The tragically brief life of fresh-faced, boyishly handsome Ross Alexander, who seemed to have everything going for him, plays these days like a bad Hollywood movie. Alexander was a charming, highly engaging young actor whose pleasant voice and breezy personality aided greatly in his transition from Broadway teen player to young adult Warner Bros....
July 27, 1907, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States
Died
January 2, 1937, Los Angeles, California, United States
Place Of Birth
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Height
6' 1¼" (1.86 m)
Profession
Actor, Soundtrack
Spouse
Anne Nagel (m. 1936–1937), Aleta Freel (m. 1934–1935)
Star Sign
Leo
#
Fact
1
His maternal great-grandfather, Morris Cohen, was a Polish Jewish immigrant.
2
On Broadway, Ross' first wife, Aleta Friele went by the stage name of Aleta Freel.
3
According to a Movie Mirror article published shortly after his death, Ross was married, at age 18, to an older woman and had a daughter. The union was supposedly short-lived and never proved as no woman or daughter ever surfaced.
4
According to a "Classic Images" article on Ross written by John R. Allen, Jr., Ross had an unhealthy obsession with Warner Bros. star Bette Davis that lasted for years. He wanted desperately to appear in a romantic picture with her to prove himself to her. This unreciprocated attention apparently annoyed Davis who supposedly taunted Ross and complained to studio higher-ups.
5
Became a close friend to Henry Fonda in 1933 while both were performing together in summer stock. Fonda would serve as best man to Ross and Aleta when they married at Aleta's sister's home in East Orange, New Jersey the following year.
6
Met first wife Aleta, the daughter of a physician, while they were appearing with the University Players Theater in Cape Cod during the summer season of 1930.
7
His wife Aleta Friele, despondent over marriage and career problems, killed herself with a .22 rifle outside their Laurel Canyon home in December of 1935. Remarrying and moving to Encino, Ross committed suicide with a .22 target pistol shortly after the first anniversary of his wife's death. Both shot themselves in the temple.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Ready, Willing and Able
1937
Barry Granville
Here Comes Carter
1936
Kent Carter
China Clipper
1936
Tom Collins
Hot Money
1936
Chick Randall
I Married a Doctor
1936
Erik Valborg
Brides Are Like That
1936
Bill McAllister
Boulder Dam
1936
Rusty Noonan
Captain Blood
1935
Jeremy Pitt
Shipmates Forever
1935
Lafayette 'Sparks' Brown
A Midsummer Night's Dream
1935
Demetrius - In Love with Hermia
We're in the Money
1935
C. Richard Courtney, aka Carter
Going Highbrow
1935
Harley Marsh
Maybe It's Love
1935
Rims O'Neil
Flirtation Walk
1934
'Oskie'
Gentlemen Are Born
1934
Tom Martin
Social Register
1934
Lester Trout
The Wiser Sex
1932
Jimmy O'Neill
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Ready, Willing and Able
1937
performer: "Too Marvelous for Words" 1937, "The World Is My Apple" 1937, "Just a Quiet Evening" 1937 - uncredited / producer: "Too Marvelous for Words" 1937 - uncredited
Here Comes Carter
1936
"You on My Mind" 1936, uncredited
A Midsummer Night's Dream
1935
performer: "Scottish Symphony: Final Movement" 1842 - uncredited
Going Highbrow
1935
performer: "One in a Million" 1935, "Sextette" - uncredited
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Breakdowns of 1936
1936
Short
Himself
A Dream Comes True
1935
Documentary short
Himself (uncredited)
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Death Scenes
1989
Video documentary
Himself (uncredited)
Known for movies
Captain Blood (1935) as Jeremy Pitt
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935) as Demetrius - In Love with Hermia
$10 Million
