Born: April 5, 1900 – Died: June 10, 1967
The Golden Age of Hollywood was graced with many stars, but few shone as brightly as Spencer Tracy. Born in the bustling city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on April 5, 1900, Spencer was the second son of John Edward Tracy, a truck salesman, and Caroline Brown Tracy. His upbringing, marked by the everyday American life of the early 20th century, set the stage for a legacy in the entertainment industry that few could rival.
Early Life and Career
The corridors of Marquette Academy witnessed a young Spencer Tracy before he embarked on a service stint in the Navy during World War I. Post-war, Tracy found himself drawn to the stage while at Ripon College. His breakthrough came from the gutsy move to New York where he honed his craft at the Academy of Dramatic Arts alongside his friend and future star, Pat O’Brien.
Spencer’s professional acting debut was rather unglamorous, playing a non-speaking robot in the play "R.U.R." in 1923. However, his first significant break was his applauded performance in "The Last Mile," which led to a contract with the Fox Film Corporation. Despite a rocky start in film, it wasn't until his contract with MGM in 1935 that Spencer Tracy’s star truly began to ascend.
Tracy's career trajectory changed when he took on the role of Father Flanagan in “Boys Town” (1938), a part that resonated with audiences and showcased his immense talent. This role not only brought him acclaim but also earned him one of his two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actor – a first in the annals of Hollywood.
Over the years, Spencer Tracy became synonymous with powerful performances and was nominated multiple times for the Oscars for roles in movies such as “San Francisco” (1936), “Captains Courageous” (1937), and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), the latter being his final act before his death.
His personal life was as compelling as his professional one, marked by his marriage to Louise Tracy, with whom he had two children. Spencer was also known for his complex relationship with Katharine Hepburn, a bond that transcended the screen into a private life marred by his strong Catholic beliefs that precluded divorce.
Tracy’s interests extended beyond the silver screen) to philanthropy, notably contributing to the John Tracy Clinic, a center for deaf children founded by his wife. Despite personal struggles with health and a well-known battle with alcoholism, Tracy’s professional dedication never wavered, and his ability to bring depth to his characters remained unmatched.
Spencer Tracy left behind a monumental impact on Hollywood and the cinematic world. His legacy is not just in the roles he immortalized but in the indelible mark of authenticity he brought to his craft. His natural style and the gravitas he brought to every performance made him not just an actor of his time but an eternal icon of the silver screen.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | *Guess Who's Coming To Dinner* | Matt Drayton |
| 1963 | It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World | Capt. T. G. Culpepper |
| 1962 | How the West Was Won | Narrator (voice) |
| 1961 | Judgment at Nuremberg | Chief Judge Dan Haywood |
| 1961 | The Devil at 4 O'Clock | Father Matthew Doonan |
| 1960 | Inherit the Wind | Henry Drummond |
| 1958 | The Last Hurrah | Frank Skeffington |
| 1958 | The Old Man and the Sea | The Old Man | Narrator |
| 1957 | Desk Set | Richard Sumner |
| 1956 | The Mountain | Zachary Teller |
| 1955 | Bad Day at Black Rock | John J. Macreedy |
| 1954 | Broken Lance | Matt Devereaux |
| 1953 | The Actress | Clinton Jones |
| 1952 | Plymouth Adventure | Capt. Christopher Jones |
| 1952 | Pat and Mike | Mike Conovan |
| 1951 | The People Against O'Hara | James Curtayne |
| 1951 | Father's Little Dividend | Stanley Banks |
| 1950 | Father of the Bride | Stanley T. Banks |
| 1949 | Malaya | Carnahan |
| 1949 | Adam's Rib | Adam Bonner |
| 1949 | Edward, My Son | Arnold Boult |
| 1948 | State of the Union | Grant Matthews |
| 1947 | Cass Timberlane | Cass Timberlane |
| 1947 | The Sea of Grass | Col. James B. 'Jim' Brewton |
| 1945 | Without Love | Pat Jamieson |
| 1944 | Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo | Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle |
| 1944 | The Seventh Cross | George Heisler |
| 1943 | A Guy Named Joe | Pete Sandidge |
| 1942 | Keeper of the Flame | Steven O'Malley |
| 1942 | Tortilla Flat | Pilon |
| 1942 | Woman of the Year | Sam Craig |
| 1941 | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Dr. Harry Jekyll | Mr. Hyde |
| 1941 | Men of Boys Town | Father Flanagan |
| 1940 | Boom Town | Square John Sand |
| 1940 | Edison, the Man | Thomas A. Edison |
| 1940 | Northwest Passage | Maj. Richard Rogers |
| 1940 | Young Tom Edison | Man Admiring Portrait of Thomas A. Edison (uncredited) |
| 1940 | I Take This Woman | Karl Decker |
| 1939 | Stanley and Livingstone | Henry M. Stanley |
| 1938 | Boys Town | Father Flanagan |
| 1938 | Test Pilot | Gunner Morse |
| 1937 | Mannequin | John L. Hennessey |
| 1937 | Big City | Joe Benton |
| 1937 | Captains Courageous | Manuel |
| 1937 | They Gave Him a Gun | Fred P. Willis |
| 1936 | Libeled Lady | Warren Haggerty |
| 1936 | San Francisco | Father Tim Mullin |
| 1936 | Fury | Joe Wilson |
| 1935 | Riffraff | Dutch Muller |
| 1935 | Whipsaw | Ross McBride |
| 1935 | Dante's Inferno | Jim Carter |
| 1935 | The Murder Man | Steve Grey |
| 1935 | It's a Small World | Bill Shevlin |
| 1934 | Marie Galante | Dr. Crawbett |
| 1934 | Shoot the Works | Unknown |
| 1934 | Now I'll Tell | Murray Golden |
| 1934 | Bottoms Up | 'Smoothie' King |
| 1934 | Looking for Trouble | Joe Graham |
| 1934 | The Show-Off | J. Aubrey Piper |
| 1933 | Man's Castle | Bill |
| 1933 | The Mad Game | Edward Carson |
| 1933 | The Power and the Glory | Tom Garner |
| 1933 | Shanghai Madness | Pat Jackson |
| 1933 | Face in the Sky | Joe Buck |
| 1932 | 20,000 Years in Sing Sing | Tommy Connors |
| 1932 | Me and My Gal | Danny Dolan |
| 1932 | The Painted Woman | Tom Brian |
| 1932 | Society Girl | Briscoe |
| 1932 | Young America | Jack Doray |
| 1932 | Disorderly Conduct | Dick Fay |
| 1932 | Sky Devils | Wilkie |
| 1932 | She Wanted a Millionaire | William Kelley |
| 1931 | Goldie | Bill |
| 1931 | 6 Cylinder Love | William Donroy |
| 1931 | Quick Millions | Daniel J. 'Bugs' Raymond |
| 1930 | Up the River | Saint Louis |
| 1930 | The Hard Guy (Short) | Guy |
| 1930 | The Strong Arm (Short) | Prisoner (unconfirmed, uncredited) |
| 1930 | Taxi Talks (Short) | Taxi Driver |