John Alexander

 Frank Capra preferred Andy Devine for the role of the delusional Teddy "Theodore Roosevelt" Brewster in "Arsenic and Old Lace" (1944). The role eventually went to John Alexander, who received rave critical reviews for his performance.

The Broadway comedy opened at the Fulton Theatre on January 10, 1941 and ran for 1,444 performances, closing on June 17, 1944. Repeating their stage roles in the movie were "Brewster siblings" Josephine Hull, Jean Adair and Alexander, all three getting time off from the New York play. According to "Dear Boris" biographer Cynthia Lindsay, Hull and Adair went to their graves believing that Boris Karloff had been so saintly as to agree to let them go to Hollywood to make this film while he stayed on Broadway doing the play. Nothing could have been further from the truth: Karloff was very angry and disappointed that he was the only play cast member not allowed out of his contract to do the film.

Alexander had previously portrayed that role in the 1941 Broadway play of the same name on which the film was based. He went on to play the "real" Roosevelt in the 1950 Bob Hope comedy "Fancy Pants."

Happy Birthday, John Alexander!