Michael Rennie

The British actor 'Michael Rennie' (qv) worked as a car salesman and factory manager before he turned to acting. A meeting with a Gaumont-British Studios casting director led to Rennie's first acting job - that of stand-in for 'Robert Young' (qv) in _Secret Agent (1936)_ (qv) directed by 'Alfred Hitchcock' (qv). He put his film career on hold for a few years to get some acting experience on the stage, working in repertory in York and Windsor. Afterwards, he returned to films and achieved star status in _I'll Be Your Sweetheart (1945)_ (qv). Brought to Hollywood in 1950 and signed to a contract by studio head 'Darryl F. Zanuck' (qv), Rennie was cast in arguably his most popular role as Klaatu in _The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)_ (qv), when director 'Robert Wise' (qv)'s first choice, 'Claude Rains' (qv), was unavailable. After that he worked as a supporting actor for eight years until his return to England in 1959. At that time, he took the lead role of Harry Lime in the television series _The Third Man (1959)_ (qv). Throughout his career, he made numerous guest appearances on television, particularly on American programs.::Lyn Hammond