James Mason

In 1971, he married Australian actress Clarissa Kaye. She remained with him until his death.

Mason suffered from ill health towards the beginning of the 1960s. He survived a severe heart attack in 1959. However, in 1984, he succumbed to it on July 27, 1984. He was cremated and his ashes were buried in Corsier-sur-Vevey.

James Mason was born to Mabel Hattersley Gaunt and John Mason in Huddersfield in the West Riding of Yorkshire on May 15, 1909.

He completed his academic studies from Marlborough College and then pursued a course in architecture from Peterhouse, Cambridge. At the same time, he involved himself in stock theatre companies.

After completing his studies Mason gave acting a shot. It was primarily for fun and he did not intend to take it up professionally. He made his stage debut in Aldershot for ‘The Rascal’ in 1931.

Following his fun tryst, Mason took a step ahead in acting and got himself enrolled at the Old Vic theatre in London, under the guidance of Tyrone Guthrie. In 1933, he secured a small role in Alexandra Korda’s film ‘The Private Life of Don Juan’ but was sacked after three days.

Mason continued with theatre and firmed his position as a theatre actor. He became popular as a stage actor, and starred in a number of theatre shows. Starting from minor roles, he soon found himself large roles in British quota quickies or B-pictures. These were mostly minor films that accommodated law mandating a certain percentage of films shows in Britain to be British made.

During the Second World War, he registered himself as a conscientious objector. However, his tribunal exempted him only on the requirement to do non-combatant military service.

Throughout the 1940s, Mason developed his reputation as an actor. Though he played the role of protagonist in minor films, he had refined his acting talent and developed his position as one of Britain’s major film stars of the 1940s.

Mason struck gold with the 1954 remake of the original 1934 film ‘A Star is Born’. Quite literally living up the name of the film, Mason’s career deservedly received a big boost with the film. He essayed the lead role of Normann Maine. The film earned him rave reviews and he also received the Golden Globe award and New York Film Critics award for Best Actor and an academy award nomination.