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Melvyn Douglas Biography

Birth Name:Melvyn Edouard Hesselberg

Birth Place:Macon, Georgia, United States

Profession Actor, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

Often supported anti-fascism efforts alongside his actress-turned-politician wife, Helen Gahagan, after the two traveled across Europe in the 1930s and grew disgusted by European anti-Semitism
Began training in theater with stage companies in several Midwestern towns in which he was raised including Madison, Wisconsin, Evansville, Indiana and Sioux City, Iowa
Quote: "The Hollywood roles I did were boring: I was soon fed up with them․ It's true they gave me a world-wide reputation I could trade on, but they also typed me as a one-dimensional non-serious actor․"
Best known for his roles on both film and stage, he would eventually take home the 'Triple Crown of Acting', an Oscar, Tony and Emmy
Known as a comedic character actor, he would often recall his dislike for being typecast
Purchased a fedora hat worn by FDR during his campaign efforts, with all benefits helping the Motion Picture Relief Fund

Awards

1932Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (July): winner
1932Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (January): winner
1938Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (June): winner
1938Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (December): winner
1939Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (February): winner
1939Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (September): winner
1940Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (November): winner
1940Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (May): winner
1941Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (January): winner
1948Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (July): winner
1963NBR Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1964Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
1964Golden Globe-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1964Golden Laurel-Top Male Supporting Performance: winner
1965Golden Laurel-Supporting Performance, Male: nominated
1968Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama: winner
1970NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1971Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1971Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1971Golden Laurel-Best Dramatic Performance, Male: nominated
1979LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1979NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1979NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1980Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
1980Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture: winner
1980NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1981Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated