Cedric Hardwicke
A distinguished English actor whose commanding presence and sonorous voice defined classic Hollywood villains and aristocrats for decades.
1893–1964 (age 71)·English actor·Birthday: February 19·The Lost Generation
Biography
Cedric Hardwicke represented a certain ideal of English theatrical gravity, carrying the weight of the London stage onto Hollywood soundstages. He built his reputation in the West End and on Broadway, becoming a favored interpreter of George Bernard Shaw's plays. Hollywood quickly typecast him, but in the best possible way: as a succession of kings, judges, doctors, and sinister figures, his lean frame and precise diction lending immediate authority. He brought a chilling credibility to the villainous Pharaoh in 'The Ten Commandments' and a weary dignity to the title role in 'The Lodger.' Hardwicke never sought matinee idol status; instead, he became a reliable pillar of ensemble casts, a actor's actor who could elevate any film with his mere presence.
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.
Cedric was born in 1893, 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 Cedric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1893
Cedric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1893Born
World's Columbian Exposition dazzles Chicago
President: Grover Cleveland
1898Started school
Spanish-American War; US emerges as a world power
President: William McKinley
1906Became a teenager
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1909Could drive
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1911Could vote
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1914Turned 21
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Turned 30
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1933Turned 40
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1943Turned 50
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1953Turned 60
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 70
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1964Died at 71
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
Key Achievements
- Knighted in 1934 for his services to the stage, one of the first actors to receive the honor primarily for theatre work.
- Delivered a memorable performance as the Pharaoh Sethi in Cecil B. DeMille's epic 'The Ten Commandments.'
- Starred in the original Broadway production of 'The Devil's Disciple' and several film adaptations of Shaw's plays.
Did You Know?
He served as a captain in the British Army during World War I.
He was the narrator in the original 1967 'Doctor Dolittle' film.
Hardwicke was the first actor to play the character of Father Brown on screen in a 1935 film.
“The theatre is a temple, but Hollywood is a very profitable bazaar.”
