Yul Brynner
Biography
Yul Brynner was a Russian and American actor whose signature part was King Mongkut of Siam in Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I. Born in Vladivostok and raised partly in China and Paris, he trained as an actor with Michael Chekhov, made his Broadway debut in Twelfth Night in 1941, and entered films with Port of New York (1949). He created the king in the 1951 stage musical, earning two Tony Awards, and for the 1956 film version of The King and I (1956) he received the Academy Award as best actor. The National Board of Review gave him its best actor prize for The Ten Commandments (1956) and Anastasia (1956). He also played Chris Adams, the hired gun of The Magnificent Seven (1960), returned for Return of the Seven (1966), and appeared as a killer robot in Westworld (1973) and Futureworld (1976).
65years old at death
- Born Vladivostok
- Died New York City
- Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
- Julij Boriszovics Brinyer (birth name)Also credited as Taidje Khan, Youl Bryner, Yuliy Borisovich Bryner and Yuliy Borisovich Briner
Movie Career
- Films
- 35
- Career span
- 54 years1949 to 2003
Genres
Photos
Share
Did you know?!
First role
Brynner's Broadway debut was as Fabian in Twelfth Night in 1941, a part with only a few lines because his English was limited and his Russian accent noticeable.
Early training
While World War II was going on, Brynner took acting lessons in Connecticut from Michael Chekhov, a Russian actor. He also drove trucks and did backstage work for Chekhov's theater company.
Big break
Cecil B. de Mille cast Brynner as Ramesses II in The Ten Commandments (1956), opposite Charlton Heston. He chose him after watching his stage work in The King and I, and told him backstage that he alone suited the part.
Yul Brynner movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Anatole Litvak directed three of these films, J. Lee Thompson two and Terence Young two. Brad Dexter 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
Brad Dexter's page
Trevor Howard's page
Fernando Rey's page
E.G. Marshall's page
Charles Bronson's page
Kirk Douglas's page
Anatole LitvakDirector, 3 films, 1956 to 1961
All films by Anatole Litvak
All films by J. Lee Thompson
All films by Terence Young
Also two films together25 more actors
- Charlton HestonThe Buccaneer (1958) and The Ten Commandments (1956)
- James CoburnKings of the Sun (1963) and The Magnificent Seven (1960)
- Paul FreesFlight from Ashiya (1964) and Taras Bulba (1962)
- Angie DickinsonCast a Giant Shadow (1966) and The Poppy Is Also a Flower (1966)
- Douglass DumbrilleThe Buccaneer (1958) and The Ten Commandments (1956)
- Deborah KerrThe Journey (1959) and The King and I (1956)
- Claire BloomThe Brothers Karamazov (1958) and The Buccaneer (1958)
- Ingrid BergmanGoodbye Again (1961) and Anastasia (1956)
- Charles BoyerThe Madwoman of Chaillot (1969) and The Buccaneer (1958)
- Richard BasehartKings of the Sun (1963) and The Brothers Karamazov (1958)
- Vladimir SokoloffTaras Bulba (1962) and The Magnificent Seven (1960)
- Senta BergerCast a Giant Shadow (1966) and The Poppy Is Also a Flower (1966)
- Anthony DawsonThe Battle of Neretva (1969) and Triple Cross (1966)
- Chuck HaywardKings of the Sun (1963) and Taras Bulba (1962)
- George ChakirisFlight from Ashiya (1964) and Kings of the Sun (1963)
- Britt EklandWill the Real Mr. Sellers... (1969) and The Double Man (1967)
- Salvatore BorgheseDeath Rage (1976) and Adios Sabata (1970)
- Paul BonifasTriple Cross (1966) and Goodbye Again (1961)
- Claudine AugerTriple Cross (1966) and Testament of Orpheus (1960)
- Julio PeñaVilla Rides (1968) and Solomon and Sheba (1959)
- José NietoCatlow (1971) and Solomon and Sheba (1959)
- Julián MateosCatlow (1971) and Return of the Seven (1966)
- Raul CastroThe Light at the Edge of the World (1971) and Villa Rides (1968)
- Massimo RanieriDeath Rage (1976) and The Light at the Edge of the World (1971)
- John A. AlonzoInvitation to a Gunfighter (1964) and The Magnificent Seven (1960)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Yul Brynner's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$221 million
13 of the 35 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 35 films: 13 worldwide figure; 3 us gross only; 3 never in cinemas; 16 figure not found.
- 13Worldwide figure
- 3US gross only
- 3Never in cinemas
- 16Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 94% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$123M55.5% of the total
- 2$21M9.6% of the total
- 3$20M8.8% of the total
- 4$13M5.7% of the total
- 5$12M5.5% of the total
- 6$10M4.5% of the total
- 7$5.4M2.4% of the total
- 8$4.3M1.9% of the total
$12.9 millionfrom the other 5 films with a worldwide figure, 6% of the total
Awards
Seven awards and honors from 1952 to 1999, four of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | |||
| 1957 | Best Actor | The King and I | Won |
| Tony Awards | |||
| 1952 | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | The King and I | Won |
| 1952 | Tony Awards | Won | |
| Grammy Awards | |||
| 1999 | Grammy Hall of Fame (posthumous) | The King and I | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| 1985 | Special Tony Award | Won | |
| 1956 | National Board of Review Award for Best Actor | The Ten Commandments | Won |
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.