Farley Granger
Farley Granger, born Farley Earle Granger II on July 1, 1925, was an American actor known for his roles in classic films, particularly in the suspense genre. He gained fame for his collaborations with director Alfred Hitchcock and his performances in films such as "Rope" (1948) and "Strangers on a Train" (1951).
Granger was born in San Jose, California. He developed an interest in acting at a young age and began performing in school plays. In the late 1940s, he signed a contract with Samuel Goldwyn Productions and made his film debut in the drama "The North Star" (1943).
It was his role as one of the lead characters in Alfred Hitchcock's "Rope" that brought Granger critical acclaim. The film, known for its innovative long takes and intense atmosphere, showcased Granger's acting skills and established him as a rising star. His collaboration with Hitchcock continued with "Strangers on a Train," where he played a tennis player who becomes entangled in a dangerous murder plot.
Throughout the 1950s, Granger appeared in a variety of films, often exploring different genres. He starred in the Western "Roseanna McCoy" (1949), the drama "They Live by Night" (1949), and the adventure film "Hans Christian Andersen" (1952), among others. Granger's good looks, charm, and talent made him a popular leading man of the era.
However, in the mid-1950s, Granger's career trajectory began to shift. Dissatisfied with the roles he was being offered and disillusioned with the Hollywood system, he decided to pursue opportunities in Europe. He worked on several European productions, including Italian films such as "Senso" (1954) directed by Luchino Visconti.
Granger continued to act in films, stage productions, and television throughout his career. He also appeared in soap operas and made guest appearances on popular television shows. In the 1980s, he returned to the United States and focused on stage work, including performances on Broadway.
Beyond his acting career, Granger was known for his openness about his bisexuality, which was a rarity in Hollywood at the time. He wrote about his experiences in his memoir, "Include Me Out: My Life from Goldwyn to Broadway," published in 2007.
Farley Granger passed away on March 27, 2011, at the age of 85 in New York City. His contributions to film and his collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock have left a lasting impact on cinema. Granger's talent, versatility, and willingness to challenge conventions continue to be appreciated by audiences today.
Farley Granger, born Farley Earle Granger II on July 1, 1925, was an American actor known for his roles in classic films, particularly in the suspense genre. He gained fame for his collaborations with director Alfred Hitchcock and his performances in films such as "Rope" (1948) and "Strangers on a Train" (1951).
Granger was born in San Jose, California. He developed an interest in acting at a young age and began performing in school plays. In the late 1940s, he signed a contract with Samuel Goldwyn Productions and made his film debut in the drama "The North Star" (1943).
It was his role as one of the lead characters in Alfred Hitchcock's "Rope" that brought Granger critical acclaim. The film, known for its innovative long takes and intense atmosphere, showcased Granger's acting skills and established him as a rising star. His collaboration with Hitchcock continued with "Strangers on a Train," where he played a tennis player who becomes entangled in a dangerous murder plot.
Throughout the 1950s, Granger appeared in a variety of films, often exploring different genres. He starred in the Western "Roseanna McCoy" (1949), the drama "They Live by Night" (1949), and the adventure film "Hans Christian Andersen" (1952), among others. Granger's good looks, charm, and talent made him a popular leading man of the era.
However, in the mid-1950s, Granger's career trajectory began to shift. Dissatisfied with the roles he was being offered and disillusioned with the Hollywood system, he decided to pursue opportunities in Europe. He worked on several European productions, including Italian films such as "Senso" (1954) directed by Luchino Visconti.
Granger continued to act in films, stage productions, and television throughout his career. He also appeared in soap operas and made guest appearances on popular television shows. In the 1980s, he returned to the United States and focused on stage work, including performances on Broadway.
Beyond his acting career, Granger was known for his openness about his bisexuality, which was a rarity in Hollywood at the time. He wrote about his experiences in his memoir, "Include Me Out: My Life from Goldwyn to Broadway," published in 2007.
Farley Granger passed away on March 27, 2011, at the age of 85 in New York City. His contributions to film and his collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock have left a lasting impact on cinema. Granger's talent, versatility, and willingness to challenge conventions continue to be appreciated by audiences today.
Granger was born in San Jose, California. He developed an interest in acting at a young age and began performing in school plays. In the late 1940s, he signed a contract with Samuel Goldwyn Productions and made his film debut in the drama "The North Star" (1943).
It was his role as one of the lead characters in Alfred Hitchcock's "Rope" that brought Granger critical acclaim. The film, known for its innovative long takes and intense atmosphere, showcased Granger's acting skills and established him as a rising star. His collaboration with Hitchcock continued with "Strangers on a Train," where he played a tennis player who becomes entangled in a dangerous murder plot.
Throughout the 1950s, Granger appeared in a variety of films, often exploring different genres. He starred in the Western "Roseanna McCoy" (1949), the drama "They Live by Night" (1949), and the adventure film "Hans Christian Andersen" (1952), among others. Granger's good looks, charm, and talent made him a popular leading man of the era.
However, in the mid-1950s, Granger's career trajectory began to shift. Dissatisfied with the roles he was being offered and disillusioned with the Hollywood system, he decided to pursue opportunities in Europe. He worked on several European productions, including Italian films such as "Senso" (1954) directed by Luchino Visconti.
Granger continued to act in films, stage productions, and television throughout his career. He also appeared in soap operas and made guest appearances on popular television shows. In the 1980s, he returned to the United States and focused on stage work, including performances on Broadway.
Beyond his acting career, Granger was known for his openness about his bisexuality, which was a rarity in Hollywood at the time. He wrote about his experiences in his memoir, "Include Me Out: My Life from Goldwyn to Broadway," published in 2007.
Farley Granger passed away on March 27, 2011, at the age of 85 in New York City. His contributions to film and his collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock have left a lasting impact on cinema. Granger's talent, versatility, and willingness to challenge conventions continue to be appreciated by audiences today.
Farley Granger, born Farley Earle Granger II on July 1, 1925, was an American actor known for his roles in classic films, particularly in the suspense genre. He gained fame for his collaborations with director Alfred Hitchcock and his performances in films such as "Rope" (1948) and "Strangers on a Train" (1951).
Granger was born in San Jose, California. He developed an interest in acting at a young age and began performing in school plays. In the late 1940s, he signed a contract with Samuel Goldwyn Productions and made his film debut in the drama "The North Star" (1943).
It was his role as one of the lead characters in Alfred Hitchcock's "Rope" that brought Granger critical acclaim. The film, known for its innovative long takes and intense atmosphere, showcased Granger's acting skills and established him as a rising star. His collaboration with Hitchcock continued with "Strangers on a Train," where he played a tennis player who becomes entangled in a dangerous murder plot.
Throughout the 1950s, Granger appeared in a variety of films, often exploring different genres. He starred in the Western "Roseanna McCoy" (1949), the drama "They Live by Night" (1949), and the adventure film "Hans Christian Andersen" (1952), among others. Granger's good looks, charm, and talent made him a popular leading man of the era.
However, in the mid-1950s, Granger's career trajectory began to shift. Dissatisfied with the roles he was being offered and disillusioned with the Hollywood system, he decided to pursue opportunities in Europe. He worked on several European productions, including Italian films such as "Senso" (1954) directed by Luchino Visconti.
Granger continued to act in films, stage productions, and television throughout his career. He also appeared in soap operas and made guest appearances on popular television shows. In the 1980s, he returned to the United States and focused on stage work, including performances on Broadway.
Beyond his acting career, Granger was known for his openness about his bisexuality, which was a rarity in Hollywood at the time. He wrote about his experiences in his memoir, "Include Me Out: My Life from Goldwyn to Broadway," published in 2007.
Farley Granger passed away on March 27, 2011, at the age of 85 in New York City. His contributions to film and his collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock have left a lasting impact on cinema. Granger's talent, versatility, and willingness to challenge conventions continue to be appreciated by audiences today.
Quotes:
"I have never felt the need to belong to any exclusive, self-defining or special group. I find it difficult to answer questions about "'gay life" in Hollywood when I was living and working there. There were, of course, gay cliques, but I had no close friends who belonged to any of them, and I had no desire to become involved with any of them . . . I was never ashamed, and I never felt the need to explain or apologize for my relationships to anyone."
"I was very lucky when I first started. I had [Nicholas Ray] and before that Lewis Milestone, and I was a kid and very naive, with no training at all. They really took care of me. And then I began to get directors who weren't as good as [Ray and Milestone] were, and I soon realized I didn't know what the hell I was doing, and I'd better find out because I could no longer trust this sort of father symbol of the director anymore. In those days you were a movie star or you were a Broadway actor, and movie stars weren't considered actors. So I couldn't call myself an actor unless I worked in the theater for any length of time."
- Farley Granger
Trivia:
In his book "Original Story By: A Memoir of Broadway and Hollywood," playwright and screenwriter Arthur Laurents detailed his live-in relationship with Granger during the 1940s and '50s. Laurents and Granger were already romantically involved when Laurents wrote the screenplay for Rope (1948), in which Granger co-starred.
On the audio commentary for They Live by Night (1948), he says that Alfred Hitchcock and Nicholas Ray were the best directors he ever worked with. In addition, his two favorite films of his own are Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train (1951) and Ray's They Live by Night (1948).
(1944-45) Served in US Navy during WW II.
One of the last of Samuel Goldwyn's contract players.
On the audio commentary for They Live by Night (1948), he says that Alfred Hitchcock and Nicholas Ray were the best directors he ever worked with. In addition, his two favorite films of his own are Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train (1951) and Ray's They Live by Night (1948).
(1944-45) Served in US Navy during WW II.
One of the last of Samuel Goldwyn's contract players.