Born: February 27, 1905 – Died: September 18, 1968
Franchot Tone, born on February 27, 1905, in Niagara Falls, New York, was a charismatic actor who left behind a family business to pursue a career in entertainment. He first stepped into the limelight as the President of the Dramatic Club at Cornell University and later graced Broadway in "The Age of Innocence." Transitioning to the silver screen screen, he made his film debut in 1932's "The Wiser Sex" under Paramount Pictures. With his theatrical background, Tone seamlessly transitioned into Hollywood and became renowned as one of its most gifted actors. His contributions to the entertainment industry are still celebrated today.
Early Life and Career
Franchot Tone had an interesting journey from Niagara Falls to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Raised in a family with a business background, he defied convention and chose to follow his passion for acting. He honed his skills while attending Cornell University, where he was not only a student but also served as the President of the Dramatic Club. While at Cornell, Tone majored in drama, setting the stage for his future career.
His first foray into professional acting came on Broadway in the play "The Age of Innocence." This marked his initial step into the world of entertainment, and it was clear that he had a promising future ahead. However, it was his leap into the world of cinema with his debut film "The Wiser Sex" in 1932, courtesy of Paramount Pictures, that truly launched his film career.
As he continued to showcase his talent, Tone's breakthrough moment arrived when he starred in "Dangerous" in 1935, a role that earned him an Oscar nomination. This accolade solidified his status as a remarkable actor in Hollywood. Over the years, he went on to win various awards and nominations, leaving an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.
In his personal life, Tone was known for his romantic relationships, including a marriage to Dolores Dorn from 1956 to 1959. He had a rich and diverse career, not only as an actor but also as a producer and director. While he faced personal challenges and controversies, his dedication to his craft remained unwavering.
Franchot Tone is remembered as an iconic figure in Hollywood, known for his exceptional talent and contributions to the entertainment world. His legacy continues to inspire and influence aspiring actors, making him a celebrated name in the annals of cinema history.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | The High Commissioner | Ambassador Townsend |
| 1968 | Shadow Over Elveron (TV Movie) | Barney Conners |
| 1967 | Run for Your Life (TV Series) | Judge Taliaferro Wilson |
| 1962–1966 | Ben Casey (TV Series) | Dr. Daniel Niles Freeland | Robert Ashton |
| 1965 | Mickey One | Ruby Lapp |
| 1965 | In Harm's Way | CINCPAC I |
| 1965 | The Virginian (TV Series) | Murdock |
| 1965 | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (TV Series) | Rudolph Bitzner |
| 1964 | Festival (TV Series) | Solness |
| 1964 | The Reporter (TV Series) | Jay Jay Jordan |
| 1964 | See How They Run (TV Movie) | Baron Frood |
| 1962–1964 | The DuPont Show of the Week (TV Series) | Sen. Grady Lyons | Inspector |
| 1964 | La bonne soupe | John K. Montasy Jr |
| 1962 | The Eleventh Hour (TV Series) | Leo Haynes |
| 1962 | Advise & Consent | The President |
| 1962 | Wagon Train (TV Series) | Malachi Hobart |
| 1961 | Witchcraft (TV Movie) | Your Host |
| 1961 | The Twilight Zone (TV Series) | Col. Archie Taylor |
| 1960 | Bonanza (TV Series) | Denver McKee |
| 1956–1960 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) | Mark Twain | Avery Yarbrough | Raymond ... |
| 1960 | Goodyear Theatre (TV Series) | Martin Galt |
| 1959 | The DuPont Show of the Month (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1959 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) | Oliver Mathews |
| 1958 | Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV Series) | Candy Lombe |
| 1958 | Pursuit (TV Series) | The Father |
| 1958 | Armchair Theatre (TV Series) | Joe |
| 1958 | Bitter Heritage (TV Movie) | Frank James |
| 1950–1958 | Studio One (TV Series) | Bill Gibson | Douglas Thompson | Rev. Lockman ... |
| 1957 | Uncle Vanya | Dr. Mikhail Lvovich Astroff |
| 1954–1957 | Climax! (TV Series) | Kurt Baumann | Scott Malone | Dr. Ken Jaynes ... |
| 1956–1957 | The Alcoa Hour (TV Series) | Prince | Sheriff Converse |
| 1957 | The Kaiser Aluminum Hour (TV Series) | Arthur Baldwin |
| 1956 | The Little Foxes (TV Movie) | Horace |
| 1954–1956 | The United States Steel Hour (TV Series) | Armstrong | Sandy Morton | Charles Burnett |
| 1956 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) | Charles Proteus Steinmetz |
| 1956 | Omnibus (TV Series) | Mr. Dearth (segment) |
| 1955 | Playwrights '56 (TV Series) | Jason |
| 1955 | Robert Montgomery Presents (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1955 | Four Star Playhouse (TV Series) | Ben |
| 1955 | The Best of Broadway (TV Series) | Actor |
| 1955 | The Ford Television Theatre (TV Series) | Mike Ramsay |
| 1955 | The Elgin Hour (TV Series) | Will L'Hommedieu |
| 1953 | The Philip Morris Playhouse (TV Series) | Dr. Henry Foustka |
| 1953 | The Revlon Mirror Theater (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1953 | Hollywood Opening Night (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1950–1952 | Suspense (TV Series) | Markheim | The Reporter |
| 1952 | Tales of Tomorrow (TV Series) | Martenson | André Lapalme |
| 1952 | Lights Out (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1951 | Here Comes the Groom | Wilbur Stanley |
| 1951 | Starlight Theatre (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1951 | Danger (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1950 | Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) | Meredith Whitehouse |
| 1950 | The Philco Television Playhouse (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1949 | The Man on the Eiffel Tower | Johann Radek |
| 1949 | Without Honor | Dennis Williams |
| 1949 | Jigsaw | Howard Malloy |
| 1948 | Every Girl Should Be Married | Roger Sanford |
| 1948 | I Love Trouble | Stuart Bailey |
| 1947 | Her Husband's Affairs | William Weldon |
| 1947 | Honeymoon | David Flanner |
| 1947 | Lost Honeymoon | Johnny Gray |
| 1946 | Because of Him | Paul Taylor |
| 1945 | That Night with You | Paul Renaud |
| 1944 | Dark Waters | Dr. George Grover |
| 1944 | The Hour Before the Dawn | Jim Hetherton |
| 1944 | Phantom Lady | John 'Jack' Marlow |
| 1943 | True to Life | Fletcher Marvin |
| 1943 | His Butler's Sister | Charles Gerard |
| 1943 | Pilot #5 | Lieutenant George Braynor Collins |
| 1943 | Five Graves to Cairo | Cpl. John J. Bramble | Paul Davos |
| 1942 | Star Spangled Rhythm | John in Card-Playing Skit |
| 1942 | The Wife Takes a Flyer | Christopher Reynolds |
| 1941 | This Woman Is Mine | Robert Stevens |
| 1941 | She Knew All the Answers | Mark Willows |
| 1941 | Nice Girl? | Richard Calvert |
| 1940 | Trail of the Vigilantes | Kansas (Tim Mason) |
| 1939 | Fast and Furious | Joel Sloane |
| 1938 | The Girl Downstairs | Paul Wagner |
| 1938 | Three Loves Has Nancy | Robert 'Bob' Hanson |
| 1938 | Three Comrades | Otto Koster |
| 1938 | Love Is a Headache | Peter Lawrence |
| 1938 | Man-Proof | Jimmy Kilmartin |
| 1937 | The Bride Wore Red | Giulio |
| 1937 | Between Two Women | Dr. Allan Meighan |
| 1937 | They Gave Him a Gun | James 'Jimmy' Davis |
| 1937 | Quality Street | Dr. Valentine Brown |
| 1936 | Love on the Run | Barnabus Pells |
| 1936 | The Gorgeous Hussy | John Eaton |
| 1936 | Suzy | Terry Moore |
| 1936 | The King Steps Out | Emperor Franz Josef |
| 1936 | The Unguarded Hour | Sir Alan Dearden |
| 1936 | Exclusive Story | Dick Barton |
| 1935 | Dangerous | Don Bellows |
| 1935 | Mutiny on the Bounty | Roger Byam |
| 1935 | No More Ladies | Jim Salston |
| 1935 | Reckless | Bob Harrison |
| 1935 | One New York Night | Foxhall Ridgeway |
| 1935 | The Lives of a Bengal Lancer | Lt. John Forsythe |
| 1934 | Gentlemen Are Born | Bob Bailey |
| 1934 | Straight Is the Way | Benny Horowitz |
| 1934 | The Girl from Missouri | Thomas Randall Paige Jr. |
| 1934 | The World Moves On | Richard Girard - 1825 | Richard Girard - 1914 |
| 1934 | Sadie McKee | Michael |
| 1934 | Moulin Rouge | Douglas Hall |
| 1933 | Dancing Lady | Tod Newton |
| 1933 | Bombshell | Gifford Middleton |
| 1933 | Stage Mother | Warren Foster |
| 1933 | The Stranger's Return | Guy Crane |
| 1933 | Midnight Mary | Tom |
| 1933 | Gabriel Over the White House | Hartley Beekman - Secretary to the President |
| 1933 | Today We Live | Lieutenant Ronnie Boyce-Smith |
| 1932 | The Wiser Sex | Phil Long |
