Lionel Atwill was born into a wealthy family and was educated at London's prestigious Mercer School to become an architect, but his interest turned to the stage. He worked his way progressively into the craft and debuted at age 20 at the Garrick Theatre in London. He acted and improved regularly thereafter, especially in the plays of Henrik Ibsen ...
April 22, 1946, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California, United States
Place Of Birth
Croydon, London, England, UK
Height
5' 10½" (1.79 m)
Profession
Actor
Spouse
Mary Paula Pruter (m. 1944–1946)
Children
Lionel Anthony Guille Atwill, John Anthony Atwill
Star Sign
Pisces
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Trademark
1
Frequently portrayed doctors. More often than not the doctors would be guilty of a crime or would be mad scientists.
2
Often portrayed police officers
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Quote
1
(In 1941) All women love the men they fear. All women kiss the hand that rules them... I do not treat women in such soft fashion. Women are cat creatures. Their preference is for a soft fireside cushion, for delicate bowls of cream, for perfumed leisure and for a master - which is where and how they belong.
2
(In 1934) Frankly I've had my fill of art, It's all very well in its way, but there's an entirely different fascination to pictures that I haven't gotten over yet. No doubt I never will. It may be a little childish, but the sheer mechanical ingenuity of the whole thing gets under my skin the way a mechanical toy fascinates a boy.
3
There is something about horror that is horribly compelling. Is it because we see our possible selves in these dark mirrors?
4
One side of my face is gentle and kind, incapable of anything but love of my fellow man. The other side, the other profile, is cruel and predatory and evil, incapable of anything but the lusts and dark passions. It all depends on which side of my face is turned toward you--or the camera. It all depends on which side faces the moon at the ebb of the tide.
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Fact
1
Made his stage debut in London in "Wallls of Jericho" followed by "Napoleon" and "Julius Caeser.".
2
Came to the U.S. in 1916. He was honored at a 1925 banquet where Bela Lugosi was also in attendance.
3
Fred Bickle, later to be known professionally as Fredric March, understudied Atwill in the early 20's.
4
Atwill played Hamlet to Larette Taylor's Oophelia at an actors' benefit in 1920.
5
In 1930 Atwill wed the former Mrs. Douglas MacArthur, a prominent socialite who was married to the famous general from 1922 to '29.
6
In 1930 Atwill directed Basil Rathbone in a comedy on Broadway, "A Kiss of Importance.".
7
Atwill had bad luck with his homes. A $42.000 mansion burned to the ground in the California fires of October 1935, and a December 1936 coastal storm undermined two of Atwill's homes which slid into the ocean along with $12,000 worth of antique furniture. The actor's Maryland estate, which had served as a honeymoon retreat for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, was burglarized twice in August 1937.
8
Narrated trailer for the 1932 prison movie, "Twenty Thousand Years in Sing Sing" as well as the classic "I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang.".
Acquired the nickname "Pinky" due to his reddish-tinged hair, which darkened over the years.
12
His racy reputation for hosting "wild" parties at his home caught up with him and a sex scandal erupted. In 1943 he was sentenced to five years probation for perjury during a loosely connected rape trial. The Hays Office effectively blacklisted him from the top studios for his disgrace. The remainder of his career was spent doing a few plays in New York and low-budget "B" pictures and serials.
13
First son John Anthony Atwill, by first wife Phyllis Relph, was a WWII flying officer with the Royal Air Force killed in action in 1941. A second son, Lionel Anthony Guille Atwill, was born to him late in life (at age 60) by last wife, Mary Paula Pruter. Atwill died six months later.
14
Played the title role in the play "Napoleon," but it ran for only 12 performances in 1928. Atwill made headlines when he verbally abused the critics who had panned the show from the stage.
15
Died before completing his work on Lost City of the Jungle (1946). His remaining scenes were completed using a double.
16
His third wife, the former Louise Brooks Cromwell of Philadelphia society, had formerly been married to Gen. Douglas MacArthur (his first wife).
$850,000
