Humphrey Bogart was so grateful at Howard's insistence that he repeat his stage performance in the film of The Petrified Forest (1936), the role that proved to be his big break in movies, that he named his daughter Leslie in Howard's honor.
1939 'Reading Eagle' newspaper purported Howard was a "buttermilk addict.".
According to a story by Southeast Missourian newspaper, Howard could be a difficult man to track down, wandering off the set between takes. One day Tay Garnett, while directing Stand-In (1937), had to have several men take him into custody. With the gentleness due a star, they tied him up, clapping leg irons on him. Garnett finally put him on probation, but gave Howard a cowbell and ordered him to bong the bell when on a stroll. It wasn't long before a scene was ready for shooting-- but no Howard. Soon enough they heard the cowbell, though, in a distant corner of the sound stage and up in the catwalks. Converging in on the sound, they found only the bell with a string attached. They traced the string over rafters back to the lighted set where "Stand-In" was suppose to be shooting. There sat Mr. Howard, yanking at the string, plaintively indignant about the absence of Director Garnett.
Among other illnesses during his long career, he had laryngitis in May 1924 & December 1930, appendicitis May 1928, and an infected knee in July 1935.
Died when the 1936 Douglas aircraft «Isis» he was in, with 4 crew members and 12 other passengers, KLM flight #777 of the regular line Bristol - Lisbon, was shot down by Luftwaffe fighter planes over the Bay of Biscay.
Disclosed in 1944, Leslie Howard left an estate totaling $251,000. The majority was held in trust to his widow, son and daughter. Howard had also left a Beverly Hills home to his secretary, Violette Cunnington (with whom he was rumored to be having an affair), but she had died six months before his own death.
Father of actor Ronald Howard, who appeared with him in 'Pimpernel' Smith (1941).
Father of Leslie Ruth Dale-Harris (b. 1924). 17 years old she married Robert Dale-Harris, a chartered accountant. They lived in Toronto, Canada, with three children. In 1960 she published a biography of her father, "A Quite Remarkable Father".
Got into a blackout automobile accident in the winter of 1939. Howard's jaw was fractured, three front teeth broken, and his forehead and chest were injured.
His death was mentioned in the World War II film Bright Victory (1951).
In 1934, he accepted the Oscar for "Best Actor in a Leading Role" on behalf of Charles Laughton, who was not present at the awards ceremony.
In 1936 attended as keynote speaker an American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) reception to promote Talking Book machines.
In August 1936, Leslie canceled airplane reservations from Hollywood to New York because an astrologer told him it would be unlucky to fly that week.
Is portrayed by Stephen Keep Mills in Bogie (1980) (TV).
Leslie first began writing when he was at Mr Bolland's prep-school in Upper Norwood (England). One Christmas term a play was performed by the schoolboys at Mr Bolland's, written by Leslie -- in Latin, of all things -- at the age of thirteen.
Leslie was said to have a long list of love affairs - including Helen Deutsch (1920's); Conchita Montenegro (1931); Marion Davis (1931); Merle Oberon (Sept 1934-Feb 1935); and Violette Cunningham, which lasted four years, until her death in 1942. Also rumored was Myrna Loy and Norma Shearer.
Nephew of director Wilfred Noy.
Oldest of five siblings: Dorice Howard; casting director Irene Howard; Jimmy Howard; and actor Arthur Howard.
On board his fated plane was Quirinus Tepas (pilot), D. de Koning (second officer), Cornelis van Brugge (radio operator), Engbertus Rosevink (flight engineer); also Francis German Cowlrick (elderly engineer), Wilfrid Jacob Berthold Israel (British Secret Service agent), Gordon Thompson Maclean (British Foreign Office), Ivan James Sharp (mining engineer; specialist in tungsten), Tyrell Milmay Shervington (Lisbon manager of Shell-Mex Corporation), Kenneth Stonehouse (Washington correspondent for Reuters), Evelyn Stonehouse (wife of Kenneth Stonehouse), Cecilia Amelia Falla Paton (on way to secretarial job at a consulate in England), Rotha Violet Lettie Hutcheon (mother of Carola and Petra), Petra Hutcheon (11 years old), Carola Hutcheon (2 years old), and Alfred Tregear Chenhalls (his business manager and traveling companion).
Uncle of actor Alan Howard.