George Sanders was born of English parents in St. Petersburg, Russia. He worked in a Birmingham textile mill, in the tobacco business and as a writer in advertising. He entered show business in London as a chorus boy, going from there to cabaret, radio and theatrical understudy. His film debut, in 1936, was as Curly Randall in _Find the Lady . He continued to play mostly villains and charming heels until his suicide in 1972.
Brother of actor Tom Conway. The two appeared together in The Falcons Brother , in which they portrayed--appropriately enough--brothers, and which was Sanders final appearance as "The Falcon", a role he had grown tired of. In this entry, Sanders hands off the role to Conway, who took it up for nine subsequent films through 1946.
Sanders told David Niven in 1937 that he intended to commit suicide when he got older. In 1972 he fulfilled his promise, leaving this note: "Dear World, I am leaving because I am bored. I feel I have lived long enough. I am leaving you with your worries in this sweet cesspool. Good luck.".
After being convinced by a woman he had taken up with, Sanders sold his beloved house in Majorca, Spain. Soon afterward he checked into a hotel in Barcelona, and two days later his body was discovered next to five empty tubes of Nembutal.
First got involved in acting when a secretary in the same advertising firm suggested it. That secretary was Greer Garson.
Withdrew from the lead in the Broadway-bound musical version of "The Man Who Came to Dinner" called "Sherry!" (with Dolores Gray ) during its Boston tryout in March 1967 when his wife Benita Hume was diagnosed with bone cancer. He was replaced by Clive Revill. The show was a quick failure on Broadway, and Hume passed away that November.
Featured in a crime novel, "Crime On My Hands", in which he solved a murder on a film set. The novel was ghostwritten by Falcon screenwriter Craig Rice. The Authors Dedication reads "To Craig Rice, without whom it would not have been possible.".
Possessed of a fine baritone singing voice, often raised at parties, Sanders released an album entitled "The George Sanders Touch: Songs for the Lovely Lady" (ABC-Paramount: 1958), today a much sought-after collectors item.
Credited as the author of the mystery novel "Stranger at Home". The novel was actually ghostwritten by Leigh Brackett. The novels dedication reads "To Leigh Brackett, whom I have never met.".
Was one of two stars of the Pink Panther series to commit suicide. Capucine , who played Inspector Clouseaus wife in The Pink Panther , killed herself in 1990.
His mother Margaret Sanders, his third wife Benita Hume , and his brother Tom Conway all passed away in 1967.
His ex-wives Zsa Zsa Gabor and Magda Gabor were sisters.
He and his ex-wife Zsa Zsa Gabor both played "Special Guest Villains" in "Batman" .
Prior to Sanders casting in The Jungle Book (1967/I) , animator Milt Kahl drew several drawings of Shere Khan looking quite haughty. One of the individuals who looked at the drawings immediately remarked on how similar they were to Sanders.
During his college days, George enjoyed a reputation as a good swimmer and boxer, as well as beginning to cultivate his image as a bounder.
His Hollywood career began at 20th Century-Fox (1936-38). From there he went to RKO Pictures (1939-41), back to 20th Century-Fox (1942-43 and 1947-50) and MGM (1954-55). He worked for most of the great directors, including Alfred Hitchcock , Fritz Lang and Douglas Sirk.
His first steady employment was in the tobacco industry, traveling through Brazil and Argentina. He was sacked from jobs twice: the first time after turning up at his boss wedding in a drunken stupor, the second time after having fought a pistol duel over a paramour.
He committed suicide on April 25, 1972, less than three months from what would have been his 66th birthday on July 3.
Famously stated that he loathed giving interviews because he did not get paid for them; never gave autographs and rather enjoyed being perceived as "a rude and disagreeable person".
He was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 1636 Vine Street; and for Television at 7007 Hollywood Boulevard.
He appeared with John Carradine in six films: Four Men and a Prayer , International Settlement , Mr. Motos Last Warning , Man Hunt , Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake and The Private Affairs of Bel Ami .
He appeared with Wendy Barrie in five films: The Saint Strikes Back , The Saint Takes Over , The Gay Falcon , The Saint in Palm Springs and A Date with the Falcon .
Had appeared in two Best Picture Academy Award winners: Rebecca and All About Eve .
He was cremated after death and his ashes were scattered in the English Channel.
Had one younger sister: Margaret Sanders (born 1912).
Is referenced in The Kinks 1972 song "Celluloid Heroes", with the lines "If you covered him in garbage, George Sanders would still have style.".
He played the brother of his real-life elder brother Tom Conway in both The Falcons Brother and Death of a Scoundrel .
Both he and his elder brother Tom Conway worked with Thomas Heathcote : Conway in Blood Orange and The Last Man to Hang? and Sanders in Village of the Damned .
To avoid confusion in their respective careers, George and his brother Tom Sanders flipped a coin to decide who would change his name. Tom lost, dialed a random number at a payphone, and upon getting an answer from Conways fish market became known as Tom Conway.
A woman, a dog and a walnut tree, the more you beat them, the better,they be.
Acting is like roller-skating. Once you know how to do it, it is neither,stimulating nor exciting.
I am not one of those people who would rather act than eat. Quite the,reverse. My own desire as a boy was to retire. That ambition has never,changed.
I was beastly but never coarse. A high-class sort of heel.
Where on the screen I am invariably a son-of-a-bitch, in life I am a,dear, dear boy.
On July 3, 1906, the world was at peace. Nothing of any consequence,seemed to be happening in the capital cities of any of its countries.
Nothing disturbed the summer lethargy of its population. Everywhere,people dozed contentedly, unaware that an event of major importance was,taking place in St. Petersburg, Russia. At Number 6, Petroffski,Ostroff, to Margaret and Henry Sanders, a son of dazzling beauty and,infinite charm was being born. It was I.
