Michael Rennie
Biography
Michael Rennie was a British actor whose career ran more than 30 years and included over 50 films and several American television series. Born near Bradford, Yorkshire, he came to acting in his mid-20s after working in his family's wool mill and as a car salesman. He had an uncredited bit part in Alfred Hitchcock's Secret Agent (1936), then learned his trade in Yorkshire repertory. His film breakthrough was I'll Be Your Sweetheart (1945), followed by the hit The Wicked Lady (1945). In Hollywood he won top billing as the space visitor Klaatu in The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). A 20th Century Fox contract led to supporting roles, often as figures of authority, in The Robe (1953), 5 Fingers (1952), Désirée (1954), and Island in the Sun (1957). Later credits included The Lost World (1960), the television series The Third Man, and the Broadway play Mary, Mary. He died in 1971.
61years old at death
- Born Idle
- Died Harrogate
- Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
Movie Career
- Films
- 24
- Career span
- 62 years1936 to 1998
Genres
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Big break
After Claude Rains declined the part, Rennie got top billing in his next movie, The Day the Earth Stood Still, also from 1951. It was the first postwar, big-budget "A" science-fiction film.
First role
Rennie made his screen acting debut in an uncredited bit part in Alfred Hitchcock's Secret Agent (1936), standing in for Robert Young.
About the name
Rennie kept his surname but took Michael as his professional name. He named Ronald Colman as the role model he looked up to.
A role that slipped away
Rennie lost a part in The Vikings (1958) because of scheduling conflicts, and James Donald took his place in the role.
Beyond film
In the early 1960s, Michael Rennie played Dirk Winsten, a jaded film star, in Mary, Mary, which was his only Broadway appearance.
Languages
Rennie worked to perfect a mid-Atlantic accent that both American and British audiences could understand, which led people to think he was Canadian.
Michael Rennie movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- The Day the Earth Stood Still1951 Drama, Sci-Fi, Thrilleras Klaatu / Mr. Carpenter
IMDb rating 7.789K votes
Most often with
Henry Koster directed two of these films, Jean Negulesco two and Henry Hathaway two. James Mason appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
James Mason's page
Bess Flowers's page
Merle Oberon's page
Harry Carey Jr.'s page
Herbert Lom's page
John Hoyt's page
Henry KosterDirector, 2 films, 1953 to 1954
Jean NegulescoDirector, 2 films, 1952 to 1953
All films by Jean Negulesco
Henry HathawayDirector, 2 films, 1950 to 1951
All films by Henry Hathaway
Also two films together20 more actors
- Richard BooneThe Robe (1953) and The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (1951)
- Jean SimmonsDésirée (1954) and The Robe (1953)
- Claude RainsThe Lost World (1960) and Caesar and Cleopatra (1945)
- Susan HaywardSoldier of Fortune (1955) and Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)
- Richard LooSoldier of Fortune (1955) and 5 Fingers (1952)
- Torin ThatcherThe Robe (1953) and The Black Rose (1950)
- Eduard FranzCyborg 2087 (1966) and The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (1951)
- Victor MatureDemetrius and the Gladiators (1954) and The Robe (1953)
- Gary MerrillThe Power (1968) and Phone Call from a Stranger (1952)
- Charles EvansCyborg 2087 (1966) and Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)
- Peter van EyckSailor of the King (1953) and The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (1951)
- Edith EvansonDésirée (1954) and The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
- Ernest ThesigerThe Robe (1953) and Caesar and Cleopatra (1945)
- Warren StevensCyborg 2087 (1966) and Phone Call from a Stranger (1952)
- George NaderPhone Call from a Stranger (1952) and The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (1951)
- Basil SydneyIsland in the Sun (1957) and Caesar and Cleopatra (1945)
- Frank McLureTitanic (1953) and 5 Fingers (1952)
- Jay RobinsonDemetrius and the Gladiators (1954) and The Robe (1953)
- Patricia RocThe Wicked Lady (1945) and The Divorce of Lady X (1938)
- Evelyn VardenDésirée (1954) and Phone Call from a Stranger (1952)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Michael Rennie's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$73.8 million
5 of the 24 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 24 films: 5 worldwide figure; 1 us gross only; 1 never in cinemas; 17 figure not found.
- 5Worldwide figure
- 1US gross only
- 1Never in cinemas
- 17Figure not found
Top grosser
Highest grossing
The five biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$36M48.8% of the total
- 2$26M35.3% of the total
- 3$5.0M6.8% of the total
- 4$4.9M6.7% of the total
- 5$1.9M2.5% of the total
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.