Leslie Howard: Movies & Box Office

Leslie Howard (born Leslie Howard Steiner) was a prominent English actor, director, producer, and writer whose career spanned three decades of theatrical and cinematic innovation. Born on April 3 , 1893 in Forest Hill, London, he began his professional journey in regional touring productions before achieving Broadway fame with plays such as Aren't We All? and Outward Bound. After debuting on the London stage in 1917, Howard’s magnetic presence attracted Hollywood, where he delivered iconic performances in The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934), Pygmalion (1938), and his most remembered role as Ashley Wilkes in Gone with the Wind (1939). His talent earned him multiple Academy Award nominations for Best Actor, and his work as a writer contributed stories and articles to major publications like The New York Times and The New Yorker. In addition to his film success, Howard remained deeply involved in theater, producing, directing, and even starring in his own Broadway play Murray Hill, while his radio appearances broadened his influence across the Atlantic.

During the Second World War, Howard leveraged his fame for British propaganda, producing anti‑German films such as “Pimpernel” Smith (1941) and The First of the Few (1942), which he also co‑produced and directed. His commitment to the war effort extended to alleged intelligence work, leading to speculation surrounding his untimely death when the civilian aircraft he was aboard was shot down over the Atlantic on June 1 , 1943. Howard’s legacy endures through his timeless screen performances, his contributions to wartime morale, and the lasting admiration of film historians who regard him as one of the most influential figures of 1930s cinema.