George Sanders, a British actor, music composer, singer-songwriter, and author, is best known for his portrayal of sophisticated yet villainous characters. With a career spanning over four decades, he starred in numerous films, including the acclaimed ‘Rebecca,’ ‘Foreign Correspondent,’ and ‘All About Eve,’ for which he received an Academy Award. Born in Russia, Sanders moved to England during the Russian Revolution and later pursued a career in acting after working in textile research and advertising. Despite his success, Sanders battled dementia in his later years and tragically passed away from a cardiac arrest in 1972.
Quick Facts
- British Celebrities Born In July
- Also Known As: George Henry Sanders
- Died At Age: 65
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Benita Hume (m. 1959 – died. 1967), Magda Gabor (m. 1970 – ann. 1971), Susan Larson (m. 1940 – div. 1949), Zsa Zsa Gabor (m. 1949 – div. 1954)
- Father: Henry Sanders
- Mother: Margaret Sanders
- Siblings: Tom Conway
- Partner: Lorraine Chanel (1968 – his death. 1972)
- Born Country: Russia
- Actors
- British Men
- Height: 6’4″ (193 cm), 6’4″ Males
- Died on: April 25, 1972
- Place of death: Castelldefels, Spain
- Notable Alumni: Brighton College, University Of Manchester Institute Of Science And Technology
- Cause of Death: Cardiac Arrest
- City: Saint Petersburg, Russia
- More Facts
- Education: Brighton College, University Of Manchester Institute Of Science And Technology
Childhood & Early Life
George Henry Sanders was born on 3 July 1906 in Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire, to Margarethe Jenny Bertha Sanders and Henry Peter Ernest Sanders. He had an elder brother, actor Tom Conway, and a younger sister named Margaret. In 1917, Sanders and his family flew to England following the outbreak of the Russian Revolution. He studied at Bedales School and later attended Brighton College. He then graduated from Manchester Technical College and worked in textile research. Sanders went to South America to manage a tobacco plantation before returning to England. He worked for an advertising agency before starting his career in acting.
Career
George Sanders first appeared on stage in the play ‘Ballyhoo’ and worked in the British theatre before making his film debut in the 1934 comedy ‘Love, Life and Laughter’. He appeared in Hollywood-shot films such as ‘Lloyd’s of London’, ‘Slave Ship’, ‘The Lady Escapes’, and ‘Four Men and a Prayer’. In 1939, he played a villainous role in ‘Last Warning’ and also starred as The Saint in John Farrow’s crime flicks ‘The Saint Strikes Back’ and ‘The Saint in London’. Sanders had a supporting role in the blockbuster film ‘Rebecca’ (1940) and reprised his role as The Saint in ‘The Saint Takes Over’ and ‘The Saint in Palm Springs’. He also played a villain in the 1941 thriller ‘Man Hunt’ and was cast in a new B film series about the suave crime fighter, The Falcon. In the late 1940s, he had roles in films such as ‘The Ghost and Mrs. Muir’, ‘Lured’, and ‘Forever Amber’. Sanders played Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert in the British-American historical epic flick ‘Ivanhoe’ in 1952 and contributed his vocals to and appeared in the musical ‘Call Me Madam’ in 1953. He played the titular character in ‘King Richard and the Crusaders’ in 1954 and released an album titled ‘The George Sanders Touch: Songs for the Lovely Lady’. During the 1960s, he appeared in several films including ‘The Last Voyage’, ‘Ten Honeymoons’, ‘Cone of Silence’, ‘Village of the Damned’, ‘In Search of the Castaways’, ‘Five Golden Hours’, and ‘The Rebel’. Sanders starred in the sci-fi film ‘The Body Stealers’ in 1967 and his last film role was in the 1973 horror cult ‘Psychomania’.
Major Work
George Henry Sanders played the acerbic, cold-blooded stage critic Addison DeWitt in the drama film ‘All About Eve’ and earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The film follows a highly regarded Broadway star whose career is threatened upon the arrival of a young fan in his life.
Family & Personal Life
George Henry Sanders was married four times. He wed Susan Larson in 1940 and divorced her in 1949. He then married actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, but their marriage ended in 1954. His third marriage was to actress Benita Hume, the widow of Ronald Colman. After her death in 1967, Sanders married Magda Gabor, who was the sister of his second wife. Their marriage lasted only 32 days. From 1968 until his death in 1972, Sanders had a relationship with Lorraine Chanel. In his later years, he suffered from dementia and other health issues. He died by consuming the contents of five bottles of Nembutal, a barbiturate, on 23 April 1972, leaving behind three suicide notes.