BIO

Reginald Owen was born John Owen in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England, in 1887.   He was educated at Sir Herbert Tree’s Academy of Dramatic Arts and made his West End stage debut in 1905, at the age of 18.

Owen made his British film debut in 1911 for Barker Motion Photography, playing Cromwell in a condensed version of Shakespeare’s Henry VIII.

He traveled to the U.S. in 1925 and made his Broadway debut, at the age of 37.   He stayed in New York and appeared in another 11 productions through 1932.

Owen made his U.S. film debut in a short-reel for Paramount Pictures in 1929.   However, it was not until 1932 that he left for Hollywood with a contract from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Owen appeared in over 130 films in a career spanning 7 decades. His last film role was in 1971.

Owen was married three times:

1. Lydia Bilbrook, actress, 1908-1923, one child, divorced;
2. Billie Edis Austin, actress, 1934-1956, two children, widowed;
3. Barbara Vermicheff, 1956-1972.

He died from a heart attack in Boise, Idaho, in 1972.   He was 85 years old.

Additional England stage information is available at:

Additional Broadway stage information is available at:

Additional biographical information is available at:

NOTED FILMS

Complete filmography at: