George Arliss

George Arliss (1868–1946) was an English actor, playwright, and filmmaker known for portraying historical and political figures. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Disraeli (1929).

Disraeli (film): A 1929 American biographical drama starring George Arliss as British prime minister Benjamin Disraeli. Arliss reprised his acclaimed stage role in the performance that won him an Oscar.
West End theatre: The professional theatre district of London, centered on venues in the West End. Arliss built his acting career on the London stage before becoming a film star.
Benjamin Disraeli: A British Conservative politician, novelist, and prime minister who served in 1868 and from 1874 to 1880. Arliss repeatedly portrayed Disraeli on stage and screen, making the statesman his signature role.
Academy Award for Best Actor: An annual Academy Award honoring a leading performance by an actor in a film. Arliss won the award for Disraeli at the second Academy Awards.
The Iron Duke: A 1934 British historical film starring George Arliss as Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington. It exemplifies Arliss’s screen portraits of statesmen and military leaders.
The Devil: A play by Ferenc Molnár, adapted into English by Oliver Herford and staged with George Arliss in 1908. The production helped establish Arliss in American theatre.
Louis N. Parker: An English playwright, composer, and translator whose plays included Disraeli. Parker wrote the play that gave Arliss his celebrated portrayal.
Academy Awards: Annual American film awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Arliss’s 1930 win made him the first British actor to receive a competitive acting Oscar.
Alexander Hamilton (film): A 1931 American historical drama starring George Arliss as United States statesman Alexander Hamilton. Arliss played another national political figure after his success in Disraeli.
Disraeli (play): A 1911 play by Louis N. Parker about British prime minister Benjamin Disraeli. Arliss’s stage performance created the role he later carried to film.

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Bette DavisRelated: His recommendation helped Davis secure an early Warner Bros. screen opportunity.