O.B. Clarence
Biography
O. B. Clarence was an English actor who abandoned a planned medical career for the stage and made his first appearance in 1890 at the old Trocadero Music Hall. Born in Hampstead, London, he spent four years with F. R. Benson's company, toured with Ben Greet, and later played with Herbert Beerbohm Tree's company and at the Garrick Theatre. He appeared on Broadway several times and became known as a character actor, often cast as old men in West End plays. His stage roles included the Inquisitor in Shaw's Saint Joan and Polonius in Tyrone Guthrie's Hamlet. The Times described him as one of the English stage's most accomplished character actors. Among his many films were The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934), Pygmalion (1938), The Dark Eyes of London (1939) and Great Expectations (1946). He retired from the stage in 1945, made his last film in 1948, and died in 1955.
85years old at death
- Born Hampstead
- Died Hove
- Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
- Also credited as Oliver Burchett Clarence
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 12 years1934 to 1946
Every film, newest first
- 1946Great ExpectationsIMDb rating 7.8
- 1939The Dark Eyes of LondonIMDb rating 5.7
- 1938PygmalionIMDb rating 7.7
- 1934The Scarlet PimpernelIMDb rating 7.3
Genres
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A change of course
Clarence's family planned for him to go into medicine. He attended Dover College, then studied at University College Hospital in London, and later gave up medicine to act on the stage.
First role
Clarence first took to the stage on 14 July 1890, appearing at the old Trocadero Music Hall alongside Arthur Lloyd.
Early training
Clarence spent four years as a member of F. R. Benson's company, and during that time he played numerous parts.
O.B. Clarence movies on Netflix
Worked with
O.B. Clarence shares two films with Leslie Howard, 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
Leslie Howard's page
Ivor Barnard's page
Bela Lugosi's page
John Mills's page
Alec Guinness's page
Nigel Bruce's page
David LeanDirector, 1 film, 1946
All films by David Lean
All films by Anthony Asquith
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.