Gene Lockhart

Gene Lockhart

Eugene Lockhart, actor (born at London, Ont 18 Jul 1891; died at Santa Monica, CA 31 Mar 1957). Gene Lockhart made his professional debut at the age of 6 with the Kilties Band of Canada, and at 15 he played in sketches with Beatrice LILLIE. Educated in Canada and at Brompton Oratory School in England, he made a career in vaudeville and, after 1916, on Broadway.

His movie career began in 1935, and for the next 2 decades he appeared in more than 300 films, usually in strong character parts. He often played villains, most notably in Algiers (1938) opposite Charles Boyer and Hedy Lamarr, a role that earned him an Academy Award nomination for supporting actor. But Gene Lockhart also had a great succession of "good guy" roles, including Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol (1938), the judge in Miracle on 34th Street (1947) and the comic bumbling sheriff in Howard Hawks' His Girl Friday (1940).

His other notable films include Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940), They Died with Their Boots On (1942), Mission to Moscow (1943), House on 92nd Street (1945), Madame Bovary (1949), The Inspector General (1949) and Carousel (1956). On Broadway, Gene Lockhart's important appearances included those in Ah, Wilderness (1932) and, replacing Lee J. Cobb as Willy Loman, in Death of a Salesman (1949). In the latter part of Lockhart's life he made frequent television appearances. He was also talented as a writer, singer and composer.

Gene Lockhart was married to British actress Kathleen Lockhart (née Arthur, 1894-1978, who occasionally appeared in his films) and was the father of American actress June Lockhart (b 1925, who starred in the series Petticoat Junction). He became an American citizen in 1939.