Leslie Howard
The quintessential English gentleman of Hollywood's Golden Age, whose thoughtful charm and tragic death cemented his mystique.
1893–1943 (age 50)·English actor and writer·Birthday: April 3·The Lost Generation
Biography
With his mild manners, wire-rimmed glasses, and a voice like polished oak, Leslie Howard became the archetype of the sensitive, intellectual romantic lead in 1930s cinema. He was the ideal Ashley Wilkes in 'Gone with the Wind', a man out of time, and delivered a defining portrayal of Professor Henry Higgins in 'Pygmalion'. Off-screen, he was sharper than his screen persona, directing and producing films, and writing pointed commentary for major publications. His life was cut short during World War II when the civilian aircraft he was traveling on was shot down by the Luftwaffe over the Bay of Biscay, an event shrouded in speculation. His death transformed him from a matinee idol into a poignant casualty of war.
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.
Leslie 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 Leslie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1893
Leslie'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
Key Achievements
- Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in 'Berkeley Square' (1933).
- Co-directed and starred in the film adaptation of 'Pygmalion', which won an Oscar for Best Screenplay.
- Starred as Ashley Wilkes in the landmark film 'Gone with the Wind'.
Did You Know?
He was born Leslie Howard Steiner to a Hungarian Jewish father and an English mother.
He was an outspoken critic of Nazism and made propaganda broadcasts for the Allies during WWII.
His daughter, Leslie Ruth Howard, became a successful television actress in Britain.
“I'm not a star. I'm an actor. A star is just a piece of candy wrapped in tinsel.”
