Born: February 19, 1893 – Died: August 6, 1964
Sir Cedric Hardwicke, a venerable figure in the annals of film and stage acting, was born in Lye, England. His early years were marked by his education at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, setting the stage for a remarkable career. His parents' backgrounds and details about his siblings, though not widely publicized, played a role in his upbringing.
Early Life and Career
Hardwicke's journey in the performing arts began with his stage debut in 1912, a path briefly interrupted by his military service during World War I. Returning to the stage in 1922 with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, he quickly established himself as a formidable actor. His portrayal of Caesar in "Caesar and Cleopatra" was a turning point, leading him to the London stage.
Hardwicke's first major role in the film industry came with his performance in "Wuthering Heights" (1939), which received critical acclaim and set the tone for a series of successful appearances. His most iconic role was perhaps as Sethi in "The Ten Commandments" (1956), which cemented his status as a Hollywood mainstay.
Throughout his career, Hardwicke was recognized for his contributions to the arts, including being knighted in 1934, a rare honor for an actor at that time. He also ventured into directing and producing, showcasing his versatility in the industry.
In his personal life, Hardwicke was married to Mary Scott from 1950 to 1961, and they had one child, Edward Hardwicke. His life was not without its challenges, as his final years were marked by financial difficulties due to extensive hospital bills.
Sir Cedric Hardwicke's legacy in Hollywood and on stage is characterized by his distinguished presence, rich baritone voice, and his ability to bring depth to a wide range of characters. He is remembered as a trailblazer who set high standards for character acting and left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. His unique blend of talent and charisma makes him an iconic figure in the realm of acting.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | The Pumpkin Eater | Jo's Father |
| 1964 | The Outer Limits (TV Series) | Colus (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1964 | The Unknown (TV Movie) | Colas |
| 1963 | The Twilight Zone (TV Series) | Uncle Simon Polk |
| 1963 | Burke's Law (TV Series) | John Busch (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1962 | Five Weeks in a Balloon | Fergusson |
| 1961–1962 | The Gertrude Berg Show (TV Series) | Professor Crayton | Prof. Crayton |
| 1961 | Golden Showcase (TV Series) | Narrator |
| 1961 | The Magic Fountain | Narrator |
| 1958–1960 | The Red Skelton Hour (TV Series) | Company Vice President J.R. Williams | Dr. Umlauf |
| 1960 | Our American Heritage (TV Series) | Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. |
| 1960 | Sunday Showcase (TV Series) | Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. |
| 1960 | The United States Steel Hour (TV Series) | Lowell Chalmers |
| 1959 | The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series) | Koichi Asano - Character in Scene from 'A Majority of One' |
| 1958 | Studio One (TV Series) | Sir Alaric (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1957 | Baby Face Nelson | Doc Saunders (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1957 | Mr. Adams and Eve (TV Series) | Gerald Fortescue |
| 1957 | The DuPont Show of the Month (TV Series) | Lord Hertford |
| 1957 | The Story of Mankind | High Judge |
| 1956–1957 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) | John Anderson | Mr. Princey (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1955–1957 | Climax! (TV Series) | Dr, Martin Crandall | Danielson | Clifton Lattimer ... |
| 1956–1957 | Matinee Theatre (TV Series) | Canon Skerritt | Mr. Krane |
| 1956 | Around the World in 80 Days | Sir Francis Cromarty - Bombay to Calcutta Train (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1956 | The Ten Commandments | Sethi (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1956 | The Power and the Prize | Mr. Carew (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1956 | The Vagabond King | Tristan (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1956 | Gaby | Mr. Edgar Carrington (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1956 | Producers' Showcase (TV Series) | Julius Caesar (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1956 | Helen of Troy | Priam (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1956 | Four Star Playhouse (TV Series) | Sir George (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1956 | Diane | Ruggieri |
| 1955 | Richard III (TV Short) | King Edward IV of England (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1955 | Richard III | King Edward IV of England |
| 1955 | TV Reader's Digest (TV Series) | Martin Archer-Shee |
| 1955 | Cameo Theatre (TV Series) | The Inca |
| 1955 | Front Row Center (TV Series) | Edward Barrett (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1955 | The Elgin Hour (TV Series) | August Draper |
| 1953–1954 | The Motorola Television Hour (TV Series) | Dr. Hawkins | The Golux |
| 1954 | Bait | Prologue Speaker (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1953 | Armstrong Circle Theatre (TV Series) | (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1953 | Suspense (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1952–1953 | Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series) | John O'Fell (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1953 | Robert Montgomery Presents (TV Series) | (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1953 | Medallion Theatre (TV Series) | Inspector Grodman |
| 1953 | The War of the Worlds | Commentary (voice, as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1953 | Salome | Tiberius Caesar (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1953 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1952 | The Adventures of Fu Manchu: The Zayat Kiss (TV Movie) | Dr. Dennis Nayland Smith |
| 1952 | Botany Bay | Gov. Phillips (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1952 | Omnibus (TV Series) | Judge (segment "The Trial of Mr. Pickwick") |
| 1952 | Caribbean | Captain Francis Barclay (as Sir Cedrick Hardwicke) |
| 1952 | Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) | Robert Malcolm (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1952 | Betty Crocker Star Matinee (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1952 | The Green Glove | Father Goron |
| 1951 | The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel | Dr. Karl Strolin |
| 1951 | Mr. Imperium | Bernand (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1950 | The White Tower | Dr. Nicholas Radcliffe (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1949 | Now Barabbas | Governor (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1949 | A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court | King Arthur | Lord Pendragon (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1948 | The Winslow Boy | Arthur Winslow (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1948 | Rope | Mr. Kentley (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1948 | I Remember Mama | Mr. Jonahan Hyde (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1948 | Song of My Heart | Grand Duke |
| 1948 | A Woman's Vengeance | Dr. James Libbard |
| 1947 | Tycoon | Alexander (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1947 | Lured | Julian Wilde (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1947 | Ivy | Police Inspector Orpington (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1947 | The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby | Ralph Nickleby |
| 1946 | The Imperfect Lady | Lord Belmont (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1946 | Beware of Pity | Dr. Albert Condor |
| 1946 | Sentimental Journey | Dr. Jim Miller (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1945 | The Picture of Dorian Gray | Narrator (voice, uncredited) |
| 1944 | The Keys of the Kingdom | Monsignor at Tweedside (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1944 | Three Sisters of the Moors (Short) | Reverend Bronte |
| 1944 | Wilson | Senator Henry Cabot Lodge (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1944 | Wing and a Prayer | Admiral (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1944 | The Lodger | Robert Bonting (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1943 | The Cross of Lorraine | Father Sebastian (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1943 | The Moon Is Down | Col. Lanser |
| 1943 | Forever and a Day | Mr. Dabb |
| 1942 | Commandos Strike at Dawn | Admiral Bowen (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1942 | Invisible Agent | Conrad Stauffer (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1942 | The Ghost of Frankenstein | Ludwig Frankenstein | Ghost of Henry Frankenstein (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1942 | Valley of the Sun | Lord Warrick (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1941 | Suspicion | General McLaidlaw (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1941 | Sundown | Bishop Coombes (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1940 | Victory | Mr. Jones |
| 1940 | The Howards of Virginia | Fleetwood Peyton (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1940 | Tom Brown's School Days | Dr. Thomas Arnold (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1940 | The Invisible Man Returns | Richard Cobb (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1939 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame | Frollo (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1939 | Stanley and Livingstone | Dr. David Livingstone (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1939 | On Borrowed Time | Mr. Brink (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1937 | King Solomon's Mines | Allan Quartermain |
| 1937 | Green Light | Dean Harcourt (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1936 | Laburnum Grove | Mr. Baxley |
| 1936 | Nine Days a Queen | Earl of Warwick |
| 1936 | Things to Come | Theotocopulos |
| 1935 | Peg of Old Drury | David Garrick (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke also) |
| 1935 | Becky Sharp | Marquis of Steyne |
| 1935 | Les Misérables | Bishop Bienvenue (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) |
| 1934 | The King of Paris | Max Till |
| 1934 | Bella Donna | Dr. Meyer Isaacson |
| 1934 | Power | Rabbi Gabriel |
| 1934 | Nell Gwyn | Charles II |
| 1934 | The Lady Is Willing | Gustav Dupont |
| 1933 | The Ghoul | Broughton |
| 1933 | Orders Is Orders | Brigadier |
| 1932 | Rome Express | Alistair McBane |
| 1931 | The Dreyfus Case | Capt. Alfred Dreyfus |
| 1926 | Nelson | Horatio Nelson |
| 1913 | Riches and Rogues (Short) | Six Characters |
