Brian Aherne was a versatile and charismatic actor who graced the stage and screen for over five decades. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Emperor Maximilian in Juarez (1939), and appeared in many other memorable films, such as The Great Garrick (1937), The Swan (1956), and I Confess (1953). He also had a successful career on Broadway and in radio and television. He was a friend and biographer of George Sanders, and a former husband of Joan Fontaine. He died of heart failure on February 10, 1986, at the age of 83, in Venice, Florida. This article will explore his life and legacy, and the circumstances of his death.
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Early Life and Career
Brian Aherne was born William Brian de Lacy Aherne on May 2, 1902, in King’s Norton, Worcestershire, England. He was the second and younger son of an architect and his wife. He had an elder brother, Pat Aherne, who was also an actor. He began his acting career as a child, and made his stage debut in Birmingham in 1910. He later studied architecture, but returned to the theater in 1923, and made his London debut in 1924. He toured the provinces and appeared in various plays, including some by J.M. Barrie and Frederick Lonsdale. He made his first film appearance in The Eleventh Commandment (1924), and continued to work in British films until the early 1930s.
Hollywood and Broadway Stardom
In 1931, Aherne made his Broadway debut as Robert Browning in The Barretts of Wimpole Street, opposite Katharine Cornell, with whom he had a long and fruitful collaboration. He alternated between the New York and London stage, and also ventured into Hollywood, where he signed a contract with Samuel Goldwyn. He quickly established himself as a leading man, playing opposite stars such as Madeleine Carroll, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich, Rita Hayworth, and Carole Lombard. He was known for his charm, wit, and elegance, and often played sophisticated or historical characters. He received his only Oscar nomination for his role as the ill-fated Emperor Maximilian in Juarez, a biopic of the Mexican leader Benito Juarez. He also won acclaim for his performance as the title character in The Great Garrick, a comedy about the 18th-century actor David Garrick.
Personal Life and Relationships
Aherne was married twice, both times to actresses. His first wife was Joan Fontaine, whom he met on the set of A Damsel in Distress (1937). They married in 1939, but divorced in 1945, after a turbulent relationship. Fontaine later wrote in her autobiography that Aherne looked at her with loathing, and that he was unfaithful to her. Aherne denied these accusations, and said that he admired Fontaine as a brilliant actress. He remarried in 1946, to Eleanor de Liagre Labrot, a widow with a daughter. They remained married until his death, and had no children of their own.
Aherne was also a close friend of George Sanders, another British actor who was known for his suave and cynical persona. They met in 1936, and remained friends until Sanders’ suicide in 1972. Aherne wrote a biography of Sanders, titled A Dreadful Man, which was published in 1979. He also wrote his own autobiography, A Proper Job, which was published in 1969.
Later Years and Death
Aherne continued to work in films, theater, radio, and television until the late 1960s. He appeared in several episodes of The Twilight Zone, Wagon Train, and Rawhide, among other shows. He also starred in a one-man show, The Importance of Being Oscar, based on the life and works of Oscar Wilde. He retired from acting in 1967, and moved to Florida with his wife. He died of heart failure on February 10, 1986, in Venice, Florida. He was cremated, and his ashes were scattered in the Gulf of Mexico.
Brian Aherne was a talented and versatile actor who left a lasting impression on audiences and critics alike. He was admired for his professionalism, his intelligence, and his humor. He was a part of the golden age of Hollywood and Broadway, and worked with some of the most celebrated names in the industry. He was a man of many interests and talents, who enjoyed flying, writing, and painting. He was a gentleman and a scholar, who lived a full and rich life. He was Brian Aherne, and he will be remembered.