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Rains was born in London. Gassed during World War I, he was almost blind in one eye for the rest of his life.
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, founder of The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, recognized Rains' acting talent and paid for the elocution lessons he needed to succeed as an actor. Later Rains taught at the institution, working with John Gielgud and Laurence Olivier, among others.
It was ironic that Rains' first Hollywood role was as the star of a movie in which he did not appear until the very end. That was the title character in James Whale's The Invisible Man. It was his distinctive voice which had won him the role.
Following The Invisible Man, Universal Studios tried to turn him into another horror film actor, but he broke free with his Academy Award nominated role in Mr. Smith Goes to WashingtonSmith Goes to Washington is a 1939 film which tells the story of an idealistic young man, chosen (see coin flipping) to fill the unexpired term of a dead Senator, who becomes disillusioned by the corruption he sees in Washington. It stars Jean Arthur, Jam, and followed that up in probably his most famous role, that of French police Captain Louis Renault in CasablancaCasablanca is a 1942 movie set during World War II in the Vichy-controlled Moroccan city of Casablanca. The film was directed by Michael Curtiz, and stars Humphrey Bogart as Rick and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa. It focuses on Rick's conflict between, in the wo.
He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of FameThe Hollywood Walk of Fame is a connected sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood, California, which is embedded with more than 2,000 five-pointed stars featuring the names of celebrities honored for their contributions to the ente, at 6400 Hollywood Blvd.
Claude Rains died in Laconia, New HampshireLaconia is a city located in Belknap County, New Hampshire. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 16,411. It is the county seat of Belknap County 6. The original settlement was as the village of Meredith Bridge within the town of Mered and is interred in the Red Hill Cemetery, Moultonborough, New HampshireMoultonborough is a town located in Carroll County, New Hampshire. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 4,484. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 193. 8 mi²) of it is land and 38..