

Photos & Videos

View All

Merrily We Go To Hell (1932) — (Movie Clip) Less Ventilation And More Smoke!

Les Miserables (1935) -- (Movie Clip) I Myself Was Born In Prison

Family & Companions

Aline Ellis

Companion

College sweetheart; became engaged as undergraduates; separated after he decided to become an actor.

Ellis Baker

Wife

Actor. Married in 1924; divorced in 1927; niece of character actor Edward Ellis.

Florence Eldridge

Wife

Actor. Met while performing together in Denver in 1926; married from May 30, 1927 until March's death in 1975; died in 1988 at age 87.

Bibliography

"Fredric March: Craftsman First, Star Second"

Deborah C Peterson, Greenwood Press (1996)

Notes

When March's 1938 return to Broadway in "Yr. Obedient Husband" was a resounding failure, he and Florence Eldridge placed an ad in the trades that showed a sketch depicting them as two trapeze artists missing each other's grip in midair. "Oops. Soory!" read the caption.

"It has been my experience that work on the screen clarifies stage portrayals and vice versa. You learn to make your face express more in making movies, and in working for the theater you have a sense of greater freedom." --Fredric March, quoted in his The New York Times obituary, April 15, 1975.

Biography

Distinguished stage actor and one of Hollywood's most celebrated, versatile stars of the 1930s and 40s. March's roles ranged from light comedy ("The Royal Family of Broadway" 1930) to horror ("Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" 1932) to melodrama ("The Best Years of Our Lives" 1946). His classically trained voice and engaging good looks highlighted a number of period pieces, such as "Anna Karenina" (1935), but he seemed more at home playing contemporary characters like the fading actor in "A Star Is Born" (1937) and the exploitative reporter in the biting comedy "Nothing Sacred" (1937). March was married to actress Florence Eldridge (who died in 1988), opposite whom he appeared on stage and screen, from 1927 until his death.

Filmography

Life Events

1917

Enlisted in the US Army; eventually commissioned as a lieutenant

1919

Moved to NYC after a year in the Army to become a banker; worked as parttime newspaper and magazine model and as trainee at National City Bank until he suffered appendicitis and turned to acting during recuperation leave

1920

Professional stage debut in David Belasco's production of "Debarau" in Baltimore; later moved to Broadway

1921

Worked as an extra in films

1924

At suggestion of director John Cromwell, changed name to Fredric March

1926

Joined stock company in Denver where he met Florence Eldridge

1927

Last Broadway appearance for over a decade, "The Devil in the Cheese"

1928

Enjoyed stage success as Barrymoresque actor Tony Cavendish in the Los Angeles production of "The Royal Family"; spotted by a talent scout from Paramount and signed to a contract

1929

Film debut in "The Dummy"

1929

Played a professor who catches the attention of student Clara Bow in "The Wild Party"

1929

Co-starred in the film version of Philip Barry's play "Paris Bound"

1930

Acted in "Sarah and Son"

1930

Reprised role of Tony Cavendish in the film "The Royal Family of Broadway"; garnered first Academy Award nomination

1931

Received first Oscar for title role in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"; tied for award with Wallace Beery ("The Champ")

1933

Starred in the film adaptation of Noel Coward's play "Design for Living"

1934

Portrayed Death in human form in the film "Death Takes a Holiday"

1934

Had title role in "The Affairs of Cellini"

1934

Portrayed Robert Browning to Norma Shearer's Elizabeth Barrett in "The Barretts of Wimpole Street"

1935

Cast as Jean Valjean in "Les Miserables" and Vronsky to Greta Garbo's "Anna Karenina"

1936

Had title role in "Anthony Adverse"

1937

Portrayed the washed-up, alcoholic actor Norman Maine in the first screen version of "A Star Is Born", opposite Janet Gaynor; received Oscar nomination for Best Actor

1937

Teamed with Carole Lombard in "Nothing Sacred"

1937

Listed as the fifth highest-paid actor in Hollywood (earning nearly $500,000 a year)

1938

Called to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee

1938

Returned to Broadway with Florence Eldridge in "Yr. Obedient Husband"; show was quick flop

1940

Appeared in the Oscar-nominated Best Picture "One Foot in Heaven"

1941

Cast a playwright trying to stop his actress-wife from retiring in "Bedtime Story"

1942

Starred opposite Veronica Lake in "I Married a Witch"

1942

Had lead role in the award-winning play "The Skin of Our Teeth" by Thornton Wilder

1944

Played the title role in "The Adventures of Mark Twain"

1946

Received second Academy Award for playing a returning soldier in "The Best Years of Our Lives"

1947

Earned one of the first Tony Awards for Lead Actor in a Play for his work in the Broadway production of "Years Ago"; tied with Jose Ferrer

1948

Starred in "Another Part of the Forest"

1949

Offered the stage role of Willy Loman in the original Broadway production of "Death of a Salesman" but rejected it as being too "grim"; later starred in the 1951 film version

1949

Had title role in "Christopher Columbus"

1950

Acted on Broadway with Florence Eldredge in "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep", "The Autumn Garden" and "An Enemy of the People" (the latter adapted by Arthur Miller)

1951

Earned fifth Academy Award nomination for "Death of a Salesman"

1954

Played an unscrupulous financial executive in "Executive Suite"

1954

Once again played Tony Cavendish in a CBS TV production of "The Royal Family"

1954

Cast as Scrooge in CBS musical version of "A Christmas Carol"

1958

Played Arthur Winslow in the CBS version of "The Winslow Boy"

1960

Starred opposite Spencer Tracy in the fictionalized version of the Scopes trial, "Inherit the Wind"; played character based on William Jennings Bryan; Eldridge portrayed his wife

1961

Final Broadway role, "Gideon"; nominated for a Tony Award

1964

Appeared as the US President facing a military plot to overthrow the government in "Seven Days in May"

1967

Acted in "Hombre"

1970

Returned to features in "... tick ... tick ... tick ..."

1970

First diagnosed with cancer; underwent treatment

1973

Last film appearance as Harry Hope in "The Iceman Cometh"

Photo Collections

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932) - Makeup Test Stills

Here are a few makeup test stills taken of Fredric March during production of Paramount's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932). Such test stills were taken prior to principal photography for approvals.

Design for Living - Lobby Cards

Here are some Lobby Cards from Design for Living (1932), directed by Ernst Lubitsch and starring Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins, and Gary Cooper. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

We Live Again - Movie Poster

The Best Years of Our Lives - Movie Posters

Here are a few original release American movie posters for The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), produced by Samuel Goldwyn.

Executive Suite - Group Publicity Stills

Here is a series of publicity stills taken of the all-star cast of Executive Suite (1954). Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934) - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934). One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

I Married a Witch - Lobby Card

Here is a Lobby Card from I Married a Witch (1942). Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Smilin' Through (1932) - Lobby Cards

Here are a few Lobby Cards from MGM's Smilin' Through (1932), starring Norma Shearer and Fredric March. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

A Star is Born (1937) - Lobby Card

Here is a lobby card from A Star is Born (1937), starring Fredric March and Janet Gaynor. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Anthony Adverse - Scene Stills

Here are some scene stills from Warner Bros' Anthony Adverse (1936), directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Fredric March and Olivia de Havilland.

Nothing Sacred - Movie Poster

Here is the original-release window card movie poster for Nothing Sacred (1937), starring Carole Lombard and Fredric March.

The Eagle and the Hawk - Scene Stills

Here are several scene stills from Paramount Pictures' The Eagle and the Hawk (1933), starring Fredric March, Cary Grant, Carole Lombard, and Jack Oakie.

Anna Karenina (1935) - Behind-the-Scenes Photos

Here are some photos taken behind-the-scenes during production of MGM's Anna Karenina (1935), directed by Clarence Brown and Starring Greta Garbo and Fredric March.

The Eagle and the Hawk - Lobby Cards

Here are several Lobby Cards from Paramount Pictures' The Eagle and the Hawk (1933), starring Fredric March, Cary Grant and Carole Lombard. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

The Eagle and the Hawk - Movie Poster

Here is the original one-sheet movie poster for Paramount's The Eagle and the Hawk (1933), starring Fredric March and Cary Grant. One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

The Eagle and the Hawk - Publicity Stills

Here are a few photos taken to help publicize Paramount Pictures' The Eagle and the Hawk (1933), starring Fredric March, Cary Grant, and Carole Lombard. Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

The Buccaneer (1938) - Movie Poster

Here is a window card from Paramount's The Buccaneer (1938), starring Fredric March. Window cards were small posters displayed in store windows around town, with room at the top to write theater information.

Sign of the Cross - Lobby Cards

Here are several lobby cards from Cecil B. De Mille's Sign of the Cross (1933). Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Executive Suite - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for Executive Suite (1954). One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.