Leslie Howard Steiner, known as Leslie Howard, established himself as a central figure in 1930s cinema through roles in Gone with the Wind and Pygmalion. Born in London in 1893, he balanced an extensive career across British and American stages and film sets, working as an actor, writer, producer, and director until his death in 1943.
Early Life and Military Service
Born to Lilian Blumberg and Ferdinand Steiner, Howard attended Alleyn's School and Dulwich College. At the onset of the First World War in 1914, he enlisted as a private in the British Army's Inns of Court Officer Training Corps. By 1915, he held a commission as a subaltern with the 3/1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry. He resigned this commission in 1916 due to neurasthenia and later formally adopted the surname Howard in 1920.
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Howard began his acting career in 1916 with regional tours of Peg o' My Heart and Charley's Aunt. His career shifted to Broadway, where he earned status as a star in productions such as Her Cardboard Lover in 1927. He demonstrated his versatility by producing, directing, and writing for the stage, including his own play, Murray Hill. His stage career concluded with an extensive transcontinental tour of Hamlet between 1936 and 1937.
Cinematic Career
After co-founding Minerva Films Ltd with Adrian Brunel in 1920, Howard became a fixture in Hollywood and British productions. He appeared in films including The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Petrified Forest, and Intermezzo. His performance in Pygmalion earned him the Volpi Cup for Best Actor in 1938, alongside multiple Academy Award nominations for his work in Berkeley Square and Pygmalion. By the end of his life, he had also directed films such as Pimpernel Smith and The First of the Few.
Wartime Work and Death
During the Second World War, Howard contributed to the Allied cause through filmmaking and writing. He provided articles for The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Vanity Fair, while producing anti-German propaganda intended to bolster support for the Allies. In June 1943, he was a passenger on BOAC Flight 777 when the aircraft was shot down by the Luftwaffe over the Bay of Biscay, resulting in his death at age 50.
Fast facts
- Born: 1893, London
- Died: 1943, Bay of Biscay
- Education: Alleyn's School, Dulwich College
- Awards: Volpi Cup for Best Actor (1938), Hollywood Walk of Fame star
- Notable Film: Gone with the Wind (1939)
- Citizenship: United Kingdom
Questions readers ask
What was Leslie Howard's role in the Second World War?
He worked as a filmmaker and writer to create anti-German propaganda and promote support for the Allied cause.
How did Leslie Howard die?
He died in 1943 when his plane, BOAC Flight 777, was shot down by the Luftwaffe over the Bay of Biscay.
Achievements
- Worked as theatre director, film director and stage actor
