Robert Donat's pleasant voice and somewhat neutral English accent were carefully honed as a boy because he had a stammer and took elocution lessons starting at age 11 to overcome the impediment. It was not too surprising that freedom from such a vocal embarrassment was encouragement to act. His other handicap, acute asthma, did not deter him. At the age of 16 he began performing Shakespeare and other classic roles in a number of repertory and touring companies throughout Britain. In 1924 he joined Sir Frank Benson's repertory company, and later he was with the Liverpool Repertory Theater. His work was finally noticed by 'Alexander Korda , a Twentieth Century Fox production shot in the UK, was Donat's final film. His fragility was poignantly obvious on screen, and he died shortly after the film was finished. He received a posthumous Special Citation from the USA National Board of Review and was nominated for a Best Actor Golden Globe. It was a career for Robert Donat that should have gone on, yet it was filled with many notable screen memories just the same.
His last words on screen are: "We shall not see each other again, I think". "Farewell, Jen-Ai". (Spoken to Ingrid Bergmans character Jen-Ai ("the one who loves people") in The Inn of the Sixth Happiness ). He passed away shortly after filming was completed.
He was originally scheduled to play the title role in Captain Blood (1935) but withdrew before shooting began, which created an opportunity for Errol Flynn to become a star.
He did not feel comfortable with Hollywood, so Hollywood came to him, filming mostly in England.
Uncle of actor Peter Donat.
He was English born of Polish descent, and several of his brothers emigrated to Canada.
Favorite actor of British comedy legend Peter Sellers, who once said about Bob Donat: "I thought he was a god."
He said that his favourite actors were Charles Chaplin , Paul Muni , Spencer Tracy , Greta Garbo and Deanna Durbin.
Great-uncle of Lucas Donat.
When he died in 1958, he left none of his $70,000 estate to wife, Renee Asherson. Instead his estate was divided among his three children, Joanna, John and Brian.
Father of 1 daughter, Joanna Donat (born 1931) and 2 sons, John Donat (born 1933) and Brian Donat (born 1936) with his first wife, Ella Annesley Voysey.
Lobbied for the role of the Chorus in The Chronicle History of King Henry the Fifth with His Battell Fought at Agincourt in France , but Leslie Banks was cast instead.
Campaigned to be cast against type as Bill Sikes in Oliver Twist , but Robert Newton was cast in the part instead.
Was the favourite actor of Judy Garland , who wrote a fan letter to him after seeing his performance in The Count of Monte Cristo .
He played Charles Edward "Mr. Chips" Chipping between the ages of 20 (in 1870) and 83 (in 1933) in Goodbye, Mr. Chips .
Uncle of actor Richard Donat.
He was offered the part of Robin Hood in The Adventures of Robin Hood but turned it down due to illness.
His first wife Ella was remarried in 1956, becoming Ella Hall. She passed away in Sussex in the summer of 1994, aged 91.
I never had any real security in my life until I found the false,security of stardom.
One of the reasons why so few actors are successful both on the stage,and on the screen is that too many film actors look upon filming as a,rather boring, well-paid job. Their performances in front of the,camera, if also rather boring, are not quite so much of a joke.
The chief thing in my mind was that I must appear dashing. I distinctly,remember in The Count of Monte Cristo (1934) pulling my,shoulders back and trying to look handsome.
[on his role in Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939) ] "As soon as I put the,moustache on, I felt the part, even if I did look like a great airedale,come out of a puddle. ".
