Cecil Kellaway
A cherubic character actor whose gentle presence and twinkling eyes earned him two Oscar nominations across a five-decade Hollywood career.
1890–1973 (age 83)·South African actor·Birthday: August 22·The Lost Generation
Biography
Born in Cape Town, Cecil Kellaway began his career on the South African stage before venturing to London and then Hollywood. He didn't arrive in films until his forties, but his round face, soft voice, and impeccable comic timing made him an instantly familiar face. Kellaway specialized in playing benevolent uncles, whimsical leprechauns, and kindly priests, bringing a warmth that cut through the studio-era gloss. His longevity was remarkable, moving seamlessly from 1930s adventures to 1960s social dramas. His second Academy Award nomination, for 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner,' came at age 77, a testament to his enduring and nuanced skill in supporting roles that often stole the scene.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Cecil was born in 1890, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cecil Was Born
The biggest hits of 1890
Cecil's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1890Born
Wounded Knee massacre marks the end of the Indian Wars
President: Benjamin Harrison
1895Started school
First public film screening by the Lumiere brothers
President: Grover Cleveland
1903Became a teenager
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1906Could drive
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1908Could vote
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1911Turned 21
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1920Turned 30
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1930Turned 40
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1940Turned 50
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1950Turned 60
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 70
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 80
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1973Died at 83
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
Key Achievements
- Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a leprechaun in 'The Luck of the Irish' (1948).
- Earned a second Oscar nomination nearly twenty years later for his performance in the groundbreaking film 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner' (1967).
- Appeared in over 120 film and television roles across a career spanning from the 1930s to the early 1970s.
Did You Know?
He worked as a journalist and a diamond merchant before committing to acting full-time.
Kellaway was a talented painter and held several exhibitions of his artwork.
He made his Broadway debut at the age of 49 in the play 'The Walrus and the Carpenter.'
“I'm just a fat old man who loves to act.”
