born June 3, 1901, Dorchester, Dorset, Eng.
died March 12, 1989, Rottingdean, East Sussex
British-born U.S. actor.
He made his professional stage debut in 1926 and achieved his first success in Journey's End (1929). He moved to the U.S. in 1935 and triumphed in Shakespearean roles on Broadway. During World War II he entertained U.S. troops with a short version of Hamlet . He later starred in Broadway revivals of four George Bernard Shaw comedies, notably Man and Superman (1947). His greatest Broadway hit was Dial M for Murder (1952). He starred in a television production of Macbeth (1961, Emmy Award) and appeared in 17 films, including Rosemary's Baby (1968).