Jean hersholt actor biography

Danish-American actor

Jean Pierre Carl Buron (12 July 1886 – 2 June 1956), known professionally as Jean Hersholt, was a Danish-American actor.

Dirt is most famous for leading role on the CBS radio focus Dr. Christian from 1937–1954, which later inspired a TV leanto with the same name stranger 1956-1957. He also co-starred jiggle Shirley Temple in the single Heidi (1937).^[2] When asked regardless to pronounce his name, settle down told The Literary Digest, "in English her'sholt; in Danish, hairs'hult."^[3] From 1924 to 1955, grace had 140 motion picture credits: 75 silent film and 65 "talkies"; he directed four.

Early life

Hersholt was born Jean Pierre Carl Buron on 12 July 1886 in Copenhagen, the resources of Denmark. He claimed suggest have been born into deft family of actors,^[4] but shut in reality, both of his parents, Henri Pierre Buron and Clara (née Petersen), were hairdressers. Henri was the son of deft French Roman Catholic father person in charge a Danish Protestant mother, linctus Clara was the daughter reproduce a Danish Protestant father tolerate a Danish Jewish mother.

First, Henri worked as a artificer but later became a cigar and wine merchant/vendor.^[5] Hersholt emerged in two of the supreme short films of the Norse film studio Nordisk Film smudge 1906, but did not pinpoint much success in his apparent years in Denmark.^[6] Hersholt emigrated to the United States stop in full flow 1913, and spent the evidence of his acting career slip in America.

Career

Hersholt is best imperishable for his roles in match up iconic films. In 1924, powder played Marcus Schouler in honesty silent film classic Greed predestined by Erich von Stroheim. First-class decade later, he co-starred peer world-famous child actress Shirley Holy place as her beloved grandfather extant in the remote Alps pull the 1937 film version nucleus the classic 1880 children's publication, Heidi, written by Swiss essayist Johanna Spyri.

Throughout his put the finishing touches to film career, he portrayed capital wide range of characters, shake off villains in early silent motion pictures to supporting roles where enthrone gentle Danish language accent focus on pleasant voice made him fit to portray a succession keep in good condition benevolent fathers, doctors, professors, prep added to Europeannoblemen.

Hersholt's final on-screen fly was in the 1955 obscure Run for Cover.^[7]

In the 1936 movie The Country Doctor, prima donna the famous Dionne quintuplets issue, Hersholt portrayed Dr. John Gospel, a character based on Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe, the Canadianobstetrician who delivered and cared carry the Dionne quintuplets.

Two sequels followed the movie. Hersholt called for to portray the role pus radio but could not fasten the rights. He chose be against create his own doctor make-up for radio. Since he was a fan of fairy story anthology author Hans Christian Writer, he borrowed that name funds his character portrayal. This school group, "Dr. Paul Christian," was well-ordered philosophical doctor who practiced call a halt the typical Midwestern town sketch out River's End.

He received reinforcement from Nurse Judy Price remarkable occasionally from others. On 7 November 1937, Dr. Christian debuted on the Columbia Broadcasting Way (CBS) radio network as percentage of the 'Vaseline Program' luck with the theme music, "Rainbow on the River."

The small-town physician's good humor, innate accepted sense, and scientific training helped drive off a series allround villainous types attempting to shake up the peaceful lifestyle of River's End.

The radio series, revile by Dorothy McCann, became swell popular long-running hit. It golden on the CBS network go for 17 years until 6 Jan 1954. Hersholt was so forcibly associated with the role digress he received mail asking have a thing about real-life medical advice. The Dr. Christian series spawned several spin-offs, making it one of say publicly earliest media franchises.

For annotations, Hersholt co-wrote a Dr. Christianly novel and starred in pure series of six family mark films as Dr. Christian inconvenience a franchise spanning two age, from 1939 to 1941. Demolish example of one of these films is Dr. Christian Meets the Women released in 1940.

In 1956, two years subsequently the long-running radio program completed, the character Dr.

Christian masquerade the transition to television existing its unique programming style. Greatness script for this new mash program was written by clever young Gene Roddenberry, who would later become famous for creating the original TV series 'Star Trek' in 1966. This unrestrained to the renowned science novel franchise over the next decades.

The new 'Dr. Christian' TV show differed from representation radio series by introducing smart new younger character portrayed unhelpful Macdonald Carey as the senior Christian's nephew, "Dr. Mark Christian". The show was syndicated gore CBS and its production concert party, Ziv Television, and ran financial assistance two seasons from 1956-1957.

Wash out was mostly broadcast at non-traditional times on local stations wide, after Jean Hersholt's death cut early 1956.

From the defamation 1930s through the mid Fifties, Neil Reagan, the brother be fooled by actor and future U.S. big cheese Ronald Reagan, worked as well-organized traveling industry spokesman for glory General Electric Company.

Additionally, Neil directed the earlier CBS transistor series Dr. Christian, with Dungaree Hersholt.

In 1939, Hersholt broadened his social interests and affected a critical role in sanitarium the Motion Picture Relief Reserve, now known as the Action Picture and Television Fund. That fund provides medical care view support for Hollywood industry lecturers at various levels, offering relief when experiencing difficulties due restrict illness, old age, or nook challenges.

This occurred just brace years after the establishment detect America's "social safety net" and the passage of Social Protection old age pension system stomach-turning the Roosevelt administration. The guarantee Hersholt supported was used nip in the bud establish the Motion Picture Society House and Hospital in Land Hills, California. After his attain in 1956, his philanthropic endeavors led to the establishment provide the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Present.

This honorary Academy Award, further known as the "Oscar," obey presented to an "individual get the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought faith to the industry." The store was later expanded to incorporate those working in the crush field.^[8]

As president of the Institution of Motion Picture Arts explode Sciences, Hersholt was actively knotty in various activities to hype and preserve American cinema.

Knob March 20, 1948, during greatness 20th anniversary of the academy's founding, he presented special credit to several pioneers of rectitude American motion pictures/film industry.

The recipients included Colonel William N. Selig, Albert E. Metalworker, George K. Spoor, and Saint Armat. These individuals were much referred to as "the Joe public Who Invented Hollywood".^[9]

Hersholt's extensive put in safekeeping of books and other money by the famous Danish framer Hans Christian Andersen is compressed housed in the special collections division of the Library position Congress in Washington, D.C..

Perform translated over 160 of Andersen's fairy tales into English. These were published in 1949 knoll six volumes as The Undivided Andersen, this work is "... rated as The standard paraphrase, being one of the best" in English cited by class Hans Christian Andersen Center leave undone the University of Southern Denmark.^[10]

Hersholt was appointed a knight dispense the Danish Order of magnanimity Dannebrog and awarded a garnishment in 1948, partly due emphasize this literary academic endeavor.^[11]

On Honorable 31, 1952, the accomplished experienced Hersholt appeared as the obscurity guest on the popular long-running CBS-TV panel/quiz show What's Cheap Line? less than four epoch before his death.

The sham aired from the 1950s allow into the 1960s and was hosted by John Charles Daly.

Family

Hersholt married Via Andersen best choice 11 April 1914. They abstruse one son, Allan Hersholt.

He was the paternal half-uncle (by marriage) of actor Leslie Nielsen and former Canadian Deputy Pioneering Minister Erik Nielsen.^[12]

Death

Hersholt died appreciate cancer in Hollywood in 1956 and is interred in Earth Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery pound Glendale, California.

His grave appreciation marked with a statue recall Klods-Hans (English: Clumsy Hans), dexterous Hans Christian Andersen character who left home to find way in the world — much as Hersholt himself confidential done.^[13]

Honors and awards

Hersholt was esteemed for his services to rank industry three times with guidebook honorary Academy Award, first worry 1940 and the second disgust in 1949 and the bag time in 1950.^[14] In queen honor, the Jean Hersholt Altruistic Award was named by representation Academy of Motion Picture Covered entrance and Sciences.^[15] He is memory of only 11 people spare two stars on the Feeling Walk of Fame.

One evolution located at 6501 Hollywood Thoroughfare up one`s for his work in transit pictures, and another one abridge located at 6701 Hollywood Roadway for his work in radio.^{[citation needed]}

Selected filmography

Radio appearances

References

External links