Broderick Crawford

AKA:
William Broderick Crawford
Nationality:
American
Birthdate:
12/09/1911
Birthplace:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Death Date:
04/26/1986
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biography
Burly, gruff-voiced supporting player of the 1940s and 50s and son of popular stage and film comedienne Helen Broderick and vaudevillian Lester Crawford. After a brief stab at Hollywood, Crawford returned to Broadway where he won acclaim for his performance as Lennie in the stage adaptation of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" (1937), before returning to film. Because of his thug-like mug he was relegated to playing gangsters and Western villains in mostly forgettable fare until 1949 when he won an Oscar for his multi-faceted portrayal of charismatic political demogogue Willie Stark in Robert Continued
milestones
Year
Milestone
 
Became a seaman and stevedore, then a NYC radio actor and stooge for the Marx Brothers
1932 
London stage debut as football player in "She Loves Me Not"
1935 
Broadway debut in "Point Valaine" starring Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne
 
Performance on stage in "Punches and Judy" won him a film contract with Samuel Goldwyn
1937 
Film debut, "Woman Chases Man"
Continued