Rex Harrison adopted his stage name at the age of 10, which he chose for himself.
He won his first Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role as Henry VIII in "Anne of the Thousand Days" in 1949.
His film debut was in the 1930 movie "The Great Game," marking the start of a prolific film career.
Biography
Early Life
Sir Reginald Carey Harrison, known as Rex Harrison, was born on March 5, 1908, in Huyton, Lancashire, England. He was the youngest of three children in a family where his father, William Reginald Harrison, worked as a cotton broker. From a young age, Harrison showed a passion for acting, participating in school plays and frequently visiting the Liverpool Playhouse. His early life was marked by a significant health challenge, as he lost most of the sight in his left eye due to childhood measles.
Career
Harrison's professional acting career began at the age of 16 when he debuted at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1924. He gained recognition in 1936 with his West End debut in Terence Rattigan's "French Without Tears," which established him as a leading light comedian. His career flourished post-World War II, highlighted by his Tony Award-winning performances in "Anne of the Thousand Days" and the iconic role of Professor Henry Higgins in the 1956 Broadway musical "My Fair Lady," which solidified his status as a theatrical superstar. Harrison's film career also took off, with notable roles in classics such as "Blithe Spirit" and "Major Barbara."
Personal Life
Rex Harrison's personal life was as dramatic as his career. He was married six times, with his second wife, actress Lilli Palmer, being a significant figure in his life. Their marriage was marked by both professional collaboration and personal turmoil, including Harrison's affair with actress Carole Landis, which ended tragically when Landis took her own life. Despite the scandals, Harrison's charm and talent kept him in the public eye until his passing in 1990, leaving behind a legacy as one of Britain's most celebrated actors.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
My Fair Lady2010
- 1.Overture3:02
- 2.Why Can't The English?2:41
- 3.Wouldn't It Be Loverly3:58
- 4.With a Little Bit of Luck4:08
- 5.I'm an Ordinary Man4:39
- 6.Just You Wait2:42
- 7.The Rain in Spain2:41
- 8.I Could Have Danced All Night3:30
- 9.Ascot Gavotte3:15
- 10.On The Street Where You Live2:56
- 11.You Did It4:23
- 12.Show Me2:12
- 13.Get Me To The Church on Time2:43
- 14.A Hymn To Him3:31
- 15.Without You2:03
- 16.I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face4:05
- 17.With A Little Bit Of Luck2:16
- 18.Wouldn't It Be Loverly?3:58
- 19.I'm An Ordinary Man2:59
- 20.Rain In Spain2:29
- 21.I Could Have Danced All Night3:39
- 22.On The Street Where You Live3:38
- 23.I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face3:27
- 24.Get Me To The Church On Time2:33
My Fair Lady (Original 1956 Broadway Cast)1998
- 1.Overture2:59
- 2.Why Can’t the English?2:39
- 3.Wouldn’t It Be Loverly3:56
- 4.With a Little Bit of Luck4:07
- 5.I’m an Ordinary Man4:38
- 6.Just You Wait2:41
- 7.The Rain In Spain2:39
- 8.I Could Have Danced All Night3:29
- 9.Ascot Gavotte3:14
- 10.On the Street Where You Live2:57
- 11.You Did It4:21
- 12.Show Me2:11
- 13.Get Me to the Church On Time2:42
- 14.A Hymn to Him3:29
- 15.Without You2:01
- 16.I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face5:15
- 17.A Post‐Recording Conversation (Bonus Track)4:11
- 18.Playback: Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe (Bonus Track)5:01
Gallery
Achievements
- Award
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play
- Award
- Academy Award for Best Actor
- Award
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical
- Award
- Knight Bachelor
- Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Award
- David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actor
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Sir Reginald Carey Harrison was an English actor. Harrison began his career on the stage at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1924. He made his West End debut in 1936 appearing in the Terence Rattigan play French Without Tears, in what was his breakthrough role. He won his first Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance as Henry VIII in the Broadway play Anne of the Thousand Days in 1949. He returned to Broadway portraying Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (1956) where he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
All links
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
…