Walter Pidgeon(1897-1984)
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Walter Pidgeon, a handsome, tall and dark-haired man, began his career
studying voice at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He
then did theater, mainly stage musicals. He went to Hollywood in the
early 1920s, where he made silent films, including
Mannequin (1926) and
Sumuru (1927). When talkies arrived,
Pidgeon made some musicals, but he never received top billing or
recognition in these. In 1937 MGM put him under contract, but only in
supporting roles and "the other man" roles, such as in
Saratoga (1937) opposite
Jean Harlow and
Clark Gable and in
The Girl of the Golden West (1938)
opposite Jeanette MacDonald and
Nelson Eddy. Although these two films were
big successes, Pidgeon was overlooked for his contributions to them.
MGM lent him out to Fox, where he finally had top billing, in
How Green Was My Valley (1941).
When he returned to MGM the studio tried to give him bigger roles, and
he was cast opposite his frequent co-star
Greer Garson. However, Garson seemed to
come up on top in
Blossoms in the Dust (1941)
and Mrs. Miniver (1942), although
Pidgeon did receive an Academy Award nomination for his role in the
latter film.
Pidgeon remained with MGM through the mid-'50s, making films like Dream Wife (1953) and Hit the Deck (1955) with Jane Powell and old pal Gene Raymond. In 1956 Pidgeon left the movies to do some work in the theater, but he returned to film in 1961.
Pidgeon retired from acting in 1977. He suffered from several strokes that eventually led to his death in 1984.
Pidgeon remained with MGM through the mid-'50s, making films like Dream Wife (1953) and Hit the Deck (1955) with Jane Powell and old pal Gene Raymond. In 1956 Pidgeon left the movies to do some work in the theater, but he returned to film in 1961.
Pidgeon retired from acting in 1977. He suffered from several strokes that eventually led to his death in 1984.
