Walter Pidgeon

Early life and education Pidgeon was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, the son of Hannah (née Sanborn), a housewife, and Caleb Burpee Pidgeon, a haberdasher.

Pidgeon received his formal education in local schools and at the University of New Brunswick, where he studied law and drama. His university education was interrupted by World War I, when he volunteered with the 65th Battery as a lieutenant in the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery. He never saw action, and some sources indicate that he was severely injured in an accident when he was crushed between two gun carriages and spent 17 months in a military hospital. His medical records suggest that his active service was ended by a hernia.

Following the war, he moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where he worked as a bank runner, at the same time studying voice at the Boston Conservatory.

Career While he was performing in amateur theatricals in Boston, Pidgeon was hired by producer, actress and singer Elsie Janis, who was seeking a male singer for her revue. Pidgeon moved to New York City in 1923, where he was interviewed by E.E. Clive, a British producer working on Broadway. Pidgeon made his featured Broadway debut in Janis' 1925 revue Puzzles of 1925.

Personal life In 1919, Pidgeon wed Edna Muriel Pickles, who died during the birth of their daughter Edna (1921–1978). In 1931, Pidgeon married his secretary Ruth Walker, to whom he remained married until his death.

Pidgeon became a United States citizen on December 24, 1943.

Death Pidgeon died on September 25, 1984, in Santa Monica, California, following a series of strokes.

Pidgeon has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6414 Hollywood Boulevard.

Complete filmography Year Film Role Director Notes 1926 Mannequin Martin Innesbrook James Cruze The Outsider Basil Owen Rowland V. Lee Lost film Old Loves and New Clyde Lord Geradine Maurice Tourneur Lost film Miss Nobody Bravo Lambert Hillyer Lost film Marriage License? Paul Frank Borzage 1927 The Heart of Salome Monte Carroll Victor Schertzinger Lost film The Girl from Rio Paul Sinclair Tom Terriss The Thirteenth Juror Richard Marsden Edward Laemmle The Gorilla Stevens Alfred Santell 1928 The Gateway of the Moon Arthur Wyatt John Griffith Wray Lost film Woman Wise United States Consul Albert Ray Lost film Turn Back the Hours Philip Drake Howard Bretherton Clothes Make the Woman Victor Trent Tom Terriss Melody of Love Jack Clark Arch Heath Lost film 1929 The Voice Within Her Private Life Ned Thayer Alexander Korda A Most Immoral Lady Tony Williams John Griffith Wray 1930 Showgirl in Hollywood Himself – Premiere Emcee Mervyn LeRoy Uncredited Bride of the Regiment Col. Vultow John Francis Dillon Lost film Sweet Kitty Bellairs Lord Varney Alfred E. Green The Gorilla Arthur Marsden Bryan Foy Lost film Viennese Nights Franz von Renner Alan Crosland Going Wild 'Ace' Benton William A. Seiter 1931 Kiss Me Again Paul de St. Cyr William A. Seiter The Hot Heiress Clay Clarence G. Badger 1932 Rockabye Al Howard George Cukor 1933 The Kiss Before the Mirror Lucy's Lover James Whale 1934 Journal of a Crime Florestan William Keighley Good Badminton Walter 1936 Big Brown Eyes Richard Morey Raoul Walsh Fatal Lady David Roberts Edward Ludwig 1937 She's Dangerous Dr. Scott Logan Lewis R. Foster Girl Overboard Paul Stacey Sidney Salkow As Good as Married Fraser James Edward Buzzell Saratoga Hartley Madison Jack Conway My Dear Miss Aldrich Ken Morley George B. Seitz A Girl with Ideas Mickey McGuire S. Sylvan Simon 1938 Man-Proof Alan Wythe Richard Thorpe The Girl of the Golden West Jack Rance Robert Z. Leonard The Shopworn Angel Sam Bailey H.C. Potter Too Hot to Handle William O. "Bill" Dennis Jack Conway Listen, Darling Richard Thurlow Edwin L. Marin 1939 Society Lawyer Christopher Durant Edwin L. Marin 6,000 Enemies Steve Donegan George B. Seitz Stronger Than Desire Tyler Flagg Leslie Fenton Nick Carter, Master Detective Nick Carter / Robert Chalmers Jacques Tourneur 1940 I Take This Woman Phil Mayberry Scenes deleted The House Across the Bay Tim Alfred Hitchcock (Uncredited) It's a Date John Arlen William A. Seiter Dark Command William 'Will' Cantrell Raoul Walsh Phantom Raiders Nick Carter Jacques Tourneur Sky Murder Nick Carter George B. Seitz Flight Command Squadron Cmdr. Billy Gary Frank Borzage 1941 Man Hunt Captain Alan Thorndike Fritz Lang Blossoms in the Dust Sam Gladney Mervyn LeRoy How Green Was My Valley Mr. Gruffydd John Ford Design for Scandal Jeff Sherman Norman Taurog 1942 Mrs. Miniver Clem Miniver William Wyler White Cargo Harry Witzel Richard Thorpe 1943 The Youngest Profession Himself Edward Buzzell Madame Curie Pierre Curie Mervyn LeRoy 1944 Mrs. Parkington Major Augustus 'Gus' Parkington Tay Garnett 1945 Week-End at the Waldorf Chip Collyer Robert Z. Leonard 1946 Holiday in Mexico Jeffrey Evans George Sidney The Secret Heart Chris Matthews Robert Z. Leonard 1947 Cass Timberlane Himself – Party Guest George Sidney Uncredited If Winter Comes Mark Sabre Victor Saville 1948 Julia Misbehaves William Sylvester Packett Jack Conway Command Decision Major General Roland Goodlaw Kane Sam Wood 1949 The Red Danube Col. Michael S. "Hooky" Nicobar George Sidney That Forsyte Woman Young Jolyon Forsyte Compton Bennett 1950 The Miniver Story Clem Miniver H.C. Potter 1951 Soldiers Three Col. Brunswick Tay Garnett Calling Bulldog Drummond Maj. Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond Victor Saville Quo Vadis Narrator Mervyn LeRoy Voice, uncredited The Unknown Man Dwight Bradley Masen Richard Thorpe 1952 The Sellout Haven D. Allridge Gerald Mayer Million Dollar Mermaid Frederick Kellerman Mervyn LeRoy The Bad and the Beautiful Harry Pebbel Vincente Minnelli 1953 Scandal at Scourie Patrick J. McChesney Jean Negulesco Dream Wife Walter McBride Sidney Sheldon 1954 Executive Suite Frederick Y. Alderson Robert Wise Men of the Fighting Lady Comdr. Kent Dowling Andrew Marton The Last Time I Saw Paris James Ellswirth Richard Brooks Deep in My Heart J.J. Shubert Stanley Donen 1955 Hit the Deck Rear Adm. Daniel Xavier Smith Roy Rowland The Glass Slipper Narrator Charles Walters Voice, uncredited 1956 Forbidden Planet Dr. Morbius Fred M. Wilcox These Wilder Years James Rayburn Roy Rowland The Rack Col. Edward W. Hall, Sr. Arnold Laven 1958 Swiss Family Robinson Father 1959 Meet Me in St. Louis Mr. Alonzo Smith TV Movie 1961 Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Adm. Harriman Nelson Irwin Allen 1962 Advise and Consent Senate Majority Leader Otto Preminger Big Red James Haggin Norman Tokar 1963 The Two Colonels Colonello Timothy Henderson Steno The Shortest Day Ernest Hemingway Sergio Corbucci Uncredited Anniversary Narrator 1964 Mr. Kingston 1965 Cinderella King Ralph Nelson 1967 How I Spent My Summer Vacation Lewis Gannet Warning Shot Orville Ames Buzz Kulik 1968 The Vatican Affair Professor Herbert Cummings Emilio Miraglia Funny Girl Florenz Ziegfeld William Wyler 1969 Rascal Sterling North Norman Tokar Voice 1970 House on Greenapple Road Mayor Jack Parker Robert Day The Mask of Sheba Dr. Max van Condon David Lowell Rich 1972 The Screaming Woman Dr. Amos Larkin Jack Smight Skyjacked Sen. Arne Lindner John Guillermin 1973 The Neptune Factor Dr. Samuel Andrews Daniel Petrie Harry in Your Pocket Casey Bruce Geller 1974 Live Again, Die Again Thomas Carmichael Richard A. Colla The Girl on the Late, Late Show John Pahlman Gary Nelson 1975 You Lie So Deep, My Love Uncle Joe Padway David Lowell Rich Murder on Flight 502 Charlie Parkins George McCowan 1976 The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case Judge Trenchard Buzz Kulik Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood Grayson's Butler Michael Winner Two-Minute Warning The Pickpocket Larry Peerce 1978 Sextette The Chairman Ken Hughes

Radio appearances Year Program Episode/source 1946 Lux Radio Theatre Mrs. Parkington 1946 Lux Radio Theatre Together Again 1952 Screen Guild Theatre "Heaven Can Wait" 1953 Lux Radio Theatre The People Against O'Hara