Edmund Gwenn
Biography
Edmund Gwenn was an English actor born Edmund John Kellaway on September 26, 1877, in Wandsworth, London, England, and he died on September 6, 1959. He was the older brother of actor Arthur Chesney. Active as both a theatre and film actor, Gwenn appeared in more than eighty films during his career. On film, he is remembered for his role as Kris Kringle in the Christmas film Miracle on 34th Street, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe Award. He received a second Golden Globe and another Academy Award nomination for the comedy film Mister 880, and he appeared in four films directed by Alfred Hitchcock. As a stage actor in the West End and on Broadway, he was associated with works by modern playwrights including Bernard Shaw.
Career overview
Edmund Gwenn was an English theatre and film actor who was born as Edmund John Kellaway on September 26, 1877, in Wandsworth, London, England, United Kingdom. He passed away on September 6, 1959, at the age of 81. He was the older brother of actor Arthur Chesney. Over the course of his career, Gwenn appeared in more than eighty films and established a notable body of work on both stage and screen.
On film, Gwenn is perhaps best remembered for his role as Kris Kringle in the Christmas film Miracle on 34th Street, which was released in 1947. For this performance, he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the corresponding Golden Globe Award. He later received a second Golden Globe and another Academy Award nomination for his work in the 1950 comedy film Mister 880. In addition to these roles, Gwenn is remembered for appearing in four films directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
As a stage actor, Gwenn performed in the West End and on Broadway, where he was associated with a wide range of works by modern playwrights including Bernard Shaw and John.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Titans of Destruction: The Evolution of Giant Monster Movies (2021) as Self - (archive footage)
- Hollywood’s Children (1982) as Self (archive footage)
- The Greer Case (1957) as Jack Baldwin
- The Rocket from Calabuch (1956) as Prof. Jorge Serra Hamilton
- Matinee Theater (1955)
- The Millionaire (1955) as Walter Clinton Carter
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Joe Saunders
- MGM Parade (1955) as Self
- The Trouble with Harry (1955) as Captain Wiles
- It's a Dog's Life (1955) as Jeremiah Edward Emmett Augustus Nolan
- Them! (1954) as Dr. Harold Medford
- The Student Prince (1954) as Prof. Juttner
- The Bigamist (1953) as Mr. Jordan
- Mister Scoutmaster (1953) as Dr. Stone
- Les Miserables (1952) as Bishop Courbet
- Bonzo Goes to College (1952) as Coach Ted 'Pop' Drew
- Something for the Birds (1952) as 'Admiral' Johnnie Adams
- Sally and Saint Anne (1952) as Grandpa Pat Ryan
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Self - Narrator
- Peking Express (1951) as Father Joseph Murray
- A Woman of Distinction (1950) as J.D. Middlecott
- Mister 880 (1950) as William "Skipper" Miller
- Louisa (1950) as Mr. Hammond
- For Heaven's Sake (1950) as Arthur
- Pretty Baby (1950) as Cyrus Baxter
- Challenge to Lassie (1949) as John Traill
- Apartment for Peggy (1948) as Prof. Henry C. Barnes
- Hills of Home (1948) as Mr. Milton
- Miracle on 34th Street (1947) as Kris Kringle
- Life with Father (1947) as Rev. Dr. Lloyd
- Thunder in the Valley (1947) as Adam MacAdam
- Green Dolphin Street (1947) as Octavius Patourel
- Undercurrent (1946) as Professor Hamilton
- Of Human Bondage (1946) as Athelny
- Bewitched (1945) as Dr. Bergson
- She Went to the Races (1945) as Dr. Homer Pecke
- Dangerous Partners (1945) as Albert Richard Kingby
- The Keys of the Kingdom (1944) as Fr. Hamish MacNabb
- Between Two Worlds (1944) as Scrubby
- Lassie Come Home (1943) as Rowlie Palmer
- Forever and a Day (1943) as Stubbs
- The Meanest Man in the World (1943) as Frederick P. Leggitt
- The Greatest Gift (1942) as Bartolomé the Juggler
- A Yank at Eton (1942) as Headmaster Justin
- The Devil and Miss Jones (1941) as Hooper
- Cheers for Miss Bishop (1941) as President Corcoran
- One Night In Lisbon (1941) as Lord Fitzleigh
- Charley's Aunt (1941) as Stephen Spettigue
- Scotland Yard (1941) as Insp. Cork
- Foreign Correspondent (1940) as Rowley
- Pride and Prejudice (1940) as Mr. Bennet
- The Doctor Takes a Wife (1940) as Dr. Lionel Sterling
- The Earl of Chicago (1940) as Munsey, the Butler
- An Englishman's Home (1940) as Tom Brown
- Cheer Boys Cheer (1939) as Edward Ironside
- Happy Family (1939) as Dad
- A Yank at Oxford (1938) as Dean of Cardinal
- South Riding (1938) as Alfred Huggins
- Penny Paradise (1938) as Joe Higgins
- Parnell (1937) as Henry Campbell
- Laburnum Grove (1936) as Mr. Radfern
- The Walking Dead (1936) as Dr. Evan Beaumont
- Anthony Adverse (1936) as John Bonnyfeather
- Mad Holiday (1936) as Williams
- All American Chump (1936) as Jeffrey Crane
- Sylvia Scarlett (1935) as Henry Scarlett
- The Bishop Misbehaves (1935) as Bishop
- Father and Son (1935) as John Bolton
- Spring in the Air (1935) as Franz
- Passing Shadows (1934) as David Lawrence
- Waltzes from Vienna (1934) as Johann Strauss, the Elder
- The Admiral's Secret (1934) as Adm. Fitzporter
- Java Head (1934) as Jeremy Ammidon
- Cash (1933) as Edmund Gilbert
- I Was a Spy (1933) as Burgomaster
- Friday the Thirteenth (1933) as Wakefield
- The Good Companions (1933) as Jess Oakroyd
- Channel Crossing (1933) as Trotter
- Early to Bed (1933) as Kruger
- Love on Wheels (1932) as Philpotts
- Condemned to Death (1932) as Banting
- Money for Nothing (1932) as Sir Henry Blossom
- Tell Me Tonight (1932) as Mayor Pategg
- Frail Women (1932) as Jim Willis
- Hindle Wakes (1931) as Chris Hawthorne
- The Skin Game (1931) as Mr. Hornblower
- How He Lied to Her Husband (1931) as Her Husband (Teddy Bompas)
- The Skin Game (1921) as Hornblower
- The Real Thing at Last (1916) as Rupert K. Thunder / Macbeth