Edmund Gwenn

Birth Name:

Edmund John Kellaway

Birth Place:

London, England, United Kingdom

Profession

Actor, Soundtrack

Awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 for his contributions to the industry
First actor to ever win an Oscar for portraying Santa Claus
Older brother of fellow actor, Arthur Chesney
Quote: "(Upon receiving his Oscar for "Miracle on 34th Street") "Now I know there is a Santa Claus!""
Discovered at 18 by playwright George Bernard Shaw, who would go on to cast him in several of his plays starting in the 1890s
Established himself as a successful actor throughout England before making his Hollywood film debut in 1935, where he would permanently settle by 1940
Served with the British Army during WWI, eventually rising to the rank of Captain

Fast Facts