Michael Rennie

 Michael Rennie, born Eric Alexander Rennie (August 25, 1909 – June 10, 1971)

He had leading roles in a number of Hollywood films, including his portrayal of the space visitor Klaatu in the science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). In a career spanning more than 30 years, Rennie appeared in more than 50 films and in several American television series. Rennie was born in Idle near Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, the second son of a Scottish wool mill owner, James Rennie, and his English wife Amelia. His first screen acting was an uncredited bit part in the Alfred Hitchcock film Secret Agent (1936), standing in for Robert Young. Shortly after the outbreak of war in Europe in September 1939, Rennie began to receive offers for larger film roles, including This Man Is Dangerous (1940), Dangerous Moonlight (1941) and Pimpernel Smith (1941). He had his first big film role in the suspense drama Tower of Terror (1941). Rennie enlisted in the RAF Volunteer Reserve in May 1941. When the war ended in 1945, he returned to films, and achieved notice for his role of Bob Fielding in I'll be Your Sweetheart (1945).

Rennie frequently played a supporting role in British films, but in 1951, Darrel Zanuck of 20th Century Fox brought him to Hollywood, and cast him as Klaatu, in The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), now considered a science-fiction classic. Rennie supported Tyrone Power in King of the Khyber Rifles (1954), as a brigadier in British India, then he played his first villain for Fox, an evil Khan in the "eastern", Princess of the Nile (1954), opposite Jeffrey Hunter. He reprised his role as Peter in Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954) and was lent out for Mambo (1954). He later obtained the lead role of Harry Lime in the British television series "The Third Man", but later offers went back to supporting roles. He also appeared in a number of guest spots on American television shows, including Zane Grey Theater, Route 66, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Perry Mason, The Virginian, Wagon Train, and Lost in Space

He was married twice, first to Joan Phyllis England (1938-1945; divorced), then to Margaret "Maggie" McGrath (1947-1960; divorced). He and Maggie had a son, David, born in 1953. Within three years of leaving Hollywood, he journeyed to his mother's home in Harrogate, Yorkshire. It was there that he died on June 10, 1971. He is buried in Harlow Hill Cemetery in Harrogate. His death was attributed to natural causes. Rennie was 61 years old.