Michael Rennie
Michael Rennie (born August 1909 – June 10, 1971) was an English actor best known for his role as Klaatu in the science fiction classic The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). He enjoyed a successful career spanning film, television, and theater, gaining fame for his dignified and often authoritative roles.
Michael Rennie was born Eric Alexander Rennie in Ilford, Essex, England. His early interest in acting led him to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), where he trained and developed his skills as a performer. He worked initially in British theater before transitioning to film.
Rennie’s early career included several roles in British films, but it was his move to Hollywood in the 1940s that helped him gain more widespread recognition. He appeared in a series of films, often portraying dignified or authoritative characters, with his tall stature, smooth voice, and good looks making him a natural fit for leading roles.
His breakthrough came with the science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), where he portrayed the alien visitor Klaatu. The film is considered one of the most influential sci-fi movies of all time, and Rennie’s portrayal of the calm and rational Klaatu became iconic. The film's message of peace, tolerance, and warning against militarism resonated with audiences, and Rennie’s performance as the alien ambassador remains one of his most famous and enduring roles.
Following The Day the Earth Stood Still, Rennie continued to appear in a variety of films, often in roles of authority or leadership. Some notable films he starred in include The Lost World (1960), The 27th Day (1957), and Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959), where he appeared alongside actors like James Mason and Pat Boone.
Rennie also appeared in numerous television series, including The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and The Invaders. In the 1960s, he had roles in various TV shows, further establishing his presence in the science fiction and adventure genres.
Rennie was married twice. His first marriage was to actress Dorothy Dandridge in 1959, but they eventually divorced. Later, he married Shirley Sutherland, with whom he remained until his death.
Despite his fame, Rennie led a relatively private life and was known to be a gentleman both on and off screen. He had a reputation for being reserved and professional, a trait that made him well-suited to the types of roles he was often cast in.
Michael Rennie passed away on June 10, 1971, at the age of 61, from a heart attack while vacationing in Spain. His death marked the end of a distinguished career in film and television.
Rennie’s most enduring legacy is his portrayal of Klaatu in The Day the Earth Stood Still, which remains a staple of science fiction cinema. His calm, authoritative presence in the film and his portrayal of an alien visitor with a message of peace continue to resonate with audiences and are considered a high point in 1950s science fiction. Throughout his career, he brought dignity and depth to the roles he played, earning him a place in cinematic history, particularly within the science fiction genre.
Fotos
Películas (78)
Lost in Space Forever
1998 · The Keeper (archive footage)
Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey
1995 · Klaatu (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Horror Show
1979 · (archive footage)
Assignment Terror
1970 · Dr. Odo Warnoff
The Battle of El Alamein
1969 · Bernard Law Montgomery
Stoney
1969 · Harvey Ward
Subterfuge
1968 · Goldsmith
The Last Chance
1968 · George McConnell
Seven Into Hell
1968 · Blynn
The Devil's Brigade
1968 · Lt. Gen. Mark Clark
The Power
1968 · Arthur Nordlund
Naked You Die
1968 · Inspector Durand
Death on the Run
1967 · Major Worthington Clark
Hondo and the Apaches
1967 · Tribolet
Hotel
1967 · Geoffrey - Duke of Lanbourne
Cyborg 2087
1966 · Garth A7
Ride Beyond Vengeance
1966 · Brooks Durham
Mary, Mary
1963 · Dirk Winston
The Lost World
1960 · Lord John Roxton
Third Man on the Mountain
1959 · Captain John Winter
Perilous Assignment
1959 · Self
Battle of the V-1
1958 · Stefan
Omar Khayyam
1957 · Hasani Sabah
Island in the Sun
1957 · Hilary Carson
Circle of the Day
1957 · Eric Millet
Teenage Rebel
1956 · Jay Fallon
The Letter
1956 · Howard Joyce
The Rains of Ranchipur
1955 · Lord Albert Esketh
Seven Cities of Gold
1955 · Father Junipero Serra
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1955 · Dr. Jekyll
Soldier of Fortune
1955 · Inspector Merryweather, Hong Kong Marine Police
Désirée
1954 · Bernadotte
Mambo
1954 · Enrico Marisoni
Princess of the Nile
1954 · Rama Khan
Demetrius and the Gladiators
1954 · Peter
King of the Khyber Rifles
1953 · Brig. Gen. J. R. Maitland
The Robe
1953 · Peter
Dangerous Crossing
1953 · Dr. Paul Manning
Sailor of the King
1953 · Lt. Richard Saville
Titanic
1953 · End Narrator (Voice)
The Desert Rats
1953 · Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Les Miserables
1952 · Jean Valjean
5 Fingers
1952 · Colin Travers
Phone Call from a Stranger
1952 · Dr. Robert Fortness
The House in the Square
1951 · Roger Forsyth
The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel
1951 · Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
The Day the Earth Stood Still
1951 · Klaatu / Mr. Carpenter
The 13th Letter
1951 · Dr. Pearson
Trio
1950 · Major George Templeton (segment Sanatorium)
The Black Rose
1950 · King Edward
The Body Said No!
1950 · The Body
Miss Pilgrim's Progress
1949 · Bob Thane
The Golden Madonna
1949 · Mike Christie
Uneasy Terms
1948 · Slim Callaghan
Idol of Paris
1948 · Hertz
White Cradle Inn
1947 · Rudolph
The Root of All Evil
1947 · Charles Mortimer
Caesar and Cleopatra
1946 · 1st Centurion
The Wicked Lady
1945 · Kit Locksby
I'll Be Your Sweetheart
1945
The Sky’s the Limit
1943 · George
The Big Blockade
1942 · George
Tower of Terror
1941 · Anthony Hale
Ships with Wings
1941 · Lieut. Maxwell
Turned Out Nice Again
1941 · Diner
"Pimpernel" Smith
1941 · Prison Camp Officer
The Patient Vanishes
1941 · Inspector
Dangerous Moonlight
1941 · Kapulski
This Man in Paris
1939 · Gang Member (uncredited)
Bank Holiday
1938 · Guardsman (uncredited)
The Divorce of Lady X
1938 · Minor Role (uncredited)
The Squeaker
1937 · Medical Examiner
The Gap
1937 · Chemist-Radio Operator (uncredited)
Gangway
1937 · Ship's Officer
Gypsy
1936
The Man Who Could Work Miracles
1936 · San Francisco Cop
Secret Agent
1936 · Army Captain (uncredited)
The Conquest of the Air
1931 · Marquis d'Arlandes (uncredited)
Series (34)
The Danny Thomas Hour
1967 · Paul Heaton
Hondo
1967
The Invaders
1967 · Magnus, Vice Chancellor Pierre Alquist
Jericho
1966
ABC Stage 67
1966
The Time Tunnel
1966 · Capt. Malcolm Smith
Batman
1966 · Sandman
The F.B.I.
1965 · Conrad Letterman, Albert Robinson / Major John Anka, Eric Reverson
Lost in Space
1965 · The Keeper
Branded
1965
Daniel Boone
1964 · Maj. Peter Wellington, Edgar Newton
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964 · Barnaby Partridge
12 O'Clock High
1964 · Gen. St. John Keighley
Kraft Suspense Theatre
1963 · Robert Thurston
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963 · Edward Parker Greene, Inspector Kauslake
The Great Adventure
1963 · President Jefferson Davis
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
1962 · Ralph Manson
The Virginian
1962 · Michael O'Rourke
The Dick Powell Show
1961 · Inspector Marshall, General Conrad Munday
Route 66
1960
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
1960 · Julius
The Third Man
1959
Bonanza
1959 · Prof. Poppy / Dr. P.A. Mundy
Shirley Temple's Storybook
1958 · Captain Creighton
Suspicion
1957 · Angus Martin
DuPont Show of the Month
1957
Perry Mason
1957 · Prof. Edward Lindley
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956 · Matthew Birch, Grant Coburn, Marshal Locke Gardner
The 20th Century Fox Hour
1955 · Narrator
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955 · Allen Bliss, Sir Humphrey J. Orford
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954 · Self
Producers' Showcase
1954 · Howard Joyce
Climax!
1954 · Lord Edward Dominey / Major General Von Raggenstein, Dr. Jekyll, Charles Martin Westling, 'Irish' Sean Dillon, Dr. Fitzroy, James MacLennan, Lorenzo
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951