Clifton Webb
A sophisticated and sharp-tongued actor who brought a unique, acerbic wit to Hollywood's golden age, shifting from stage to screen stardom.
1889–1966 (age 77)·American actor, singer, dancer·Birthday: November 19·The Lost Generation
Biography
Born Webb Parmelee Hollenbeck in Indianapolis, Clifton Webb began his career as a child dancer before establishing himself as a polished fixture of New York's theater scene. His precise, elegant demeanor and sophisticated comic timing made him a favorite of playwright Noël Coward. Hollywood initially dismissed him as 'too theatrical,' but Otto Preminger's casting gamble in the 1944 film 'Laura' changed everything. As the cynical radio host Waldo Lydecker, Webb delivered a performance of such memorable acidity that it earned him an Oscar nomination and a new career in his fifties. He became the archetype of the fussy, intellectual busybody, most famously as the genius babysitter Mr. Belvedere in the 'Sitting Pretty' series, a role that cemented his place in American pop culture. Webb lived a discreetly private life with his mother, Maybelle, who remained his constant companion until her death, just a few years before his own.
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.
Clifton was born in 1889, 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 Clifton Was Born
The biggest hits of 1889
Clifton's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1889Born
Eiffel Tower opens in Paris
President: Benjamin Harrison
1894Started school
President: Grover Cleveland
1902Became a teenager
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1905Could drive
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1907Could vote
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Turned 21
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1919Turned 30
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1929Turned 40
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1939Turned 50
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1949Turned 60
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 70
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1966Died at 77
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
Key Achievements
- Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his film debut as the acerbic Waldo Lydecker in 'Laura' (1944).
- Starred as the genius babysitter Lynn Belvedere in the hit film 'Sitting Pretty' (1948), earning a Best Actor Oscar nomination.
- Was a leading figure in Broadway musical revues and starred in successful stage productions of Noël Coward's plays like 'Blithe Spirit'.
- Maintained a successful film career well into his sixties, defying Hollywood's typical age barriers for leading men.
Did You Know?
He was a professional ballroom dancer and exhibition skater in his youth.
Webb never married and lived with his mother, Maybelle, for his entire adult life; her death in 1960 profoundly affected him.
He was a close friend of actor and writer Noël Coward, who wrote roles specifically for him.
Despite his on-screen persona, he was known to be quite shy and private off-camera.
“I've never been a yes man. I've always said no to practically everything.”
