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Eric Alexander Rennie better known as Michael Rennie was born on August 25th 1909 in
Bradford, West Yorkshire England, His parents were wool mill owner, James Alexander Rennie,
and his English wife Edith Amelia Dobby. Michael was educated at the Leys School, Cambridge.
At the age of 26 in 1935 Rennie decided on a career in theater. Eventually becoming
a television and stage actor, who had leading roles in several British and Hollywood films.
In a career spanning more than 30 years, Rennie appeared in more than 50 films
and in several American television series. Michael Rennie was 6' 4" tall and adopted a
nearly perfect "mid-Atlantic accent" that could easily be understood by American
as well as British audiences which resulted in people thinking he was Canadian.
Michael appeared in several British films before the war including Secret Agent
and Conquest of the air in 1936, The divorce of Lady X in 1938 and Turned out
nice again with George Formby in 1941 among others in mostly uncredited minor roles.
Rennie joined the RAF in 1941, training as a fighter pilot in the US. While in Alabama,
for his advanced flight training he was asked by a fellow trainee, Jack Morton, what he did
in civilian life. Rennie told Morton and the other pilots gathered around that he was a movie actor.
They stared at him in disbelief, then broke out in laughter. A couple of nights later Rennie
and his classmates went into town to watch the movie, Ships with Wings. Much to the surprise
of those seated with him, Rennie appeared on the screen as Royal Navy pilot Lt. Maxwell.
After the war Rennie found more success in films like I’ll be your sweetheart and Caesar and
Cleopatra both in 1945. By 1950 Michael Rennie was signed to a contract with 20th century fox.
After Claude Rains turned down the part, Rennie received the starring role in the
film, The Day the Earth Stood Still in 1951. Set in the Cold War during the early stages of
the nuclear arms race, the film's storyline involves an alien visitor named Klaatu
who comes to Earth, with a powerful robot named Gort, to deliver an important message
that will affect the entire world. This postwar science-fiction film was Michael’s
most famous role and ensured that he would have a lasting impact on cinema.
Michael Rennie’s other notable credits include appearances in the films Les Miserable and Five
Fingers in 1952, The Robe as the apostle Peter in 1953 and the sequel Demitrius and
the Gladiators in 1954, Seven Cities of gold in 1955, The Lost world in 1960, Mary, Mary in 1963
and The Devil’s Brigade in 1968 to name a few. On TV he was seen in the series The Third Man
starring as Harry Lime, Route 66, Perry Mason, Bonanza, as the villain Sandman on Batman,
The man from uncle, Lost in Space, The time tunnel and the Invaders.
Rennie was married twice: first to Joan England from 1938 to 1945 then to actress Maggie McGrath
from 1947 to 1960 they had a son named David. He also had a son named John Marshall born in
1944 with his longtime friend and mistress, Renée Gilbert.
A heavy smoker, Rennie had respiratory problems for many years.
Many of his later films had to be over dubbed due to his weak speaking voice.
After leaving Hollywood, he travelled to his mother's home in Harrogate, Yorkshire,
Sadly It was there that he died suddenly of an aortic aneurysm on June 10th 1971. He was
only 61 years old. He was cremated and his ashes were interred in Harlow Hill Cemetery, Harrogate.
And remember his message and tell Gort Klaatu barada nikto.