Who was George Sanders? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: George Henry Sanders

Died At Age: 65

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Benita Hume (m. 1959 - died. 1967), Magda Gabor (m. 1970 - ann. 1971), Susan Larson (m. 1940 - div. 1949), Zsa Zsa Gabor (m. 1949 - div. 1954)

father: Henry Sanders

mother: Margaret Sanders

siblings: Tom Conway

Partner: Lorraine Chanel (1968 – his death. 1972)

Born Country: Russia

Actors British Men

Height: 6'4" (193 cm), 6'4" Males

Died on: April 25, 1972

place of death: Castelldefels, Spain

Cause of Death: Cardiac Arrest

Notable Alumni: Brighton College, University Of Manchester Institute Of Science And Technology

City: Saint Petersburg, Russia

More Facts

education: Brighton College, University Of Manchester Institute Of Science And Technology

Recommended For You

1

What was George Sanders known for in his acting career?

George Sanders was known for his suave and sophisticated portrayals of villains and anti-heroes in classic Hollywood films.
2

In which iconic film did George Sanders play a memorable role as a charming but deceitful character?

George Sanders played the role of Addison DeWitt in the classic film "All About Eve" (1950), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
3

Did George Sanders have any other talents besides acting?

Yes, George Sanders was also a talented writer and singer, known for his distinctive voice and wit.
4

What was the distinctive voice characteristic of George Sanders often described as?

George Sanders' voice was often described as smooth, deep, and velvety, adding to his charm and appeal as an actor.
5

How did George Sanders approach his acting roles to create memorable performances?

George Sanders was known for his meticulous preparation and attention to detail in crafting his characters, often bringing a sense of wit and sophistication to his performances.

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Childhood & Early Life

George Henry Sanders was born on 3 July 1906 in Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire, to Margarethe Jenny Bertha Sanders and Henry Peter Ernest Sanders, said to be the illegitimate son of a prince of the House of Oldenburg. He had an elder brother, actor Tom Conway, who died in 1967, and a younger sister named Margaret.

In 1917, Sanders, along with his family, flew to England following the outbreak of the Russian Revolution. He studied at Bedales School and later attended Brighton College. He then graduated from Manchester Technical College, following which he worked in textile research.

He went to South America to manage a tobacco plantation and eventually came back to England. Sanders worked for an advertising agency before kicking off a career in acting.

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Career

George Sanders first appeared on stage in the play ‘Ballyhoo’. He worked in the British theatre for a period of time before making his film debut in the 1934 comedy ‘Love, Life and Laughter’.

He appeared in a Hollywood-shot film titled ‘Lloyd's of London’ which was released in 1936. This was followed by his roles in ‘Slave Ship’, ‘The Lady Escapes’ and ‘Four Men and a Prayer’.

In 1939, he played a villainous role in ‘Last Warning’. That year, the actor also starred as The Saint in John Farrow’s crime flick ‘The Saint Strikes Back’ and reprised the role in ‘The Saint in London’.

He had a supporting role as Jack Favell in the romantic psychological thriller ‘Rebecca’ (1940) which was a blockbuster and won two Academy Awards. After reprising his role as The Saint in ‘The Saint Takes Over’ and ‘The Saint in Palm Springs,’ Sanders featured as a villain in the 1941 thriller ‘Man Hunt’.

In 1941, he was cast in a new B film series about the suave crime fighter, The Falcon. The first film in the series was ‘The Gay Falcon’ which was followed by the second instalment ‘A Date with the Falcon’.

In the late 1940s, he had roles in the films ‘The Ghost and Mrs. Muir’, ‘Lured’ and ‘Forever Amber’.

Sanders played Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert in the British-American historical epic flick ‘Ivanhoe’ in 1952. In 1953, he contributed his vocals to and appeared in the musical ‘Call Me Madam’.

He played the titular character in ‘King Richard and the Crusaders’ in 1954. Following an appearance in the television drama ‘The George Sanders Mystery Theater’, the actor released an album titled ‘The George Sanders Touch: Songs for the Lovely Lady’.

During the 1960s, he got featured in a number of films including ‘The Last Voyage’, ‘Ten Honeymoons’, ‘Cone of Silence’, ‘Village of the Damned’, ‘In Search of the Castaways’, ‘Five Golden Hours’ and ‘The Rebel’, to name a few.

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Sanders starred in the sci-fi flick ‘The Body Stealers’ in 1967. His last film role was in the 1973 horror cult ‘Psychomania,’ released posthumously.

Major Work

George Henry Sanders played an acerbic, cold-blooded stage critic named Addison DeWitt in the drama film ‘All About Eve’ and earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The film follows a highly regarded Broadway star whose career is threatened upon the arrival of a young fan in his life.

Family & Personal Life

George Henry Sanders was married four times. He wed Susan Larson in 1940. Following his divorce from his first wife in 1949, he married actress Zsa Zsa Gabor. They were together till 1954.

His third marriage was to the widow of Ronald Colman, actress Benita Hume. Following her death in 1967, Sanders married Magda Gabor, who was sister of his second wife. Their marriage lasted just 32 days.

From 1968 until his death in 1972, the actor had a relationship with Lorraine Chanel.

In his later years, he suffered from dementia and several other health issues. He consumed the contents of five bottles of Nembutal, a barbiturate, on 23 April 1972, and died two days later. He left behind three suicide notes.

Facts About George Sanders

George Sanders was an accomplished writer and published several mystery novels under the pseudonym "Simon Raven."

Sanders had a passion for painting and was known to spend hours creating artwork in his free time.

Despite his suave and sophisticated on-screen persona, Sanders had a great sense of humor and was known for his quick wit.

Sanders was a talented singer and recorded several albums of popular songs during his career.

In addition to his acting talents, Sanders was also a skilled linguist and was fluent in multiple languages, including French and German.

George Sanders Biography

You wanted to know

What was George Sanders known for in his acting career?

In which iconic film did George Sanders play a memorable role as a charming but deceitful character?

Did George Sanders have any other talents besides acting?

What was the distinctive voice characteristic of George Sanders often described as?

How did George Sanders approach his acting roles to create memorable performances?