Younger movie fans probably remember Melvyn Douglas -- who would have celebrated his 100th birthday on April 5, 2001 if he had not died in 1981 at the age of 80 -- from the roles he played in the latter stage of his career, most noticeably that of Benjamin Rand, the industrialist friend of Chance the gardener in Being There (1979). He won a Best Actor Oscar for that film, which was released just two years before he died. Or perhaps they remember him as Robert Redford's father in The Candidate (1972).
But Melvyn Douglas' career began long before that, in 1931, and he is probably best known to classic fans for having appeared with Greta Garbo in Ninotchka (1939) or later as the friend of Cary Grant and Myrna Loy (and the narrator) in Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948).
Douglas is one of only three actors to win an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony award. (Can you name the other two?) He was actually nominated for three Supporting Actor Oscars, and won two, for Hud (1963) and Being There. He was also nominated for I Never Sang for My Father (1970).
Born in Macon, Georgia, as Melvyn Edouard Hesselberg, Douglas was married for 50 years to Helen Gahagan, who appeared in one film before becoming a Democratic U.S. Representative from California. After two terms, she ran for the Senate and lost to Richard Nixon in a rather famous contest. She died a year before he did.
I could find no dedicated fan sites for Melvyn Douglas, who really ought to have one, after appearing in 85 films over a period of 50 years. However, I hope you'll check out the information I've been able to put together, including reviews and posters.
Melvyn Douglas Tributes/Pages
Selected Reviews of Melvyn Douglas' Best Films
Where To Find Or See Melvyn Douglas Films
Melvyn Douglas Movie Posters On The Web
