Acquired the nickname "Pinky" due to his reddish-tinged hair, which darkened over the years.
Died before completing his work on Lost City of the Jungle (1946). His remaining scenes were completed using a double.
Educated at Mercer's School, London.
First son John Anthony Atwill, by first wife Phyllis Relph, was a WWII flying officer with the Royal Air Force killed in action in 1941. A second son, Lionel Anthony Guille Atwill, was born to him late in life (at age 60) by last wife, Mary Paula Pruter. Atwill died six months later.
Great grand uncle of Gregg Atwill.
Has the distinction of being the only actor to appear in five of the eight Frankenstein films released by Universal from 1931-1948. Atwill appeared in Son of Frankenstein (1939), The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942), Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), House of Frankenstein (1944), and House of Dracula (1945).
His racy reputation for hosting "wild" parties at his home caught up with him and a sex scandal erupted. In 1943 he was sentenced to five years probation for perjury during a loosely connected rape trial. The Hays Office effectively blacklisted him from the top studios for his disgrace. The remainder of his career was spent doing a few plays in New York and low-budget "B" pictures and serials.
His third wife, the former Louise Brooks Cromwell of Philadelphia society, had formerly been married to Gen. Douglas MacArthur (his first wife).
Narrated trailer for the 1932 prison movie, "Twenty Rhousand Years in Sing Sing.".
Played the title role in the play "Napoleon," but it ran for only 12 performances in 1928.
Screen and stage actor.