Jose Ferrer Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Jose Ferrer was widely known as a film actor and director. He placed his name high by holding the first Hispanic and Puerto Rican thespian Academy Award.He was honored for his amicable role in Cyrano de Bergerac. He became a self-approved director when he filmed three movies including Stalag 17, the Fourposter and The Shrike. His multi-faceted life was envied all ages. It came to a point where he managed to speak both English and Spanish. Not to mention French and Italian languages were his darling. His Hispanic background didn’t prevent him from starring in French films. He took a role of Dauphin in ‘Joan of Arc’ among others. As far as his career was concerned, Jose showed no mercy to other thespians. Before he rose to fame, he toiled for eight years as an actor where he opted to become a film expert.

Childhood And Early life

On January 8, 1912, Jose Ferrer was born in San Juan, the United States in Puerto Rico to Rafael Ferrer, a professional writer. His mother, Maria Providencia Cintron was a homemaker. Jose joined uncountable public and private schools in New York. He later joined Riverton University where he then went to ‘Institute Le Rosey.’ He graduated with Bachelor’s in Architecture in 1993.After school, Jose teamed up with Princeton Triangle Club where he founded the ‘Pied Piers’ band.

Career

Jose Ferrer first appeared on the Broadway stage with the help of his sitcom film Charley’s Aunt in 1935.He later appeared in Othello film in 1943 where it was regarded as the longest play in the Shakespearean era. He also took a leading role in the movie Cyrano de Bergerac that turned him into a star. In fact, he won the Tony Award for holding the Best Actor category. Not to mention his first film garnered him three Oscar nominees.

From 1949 to 1950 Jose was seen in inspirational films such as Whirlpool and Crisis. The same period, he took part in Broadway Production where he shot The Fourposter and The Shrike. He followed it up with My Three Angles and The Anderson Ville Trail. The Shrike film won him a 3rd Tony Award in 1952.The same year he starred in the Moulin Rouge film where he also received an Oscar nomination. From 1953 to 1955 Jose managed to co-author as well as directing leading films such as The Caine Mutiny. He co-authored the musical film known as OH, Captain.

Being a multi-faceted man, Ferrer acted and directed The Great Man movie followed by The Cockleshell Heroes in 1956.From 1958 to 1962 he directed films as I Accuse, Lawrence of Arabia and The Greatest Story Ever Told. In 1966 he was professionally selected to take the role of a humorist in the Batman series. From 1970 to 80s Jose played the role of a lawbreaker in not one but more television shows and films. In 1979 he appeared in The Fifth Musketeers film. His versatility made him star in a horror film titled as Dracula’s Dog and The Swarm. He later retired where he directed his last film titled The Best Man and All My Sons in 1988.He was last seen on stage in London, 1990.

Personal Life And Legacy

It was an irony for Jose Ferrer to study architect and he became a successful actor himself. Anyway, life has its tales. In 1938 Jose married Uta Hagen, but they divorced after ten years. The couple had one daughter called Leticia Thyra. He later married Phyllis Hill in 1943 where they parted ways in 1953. He married his third wife, Rosemary Clooney in 1953 where they later divorced in 1967. He had five children. In 1977 Jose married Stella Daphne Magee till his demise on January 26, 1992, in Florida, United States.