Leonard Ceeley
British actor (1892–1977)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Leonard Ceeley (real name Leon Otis Dickerson Seeley; born 14 August 1892 – 7 May 1977[1]) was a British-born American actor.
Leonard Ceeley | |
|---|---|
| Born | Leon Otis Dickerson Seeley 14 August 1892 |
| Died | 7 May 1977 (aged 84) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | actor |
Early life and career
He began as a choirboy at Rochester Cathedral before traveling to Italy to refine his vocal skills.[2]
His theatrical career unfolded almost exclusively in the United States, where he was one of the most prolific actors in musicals and operettas during the late 1920s and early 1930s,[3] particularly on the Broadway theatre and around the country.[4]
From 1930 to 1935, he held many leading roles in productions at the St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre,[5] commonly known as The Muny, earning his own paper doll.[6]
He later had a modest film career, with his most notable role being Whitmore, the villain in the Marx Brothers movie A Day at the Races
In 1943 Leonard Ceeley married Lorraine Bridges an American actress and singer, they remained married until his death.[7] They were principal players in the Marx brothers revue A Day at the Races.[8][9] and appeared in an adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac titled Gardenia Lady, which was written, composed, produced and costarred by Leonard Ceeley (under the name of Lyn Ceeley),[10] in Leeds in 1947.[11][12]
Theatre
- 1924 : Lollipop as Don Carlos
- 1927 : My princess ; as Guiseppe Ciccolini
- 1928 : Countess Maritza as Count Tassilo Endrody
- 1929 : Café de Danse as Ramon
- 1930: Alone at Last as Baron Franz Von Hansen
- 1930: Blossom Time as Baron Von Schober
- 1930: Nina Rosa as Pablo
- 1930: The New Moon as Phillippe
- 1930: The Desert Song as Pierre Birabeau
- 1930: The Student Prince as Prince Karl Franz
- 1930: Madame Pompadour as Rene Comte d'Estrades
- 1930: Maytime as Rudolpho/Signor Zizalle
- 1930: Show Boat as Steve
- 1931: Countess Maritza as Count Tassilo Endrody
- 1931: The Three Musketeers as D'Artagnan
- 1931: Rose-Marie as Edward Hawley
- 1931: Rio Rita as General Enrique Joselito Esteban
- 1932: The Rose of Stamboul as Achmed Bey
- 1932: The Riviera Girl as Charles Lorenz
- 1932: The New Moon as Phillippe
- 1932: The Desert Song as Pierre Birabeau
- 1932: The Last Waltz as Prince Paul
- 1933: Beau Brummell as Beau Brummell
- 1933: My Maryland as Capt. Trumbull
- 1933: Bitter Sweet as Captain August Lutte
- 1933: Florodora as Cyrus Gilfain
- 1933: Rip Van Winkle (Planquette) as Derrick von Beekman
- 1933: The Desert Song as Pierre Birabeau
- 1933: White Lilacs as Pierre Luselle
- 1933: The Nightingale as Stephen Rutherford
- 1934: Music in the Air as Bruno Mahler
- 1934: Cyrano de Bergerac as Cyrano de Bergerac
- 1934: Sweethearts as Franz
- 1934: Sweet Adeline as James Day
- 1934: The New Moon as Phillippe
- 1934: The Last Waltz as Prince Paul
- 1934: East Wind as Rene Beauvais
- 1934: Show Boat as Steve
- 1937: Music in the Air as Bruno Mahler
- 1940: Unfaithfully yours (du Barry) as Louis XV
- 1943: Balalaika as Colonel Balakirev
- 1950: The New Moon as Phillippe
- 1951: Song of Norway as Franz Liszt
- 1953: Three Wishes for Jamie as Power O'Malley
- 1953: Blossom Time as Count Frederic Scharntoff
- 1953: Call Me Madam as Supreme Court Justice
- 1953: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes as Mr. Esmond
- 1953: The Great Waltz as Hartkopf
- 1953: Music in the Air as Herr Direktor Kirschner
- 1953: The Mikado as Go-To
- 1953: Naughty Marietta as Lieut. Governor Grandet
- 1953: The Boy Friend ; as Percival Browne (understudy)
Filmography
- 1936 : Moonlight Murder : Ivan Bosloff
- 1937 : A Day at the Races : Whitmore
- 1937 : The Soldier and the Lady : Tsar's aide (uncredited)
Television
- 1950 : first Believe It or Not TV series (TV series).[13]