What's After the Movie
Claude Rains
William Claude Rains (10 November 1889 – 30 May 1967) was a highly revered British-American actor boasting a career that extended almost seven decades. He made an unforgettable American film debut as Dr. Jack Griffin in The Invisible Man (1933). His subsequent works included acting roles in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), The Wolf Man (1941), Casablanca (1942), Kings Row (1942), Notorious (1946), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965). Rains particularly excelled in portraying cultured villains and won a Tony Award while also being a four-time nominee for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
As a young boy growing up in the slums of London, Rains was surrounded by actors and stagehands due to his father's profession as a stage actor, which heavily influenced his early obsession with theatres. When he turned 10, he made his stage debut in the play Sweet Nell of Old Drury at the Haymarket Theatre. He slowly climbed the ladder in the theatre industry, progressing from smaller parts with good reviews to larger roles. During World War 1, he served the London Scottish Regiment, which led to suffering vocal cord damage and major vision loss in his right eye due to a gas attack. Despite his injuries, Claude Rains' passion for acting never faded. Instead, his acting talents were recognized by Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, the founder of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, who assisted him in eliminating his Cockney accent and speech impediment. Owing to these improvements in his speech, Rains quickly gained recognition as one of the leading stage actors in London.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Claude Rains, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Claude Rains rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: William Claude Rains
Born: Clapham, London, England
Citizenship: United Kingdom, United States
Birthday: November 10, 1889
Occupations: Actor
Years Active: 1900-1965
Children: 1
Spouses: Isabel Jeans, Marie Hemingway, Beatrix Thomson, Frances Propper, Agi Jambor, Rosemary Clark Schrode
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Awards and Nominations Received by Claude Rains
Explore the awards, honors, and nominations Claude Rains has earned across their acting career. From prestigious wins to critical acclaim, see how their talent has been recognized by the film industry and major award bodies.
Movies Featuring Claude Rains
Notorious
Now, Voyager
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
The Adventures of Robin Hood (re-release)
The Invisible Man
The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Deception
Where Danger Lives
Sealed Cargo
The Unsuspected
The Passionate Friends
The Wolf Man
Crime Without Passion
Twilight of Honor
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Breakdowns of 1941
Caesar and Cleopatra
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
The White Tower
Song of Surrender
Breakdowns of 1937
Angel on My Shoulder
Gold Is Where You Find It
The Man Who Reclaimed His Head
Kings Row
Hearts Divided
Breakdowns of 1942
Moontide
Scrooge
They Won’t Forget
This Love of Ours
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Four Wives
White Banners
They Made Me a Criminal
The Sea Hawk
Lady with Red Hair
Anthony Adverse
Rope of Sand
The Last Outpost
The Lost World
Lisbon
Stolen Holiday
The Prince and the Pauper
Saturday’s Children
Breakdowns of 1936
Juarez
The Making of a Great Motion Picture
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
The Clairvoyant
Sons of Liberty
Lawrence of Arabia
Passage to Marseille
Forever and a Day
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Four Mothers
Four Daughters
The Horror Show
The Man Who Watched Trains Go By
Strange Holiday
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of ‘The Wolf Man’
Ingrid Bergman Remembered
Blow-Ups of 1946
Breakdowns of 1938
Mr. Skeffington
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Claude Rains, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
1949
The Passionate Friends
Howard Justin
Song of Surrender
Elisha Hunt
Rope of Sand
Arthur 'Fred' Martingale
1945
Caesar and Cleopatra
Julius Caesar
This Love of Ours
Joseph Targel
Strange Holiday
John Stevenson
1941
The Wolf Man
Sir John Talbot
Breakdowns of 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
Mr. Jordan
Four Mothers
Adam Lemp
1940
The Sea Hawk
Don José Alvarez de Cordoba
Lady with Red Hair
David Belasco
Saturday’s Children
Mr. Henry Halevy
1939
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Four Wives
Adam Lemp
They Made Me a Criminal
Det. Monty Phelan
Juarez
Emperor Louis Napoleon III
Sons of Liberty
Haym Salomon
1938
Gold Is Where You Find It
Colonel Ferris
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Prince John
White Banners
Paul Ward
Four Daughters
Adam Lemp
Breakdowns of 1938
Claude Rains (archive footage) (uncredited)
1937
Breakdowns of 1937
Self
They Won’t Forget
District Attorney Andrew J. Griffin
Stolen Holiday
Stefan Orloff
The Prince and the Pauper
Earl of Hertford
1936
Hearts Divided
Napoleon Bonaparte
Anthony Adverse
Marquis Don Luis
Breakdowns of 1936
Self
The Making of a Great Motion Picture
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