Robert Donat

 Robert Donat, 1905 Manchester UK -1958 London, English actor who began in films in 1932 and received praise for his performance as Thomas Culpepper in Alexander Korda's "The Private Life of Henry VIII". The next year, "The Count of Monte Cristo" followed and that lead to his working with Alfred Hitchcock in "The 39 Steps". Donat turned down many plum roles due to his chronic asthma and films would have to be made in England rather than Hollywood. "Knight Without Armor" with Dietrich in 1937, "The Citadel" with Rosalind Russell in 1938, "Goodbye Mr. Chips" with Greer Garson in 1939 winning him the Oscar over the predicted winner Clark Gable. He continued and I must mention Alexander Korda's "Vacation From Marriage" with Deborah Kerr in 1945 and the brilliant screen adaptation of Terence Rattigan's "The Winslow Boy" in 1948.

He had one television appearance on "Kraft Theatre" reprising his role in 'The Magic Box' in 1956 and his final film was with Ingrid Bergman in "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness" in 1958. Donat died the same year at age 53.