CLAUDE RAINS

Claude Rains was born in 1889 in England, and if one were to make a list of the finest actors who made lots of movies but whom never won an Oscar, Rains would surely be near the very top of the list, if not the very top! You probably know of him as "Louis" in Casablanca (nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for this film), or as "Dr. Jaquith" in Now Voyager, or as Nazi "Alexander Sebastian" in Notorious (nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for this film), or for his tons of other great performances, but did you know that his first real acting role was as the title character in "The Invisible Man"? Of that he spent years as an acting teacher in England before he made movies, and that his two best students were young Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud? What an incredible voice, and what an incredible talent! He had many other fine roles, especially during the 1930s and 1940s. Among them are Lawrence of Arabia, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for this film), The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Sea Hawk, Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Kings Row, The Wolf Man, They Won't Forget, Mr. Skeffington (nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for this film), and MANY more! He passed away in 1967 at the age of 77.