London-born Henry Daniell began his career on the British stage, and continued it on the Broadway stage when he emigrated to the US. He entered films in 1929, and excelled at playing the suave, well-bred villain who could kill an enemy or start a war with a certain air of upper-class disdain, as if all of this effort was beneath him. His long and distinguished career ended in 1963, when he suffered a heart attack while filming _My Fair Lady .
He joined the British Army at the outbreak of World War I in 1914 and fought on the Western Front. He was badly wounded in battle, and received a medical discharge in 1915.
Gabriel Dell of the The Dead End Kids was the husband of Allison Daniell (Henrys daughter), and Gabriel Dell Jr. is his grandson.
He was close friends with Krishnamurthy and spent much time with him in Ojai, CA, engaged in spiritual refection--quite contrary to the persona represented by the press.
His wife Ann Knox was a novelist and poet.
He was a favorite of director George Cukor , and appeared in seven of the directors films. Despite their collaborations, Cukor cited The Exile as his favorite Daniell performance because "I believe this film displays Henrys keen sense of humor!".
Daniell shot his last scene on Oct. 31, 1963, at Warner Bros. escorting the Queen of Transylvania in a scene from My Fair Lady . Director and longtime friend George Cukor thought that Daniell, 69, looked unwell; as it turned out he was right, as Daniell died from a heart attack a few hours later in his home in Santa Monica. Alan Napier was substituted in another scene that was intended to feature Daniell.
Director Robert Wise said of Daniell, "Henry was as far from a complainer as any Ive ever known. Hed walk onto the set, do his work like the pro he was, do it damn good, and then quietly leave without being a burden to anybody. Period!".
