Stewart Granger (6 May, 1913 – 16 August, 1993) was an English film actor, mainly associated with heroic and romantic leading roles.
He was born in London, his real name being James Lablanche Stewart. He was obliged to change it in order not to be confused with American actor James Stewart.
In 1933, he made his first film appearance as an extra. In 1938, he married the actress, Elspeth March . His first starring role was in The Man in Grey (1943). After ten years of marriage and two children, he was divorced and soon afterwards married another actress, Jean Simmons, with whom he had starred in Adam and Evelyne .
Granger went on to appear in numerous adventure films, including:
In 1956, Granger became a naturalized citizen of the United States.
In Germany Granger acted in the role of Old Surehand in three western-movies made after novels by German author Karl May, aside to French actor Pierre Brice (in the role of the ficional red Indian-chief Winnetou), in "Unter Geiern" (Frontier Hellcat) (1964), "Der Ölprinz" (Rampage at Apache Wells) (1965) and "Old Surehand" (Flaming Frontier) (1965). The prefix "Old" to this role was considered by Karl May to be typically American, showing the great experience of the hero.
With Pierre Brice and Lex Barker, who also was a Karl-May-movie hero, he was united in the movie "Gern hab' ich die Frauen gekillt" (Killer's Carnival) (1966). In the German Edgar Wallace-movie series of the 1960ies he was to be seen in "The Trygon Factor" (1966). Towards the end of his career Granger even starred in a German soap-opera called "Das Erbe der Guldenburgs" (The Guldenburg heritage) (1987).
Divorcing from Jean Simmons after ten years and a daughter, he married for a third time and had another child. In later life he became an American citizen, and died in Santa Monica, California, of cancer.
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Last updated: 10-17-2005 12:17:03
