Athletic, darkly handsome lead who left behind a medical future and a slot on the 1936 Olympic fencing team to pursue his acting career.
From Broadway (notably as Tybalt in Olivier's 1940 production of "Romeo and Juliet"), Wilde entered films in 1940 and made his name playing Frederic Chopin in "A Song to Remember" (1945). Of limited charm and talent, he fluctuated between A and B pictures (including a number of swashbucklers) before beginning to direct and star in his own independent productions in the mid-1950s. Among his more inspired directorial efforts is the striking adventure feature, "The Naked Prey" (1966).
Wilde was married to actress Patricia Wright from 1937 to 1951 and to Jean Wallace from 1951 to 1981; he co-starred with Wallace in several films (e.g., "The Big Combo" 1955, "Sword of Lancelot" 1963).
- Also Credited As:
Cornelius Louis Wilde
- Born:
October 13, 1915 in New York, New York
- Died:
October 16, 1989.
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Job Titles:
Actor, Director, Producer, Commercial artist, Fencing instructor, Salesman
Education
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City College of New York, New York, New York, pre-med, 1933
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Columbia University, New York, New York, medicine, 1935
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Theodora Irvine Studio for the Theatre, New York, New York
Milestones
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1936 Quit US fencing team before Berlin Olympics
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1940 Hired as fencing instructor and played Tybalt in Olivier's Broadway production of "Romeo and Juliet"
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1940 Hired by Warner Bros.; Film acting debut in "The Lady with Red Hair"
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1941 Signed with 20th Century-Fox
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1955 Film directing and producing debut, (also actor), "Storm Fear" (screenplay by Horton Foote)
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1955 Formed Theodora Productions; first film under Theodora banner, "Storm Fear"
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Worked various jobs (e.g. Newspaper reporter); acted in summer stock; appeared on New York stage