Harrison, Sir Rex

Harrison, Sir Rex (1908-1990), British actor, immortalized in the role of Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (1956), the film adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion. Born Reginald Carey Harrison in Lancashire, he began his career at the Liverpool Repertory Theatre before establishing himself as a comedy actor in the West End. Greater recognition came in New York when he played Tubbs Barrow in Sweet Aloes (1936), and he followed this with French Without Tears at the Criterion Theatre, London. As his career progressed, American audiences were particularly enamoured of his very upright and English comic style. The role of Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady suited him perfectly and he played the part for two years on Broadway before repeating it in London. He won an Academy Award for the 1961 film version, but by then he was already an international star. He continued acting on the stage until his 80th year, enjoying success with The Fighting Cock (1959), Platonov (1961), In Praise of Love (1973), and Heartbreak House (1983). His impeccable and seemingly effortless performances often disguised the depth of his talent which came to the fore most strikingly in the title role of Pirandello's Henry IV (1974).