Movie Musings: Disney and More

Actors and their “John Hancock” Roles

When we think of movie stars and the roles that they are best known for, we most often think of people like Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind (1939) or Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series (2003-2017). We all have our “favorite characters” and the actors who played them. However, there are nine actors who created their best known on-screen role on Broadway first, then won both a Tony for the show, and an Oscar for the film version:  

Jack Albertson for his role as “John Clearly,” in The Subject Was Roses (1968). Albertson won the Tony for the role on Broadway in 1964 and then the Oscar for the film version in 1968. 10 years after originating the role of John Clearly on Broadway, Albertson created the character of “Ed Brown,” on television for the series Chico and the Man (1974-1978) for which he won an Emmy in 1976.    

Anne Bancroft for her role as “Anne Sullivan,” in The Miracle Worker (1962). Bancroft won the Tony in 1960 and then the Oscar for the film in 1962. She also received a Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actress: Drama for her performance in the film, but was beaten by Geraldine Page in The Sweet Bird of Youth (1962). Bancroft did, however, beat Page in the Oscars.

Shirley Booth for her role as “Lola Delaney,” in Come Back, Little Sheba (1952). Booth won the Tony for the role in 1950, and the then won the Oscar for the film in 1952. Unlike Anne Bancroft, Booth also won the Golden Globe for Best Actress: Drama for her performance.

Yul Brynner for his role as “King Mongkut of Siam,” in The King and I (1956). Brynner won the Tony in 1952 and the Oscar in 1956. Brynner reprised the role for two Broadway revivals and won an additional Tony for portraying the character of King Mongkut for a total of 4,625 performances on Broadway. When “The King and I,” was revived in 1977, one of Brynner’s co-stars in the show was future Tony-Award-Nominee Martin Vidnovic. Vidnovic later voiced the King of Siam himself in Warner Bros. animated adaptation of The King and I in 1999. (I also had the privilege of seeing Mr. Vidnovic perform the role of King onstage, opposite Sandy Duncan, at the Music Hall at Fair Park in Downtown Dallas in the early 2000’s.)

Viola Davis for her role as Rose Maxson in Fences (2016). Davis won the Tony for a Broadway Revival of “Fences,” in 2010 and the Oscar in 2016. Davis also won the Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe. The role of Rose Maxson was actually originated by Mary Alice in 1987, who also won a Tony for her performance. 

Jose Ferrer for his role as Cyrano de Bergerac in Cyrano de Bergerac (1950). Ferrer won the Tony in 1947 and the Oscar in 1950, making him the first Puerto Rican actor ever to win a Best Actor Oscar. Ferrer also won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture: Drama. (The role of Cyrano de Bergerac was recreated by Gerard Depardieu in a film of the same name in 1990. Depardieu also received a Best Actor Oscar Nomination for his performance.)

Joel Grey for his role as the “Emcee/Master of Ceremonies,” in Cabaret (1972). Grey won the Tony in 1967 and the Oscar in 1972. He also won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in 1972. He reprised the role for a Broadway revival of the show in 1987 where he was also awarded the Drama Desk Award. When “Cabaret,” was revived on Broadway again in 1998, Alan Cumming stepped into the role of the Master of Ceremonies and he also won a Tony for his performance as the character.

Rex Harrison for his role as “Professor Henry Higgins,” in My Fair Lady (1964). Harrison won the Tony in 1957 and the Oscar in 1964. Harrison also won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture: Musical or Comedy. He reprised the role of Henry Higgins for a Broadway revival of the show in 1981. When Harrison won the Oscar, he dedicated the award to his “Fair Ladies,” Julie Andrews, whom he had starred opposite on Broadway and Audrey Hepburn whom he had starred opposite on film. In 1984, Harrison Harrison received another Tony Award Nomination for his performance as Captain Shotover in the play “Heartbreak House,” by George Bernard Shaw. Shaw wrote “Pygmalion,” which is the play that inspired “My Fair Lady.”

Paul Scofield for his role as “Sir Thomas Moore,” in A Man for All Seasons (1966). Scofield won the Tony in 1962 and the Oscar in 1966. Scofield also won the Golden Globe for Best Actor: Drama. While Scofield made several films throughout his career, the original Broadway Production of “A Man for All Seasons,” would be his only Broadway play.                   

There is no doubt that these nine actors are among the greatest actors of all time, having been able to master these roles on both stage and screen. While many of them have other identifiable roles, these remain recognized as some of their best work.