Victor McLaglen

Victor McLaglen’s career took him into mining camps, prize rings, vaudeville stages, war trenches and talking pictures.

At 14, he enlisted in the British Army. Because of his size and physique, he was recruited as a member of the King’s Life Guards at Windsor Castle. Later wanderlust sent him to Canada, where he mined silver in the Cobalt country.

He proceeded to Ontario, where he acquired the Eastern Canada boxing championship. Later, in Vancouver he fought a six-round exhibition bout with Jack Johnson, world’s heavyweight champion.

He toured with a circus and then devised a vaudeville act in which he posed in tableaus representing “The Discus Thrower” and such classic pieces of sculpture. His brother, Arthur, joined the act and the two toured the U.S., Australia and finally Cape Town.

After World War I he made several British movies before coming to Hollywood in 1924 to star in J. Stuart Blackton's "The Beloved Brute."

He appeared in role after role as a soldier of fortune and adventure, working up to his unforgettable performance as Captain Flagg in “What Price Glory.” In 1935 he set the world to weeping with his portrayal of the dimwitted giant, Gypo Nolan, in “The Informer.” McLaglen won an Oscar for his performance.

In 1952 he played one of the leading roles in the hilarious epic of Irish rural life “The Quiet Man.” His portrayal of "Red" Will Danaher won him an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor.