Sir Cedric Hardwicke, a renowned character actor, was born on February 19, 1893, in Lye, England. He attended the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, making his stage debut in 1912. However, his career was temporarily interrupted by his military service during World War I.
After the war, Hardwicke returned to the stage in 1922, joining the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, where he gained recognition for his portrayal of Caesar in George Bernard Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra. This marked his transition to the London stage.
For his outstanding contributions to the stage and film industry, Hardwicke was knighted by King George V in 1934, a rare honor bestowed upon few actors during that time.
Hardwicke made his American stage debut in 1936 and eventually settled in the United States permanently after spending the 1948 season with the Old Vic. His commanding voice and dignified demeanor further enhanced his success on stage and screen.
Throughout his illustrious career, Hardwicke appeared in numerous notable films, including Les Misérables (1935),Stanley and Livingstone (1939),The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939),Suspicion (1941),A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1949),and The Ten Commandments (1956).
Hardwicke's final film was The Pumpkin Eater, released in 1964. He passed away on August 6, 1964, in New York City, New York.
