Birthname: Melvyn Edouard Hesselberg
| Sign | Aries |
| Born | Apr 5, 1901 Macon, GA |
| Died | Aug 4, 1981 New York City, NY |
| Age | Died at 80 |
| Final Resting PlaceCremated | |
Melvyn Douglas | |
| Job | Actor |
| Years active | 1927-1981 |
| Known for | Splendidly modulated voice often wittily betraying the tongue in his cheek |
| Top Roles | Frank Burton Cheyne, Michael Grant, Bill Cole, Homer Bannon, Roy Darwin |
| Top Genres | Drama, Comedy, Romance, Film Adaptation, Mystery, Western |
| Top Topics | Book-Based, Romance (Comic), Screwball Comedy |
| Top Collaborators | Ernst Lubitsch (Director), Wesley Ruggles (Director), Robert Z. Leonard (Director), Whit Bissell |
| Shares birthday with | Bette Davis, Gregory Peck, Spencer Tracy see more.. |
Melvyn Douglas Overview:
Legendary actor, Melvyn Douglas, was born Melvyn Edouard Hesselberg on Apr 5, 1901 in Macon, GA. Douglas appeared in over 105 film and TV roles. His best known films include Captains Courageous (as Mr. Cheyne), That Certain Age (as Vincent Bullitt), Ninotchka (as Leon), Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (as Bill Cole), That Uncertain Feeling (as Larry Baker), Hud (as Homer Bannon) and The Americanization of Emily (as Adm. William Jessup). Douglas died at the age of 80 on Aug 4, 1981 in New York City, NY and was cremated and his ashes given to family or friend.
MINI BIO:
Melvyn Douglas was an elegant leading man with a pencil moustache and a precise sense of romantic comedy -- the zanier the comedy, the more at home he was. His splendidly modulated voice often wittily betrayed the tongue in his cheek. Forsaking Hollywood when his days as a star were over, Douglas spent a rewarding ten years on stage before returning to films as a fine character actor of grouchy but sterling old men. He won an Academy Award for Hud, and again in 1980 for Being There. He was also nominated for I Never Sang for My Father. He was married to actress Helen Gahagan (second wife) in 1931.
(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Film Stars).HONORS and AWARDS:
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Melvyn Douglas was nominated for three Academy Awards, winning two for Best Supporting Actor for Hud (as Homer Bannon) and Being There (as Benjamin Rand) in 1963 and 1979 respectively.
Academy Awards
| Year | Award | Film name | Role | Result |
| 1963 | Best Supporting Actor | Hud (1963) | Homer Bannon | Won |
| 1970 | Best Actor | I Never Sang for My Father (1970) | Tom Garrison | Nominated |
| 1979 | Best Supporting Actor | Being There (1979) | Benjamin Rand | Won |
He was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the categories of Motion Pictures and Television.
Melvyn Douglas BlogHub Articles:
Joan Crawford and Melvyn Douglas lead the cast in “A Woman’s Face”
By Stephen Reginald on Jan 29, 2025 From Classic Movie ManJoan Crawford and Melvyn Douglas lead the cast in “A Woman’s Face” A Woman’s Face (1941) is an American drama film directed by George Cukor and starring Joan Crawford and Melvin Douglas. The strong supporting cast includes Conrad Veidt, Osa Massen, Reginald Owen, Albert ... Read full article
Irene Dunne and Melvyn Douglas in "Theodora Goes Wild"
By Stephen Reginald on Apr 5, 2022 From Classic Movie ManIrene Dunne and Melvyn Douglas in "Theodora Goes Wild" Theodora Goes Wild (1936) is an American screwball comedy directed by Richard Boleslawski and starring Irene Dunne and Melvyn Douglas. The supporting cast includes Thomas Mitchell, Spring Byington, Thurston Hall, and Robert Greig.Theodora L... Read full article
Melvyn Douglas on Joan Crawford
By Franchot Tone Fan on Sep 9, 2015 From Finding Franchot: Exploring the Life and Career of Franchot ToneImage Source: Amazon.com One of my favorite hobbies is collecting and reading the autobiographies of classic movie stars. Last week, I finished Melvyn Douglas' fantastic autobiography, See You at the Movies. Douglas focuses on his theater work and political activism over the details of his film ca... Read full article
The Amazing Mr. Williams (1939) with Melvyn Douglas and Joan Blondell
By Orson De Welles on Jun 11, 2015 From Classic Film FreakShare This! 1939 is often lauded as Hollywood?s greatest year, and in a year highlighted by such films as Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Stagecoach and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, it is not surprising that a rather smallish film like The Amazing Mr. Williams escapes attention. One of three ... Read full article
The Amazing Mr. Williams (1939) with Melvyn Douglas and Joan Blondell
By Orson De Welles on Jun 11, 2015 From Classic Film FreakShare This! 1939 is often lauded as Hollywood?s greatest year, and in a year highlighted by such films as Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Stagecoach and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, it is not surprising that a rather smallish film like The Amazing Mr. Williams escapes attention. One of three ... Read full article
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Melvyn Douglas Quotes:
Muriel Blandings: Well, maybe if you start earlier, you can leave the office earlier.
Jim Blandings: To get home earlier, to get to bed earlier, to get up earlier, I suppose.
Bill Cole: Maybe you can get the railroad to push the train up to 4:15. Then you won't have to go to bed at all.
Leon: A radio's a little box that you buy on the installment plan, and before you tune it in, they tell you there's a new model out.
Leon: A Russian! I love Russians! Comrade, I've been fascinated by your five-year plan for the last fifteen years.
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