Godfrey Tearle
Biography
Godfrey Tearle was a British actor known for portraying the British gentleman on stage and in British and American films. Born in New York City and raised in Britain, he was the son of the actor-manager George Osmond Tearle. He made his stage debut in 1893 as the young Duke of York in his father's Richard III, and first appeared on screen in 1908 as Romeo. He became a noted Shakespearean, taking the title roles in Othello, Macbeth and Henry V, before serving four years in the Royal Artillery from 1915. In Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps (1935), one of his best-remembered screen parts, he played Professor Jordan, a country squire exposed as an enemy agent. Later films included One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942), as an RAF gunner, and The Beginning or the End (1947), as Franklin D. Roosevelt. His Broadway debut came in Carnival in 1919, and he was knighted in 1951 for services to drama.
68years old at death
- Born New York City
- Died London
- Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
- Also credited as Sir Godfrey Seymour Tearle
Movie Career
- Films
- 5
- Career span
- 18 years1935 to 1953
Every film, newest first
- 1953The Titfield ThunderboltIMDb rating 7.0
- 1947The Beginning or the EndIMDb rating 6.5
- 1942One of Our Aircraft Is MissingIMDb rating 7.0
- 1942Tomorrow We LiveIMDb rating 6.3
- 1935The 39 StepsIMDb rating 7.6
Genres
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A change of course
In 1915 Tearle joined the Royal Artillery, and his theatrical career was interrupted by a four-year stint with the unit.
First role
Tearle made his Broadway debut in Carnival in 1919, a play reviewer Alexander Woollcott called spare and unsubstantial with a role of secondary importance.
Godfrey Tearle movies on Netflix
Worked with
Godfrey Tearle shares two films with Gabrielle Brune, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Gabrielle Brune's page
Henry O'Neill's page
John Litel's page
Sidney James's page
Peter Ustinov's page
Brian Donlevy's page
All films by Alfred Hitchcock
Charles CrichtonDirector, 1 film, 1953
All films by Charles Crichton
All films by Emeric Pressburger
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Knight Bachelor | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.