George Brent was a popular leading man in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s, best known for his romantic pairings with Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, and other glamorous stars. He had a charming Irish accent, a handsome face, and a dapper style that made him an ideal screen lover. But behind his suave persona, he had a troubled and turbulent life that ended in a lonely death. What was George Brent’s cause of death and what led him to it? Here is the tragic story of the old Hollywood playboy.
Early Life and Career
George Brent was born George Brendan Nolan in Ireland on March 15, 1904, although his exact place of birth is disputed. Some sources say he was born in Ballinasloe, County Galway, while others say he was born in Raharabeg, County Roscommon or Shannonbridge, County Offaly. His parents separated when he was young, and he moved to New York City with his sister and aunt in 1915. He returned to Ireland in 1921, during the Irish War of Independence, and became involved with the Irish Republican Army. He claimed to have been a courier for guerrilla leader Michael Collins, and had a bounty on his head by the British government. He fled to England, then Canada, and finally back to the United States in 1921.
He decided to pursue a career in acting, and made his Broadway debut in 1927. He worked in various plays and stock companies throughout the 1920s, and co-starred with Clark Gable in Love, Honor, and Betray in 1930. He moved to Hollywood that same year, and made his first film for 20th Century Fox, Under Suspicion. He continued to appear in supporting roles for Fox, Universal, and Mascot Pictures until he signed a contract with Warner Brothers in 1932.
Stardom and Marriages
At Warner Brothers, George Brent became a star and a leading man for some of the studio’s top actresses. He made four films with Ruth Chatterton, whom he married in 1932. They divorced in 1934, after which he married another actress, Constance Worth, in 1937. They divorced later that same year. He then made eleven films with Bette Davis, who had a crush on him but was rejected by him. He married another Warner Brothers star, Ann Sheridan, in 1942. They divorced in 1943.
Brent was known for his charm and charisma on screen, but he was also plagued by insecurities and depression off screen. He suffered from alcoholism and insomnia, and had several nervous breakdowns. He once said that he felt like “a piece of furniture” as a leading man, and that he had no identity of his own. He also said that he was unhappy in all of his marriages, and that he never found true love.
Later Years and Death
George Brent’s career declined after World War II, as he was replaced by younger actors. He made some films for RKO and Columbia Pictures in the late 1940s and early 1950s, but none of them were successful. He also appeared on television shows such as Lux Video Theatre and The Ford Television Theatre. He married his fifth wife, Janet Michaels, a former model and dress designer, in 1947. They had two children together: Barry (born 1950) and Suzanne (born 1954). They remained married until her death from cancer in 1974.
Brent retired from acting in 1960, after making his last film for Warner Brothers, The Last Hurrah. He moved to Solana Beach, California, where he devoted himself to breeding race horses. He lived a reclusive life until his death from emphysema on May 26, 1979. He was 75 years old. He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
George Brent’s cause of death was emphysema , a chronic lung disease that causes shortness of breath and coughing. Emphysema is often caused by smoking or exposure to air pollution or dust . Brent was a heavy smoker throughout his life , which may have contributed to his condition. Emphysema can also lead to heart failure or pneumonia , which may have been complications in Brent’s case.
George Brent’s cause of death was tragic not only because it cut short his life, but also because it reflected his inner turmoil and dissatisfaction. He once said that he felt like “a man without a country” , as he never truly belonged to either Ireland or America. He also said that he felt like “a man without a soul” , as he never found happiness or fulfillment in his work or his relationships. He died alone and forgotten by the public, a far cry from his glamorous image as a Hollywood star.
