Brian Aherne

British born Brian Aherne possessed the attributes that all but guaranteed him a career in motion pictures, in that he was a polished stage performer, came across as a cultured gentleman and was also quite handsome. He first made his name in America as one of the stars of Broadway's "The Barretts of Wimpole Street" (1931) and was soon gracing such notable features as "Sylvia Scarlett" (1935), "Beloved Enemy" (1936), "The Great Garrick" (1937), and "Juarez" (1939). While he did not generate the same degree of publicity as the major stars of the time, Aherne was a respected actor and reliable box office draw who earned a great deal of money from his film assignments. He continued to appear in gems like "A Night to Remember" (1942), "The Locket" (1946), "I, Confess" (1953), and "The Best of Everything" (1959), but also took breaks to do stage work. These detours usually found him either back on the Great White Way or in touring productions of old standbys like "My Fair Lady," where his interpretation of Professor Henry Higgins proved a hit with audiences. Following his retirement in 1967, he penned sharp and amusing books about his life and that of longtime friend and colleague, George Sanders. While he only starred in a handful of classic movies, Aherne was welcomed by audiences of the era for the touches of charm and sophistication that he could be counted on to display in most any role.