Leslie Howard
Biography
Leslie Howard Steiner was born on 3 April 1893 in Forest Hill, London, England, and died on 1 June 1943 at the age of 50. An English actor, director, producer and writer, he contributed stories and articles to The New York Times, The New Yorker and Vanity Fair. Howard became one of the leading box‑office attractions of the 1930s, working in both Britain and Hollywood. He is remembered for portraying Ashley Wilkes in Gone with the Wind (1939) and for roles that emphasized the quintessential Englishman in films such as Berkeley Square (1933), Of Human Bondage (1934), The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934), The Petrified Forest (1936), Pygmalion (1938), Intermezzo (1939), “Pimpernel” Smith (1941) and The First of the Few (1942). He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Career overview
Leslie Howard Steiner, born on 3 April 1893 in Forest Hill, London, built a transatlantic acting career that spanned the 1920s through the early 1940s. After establishing himself on the British stage, he moved to Hollywood where he became one of the era’s most popular screen figures. His early film work included the period drama Berkeley Square (1933) and the literary adaptation Of Human Bondage (1934). In the same year he portrayed the heroic lead in The Scarlet Pimpernel, a role that reinforced his reputation for playing the quintessential English gentleman.
Howard continued to appear in high‑profile productions throughout the decade. He was cast in the adventure film The Petrified Forest (1936) and delivered a celebrated performance as Professor Henry Higgins in the film version of Pygmalion (1938). The following year he co‑starred with Ingrid Bergman in Intermezzo (1939) and took the part of Ashley Wilkes in the epic Gone with the Wind (1939). His later wartime work included the anti‑Nazism thriller "Pimpernel" Smith (1941) and the aviation drama The First of the Few (1942). Recognised as a major box‑office draw of the 1930s, Howard remained active in both British and American cinema until his death on 1 June 1943.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
61 titles- Gone with the Wind – Makeup and Wardrobe Tests (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- Churchill and the Movie Mogul (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored (2013) as Self (archive footage)
- Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema (2007) as Self (archive footage)
- The Petrified Forest: Menace in the Desert (2005) as Self (archive footage)
- Melanie Remembers: Reflections by Olivia de Havilland (2004) as Himself (archive footage)
- Complicated Women (2003) as Self (archive footage)
- Vivien Leigh: A Delicate Balance (2000) as Self (archive footage)
- Glorious Technicolor (1998) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- Bogart: The Untold Story (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- Ingrid Bergman Remembered (1996) as Self (archive footage)
- The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind (1988) as Self (archive footage)
- South of Reno (1988)
- Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984) as (archive footage)
- Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- MGM Parade (1955)
- The Lamp Still Burns (1943) Producer
- The Gentle Sex (1943) as Narrator (voice)
- The Gentle Sex (1943) Director
- The Gentle Sex (1943) Producer
- In Which We Serve (1942) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- The First of the Few (1942) as R.J. Mitchell
- The First of the Few (1942) Director
- The First of the Few (1942) Producer
- The White Eagle (1942) as Narrator (voice)
- Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10) (1942) as Self (archive footage)
- 49th Parallel (1941) as Philip Armstrong Scott
- "Pimpernel" Smith (1941) as Professor Horatio Smith
- "Pimpernel" Smith (1941) Director
- "Pimpernel" Smith (1941) Producer
- From the Four Corners (1941) as Himself (as A Passer-By)
- From the Four Corners (1941) Writer
- Gone with the Wind (1939) as Ashley Wilkes
- Intermezzo: A Love Story (1939) as Holger Brandt
- Intermezzo: A Love Story (1939) Associate Producer
- Pygmalion (1938) as Henry Higgins
- Pygmalion (1938) Director
- Stand-In (1937) as Atterbury Dodd
- It's Love I'm After (1937) as Basil Underwood
- The Petrified Forest (1936) as Alan Squier
- Romeo and Juliet (1936) as Romeo
- Breakdowns of 1936 (1936) as Self
- Master Will Shakespeare (1936) as Romeo (uncredited)
- British Agent (1934) as Stephen 'Steve' Locke
- Of Human Bondage (1934) as Philip Carey
- The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934) as Sir Percy Blakeney / The Scarlet Pimpernel
- The Lady Is Willing (1934) as Albert Latour
- Secrets (1933) as John Carlton
- Berkeley Square (1933) as Peter Standish
- Captured! (1933) as Captain Fred Allison
- The Animal Kingdom (1932) as Tom
- Smilin' Through (1932) as Sir John Carteret
- Service for Ladies (1932) as Max Tracey
- A Free Soul (1931) as Dwight Winthrop
- Five and Ten (1931) as Berry Rhodes
- Never the Twain Shall Meet (1931) as Dan
- Devotion (1931) as David Trent
- Outward Bound (1930) as Tom Prior
- Bookworms (1920) as Richard
- The Bump (1920) Producer
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Leslie Howard best known for?
Leslie Howard is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Glorious Technicolor (1998), The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind (1988), MGM Parade (1955), Macross 7 (1994).
When and where was Leslie Howard born?
Leslie Howard was born on April 3, 1893 in Forest Hill, London, England, UK. They passed away on June 1, 1943.
How many credits does Leslie Howard have?
Leslie Howard has accumulated over 61 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1920 to 2020.
What is Leslie Howard's background in cinema and television?
Leslie Howard Steiner was born on 3 April 1893 in Forest Hill, London, England, and died on 1 June 1943 at the age of 50. An English actor, director, producer and writer, he contributed stories and articles to The New York Times, The New Yorker and Vanity Fair. Howard became one of the leading box‑office attractions of...