| # | Fact |
|---|
| 1 | He starred in two films that almost ruined Twentieth Century Fox - Cleopatra (1963) and Doctor Dolittle (1967). The latter effectively destroyed his careers as a leading man. |
| 2 | He also starred in a play at the Santa Monica Playhouse in the 1980's. |
| 3 | He was awarded Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 1989 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to drama. |
| 4 | Twice appeared with fellow Academy Award winner Claudette Colbert late in their careers in Broadway productions; "The Kingfisher" by William Douglas-Home opening at the Biltmore Theatre on December 16, 1978 running for 181 performances and "Aren't We All" by Frederick Lonsdale opening at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on April 2, 1985 running for 93 performances. |
| 5 | First came to notice in the London stage version of "French Without Tears" in 1937, but was not considered for the 1940 film version since he was unknown in Hollywood. |
| 6 | Contrary to some sources, Harrison was never considered to play James Bond in Dr. No (1962) because of his age. |
| 7 | Harrison nearly missed out on reprising his stage role of Henry Higgins in the film version of My Fair Lady (1964), since he was in his mid-fifties and the character was supposed to be in his late thirties. |
| 8 | Continued to act on Broadway until almost the very end of his life despite suffering from pancreatic cancer, painful teeth and glaucoma in his only eye. |
| 9 | Quit smoking after suffering from pains in his legs. |
| 10 | He never had any acting lessons. |
| 11 | Retired from films after making The Fifth Musketeer (1979), but continued to act on Broadway and television. |
| 12 | In a 1963 interview his friend Dirk Bogarde named Harrison as the actor who had influenced him most. |
| 13 | Won a 1969 Special Tony Award (New York City). |
| 14 | He was reportedly considered for the role of Nicholas II in Nicholas and Alexandra (1971). However, a recent biography of producer Sam Spiegel revealed that Harrison was in fact never offered the part, since at 63 he was too old to play the Tsar, who was only fifty at the time of his death. Harrison was in fact offered the role of Count Witte, but replied, "Tell him [Spiegel] that I don't play bit parts.". |
| 15 | When filming Doctor Dolittle (1967), was frequently bitten by the animals. |
| 16 | Chuck Jones has stated that Bugs Bunny's character was based on an amalgam of Rex Harrison, Dorothy Parker and D'Artagnan. |
| 17 | His first name [Rex] means 'King' in Latin. |
| 18 | He was the brother-in-law of David Maxwell Fyfe, one of the prosecutors at the Nuremberg Trials, the British Home Secretary from 1951 to 1954 and the Lord Chancellor from 1954 to 1962. |
| 19 | Discovered Carole Landis' body the day she committed suicide. He had dined with her the previous night. |
| 20 | He had a reputation for being very abrupt with his fans. One night, after a stage performance of "My Fair Lady", it was late, cold and pouring with rain and there was an old woman standing alone outside the Stage Door. When she saw Rex, she asked him for his autograph. Rex told her to "Sod off", and the old woman was so enraged at this that she rolled up her program and hit him with it. Stanley Holloway, who had followed Rex out in time to see this, congratulated him on not only making theater history but, for the first time in world history, "the fan has hit the shit!". |
| 21 | Despite extensive vocal training after landing the part of Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (1964), he was unable to sing a note. In the end the director gave up and told him to quasi-speak the whole thing. |
| 22 | One of only eight actors to have won both a Tony and an Oscar for having portrayed the same role on stage and screen ("My Fair Lady"). The others are: Joel Grey ("Cabaret"); Shirley Booth ("Come Back, Little Sheba"); Yul Brynner ("The King and I"); Anne Bancroft ("The Miracle Worker"); Paul Scofield ("A Man For All Seasons"); Jack Albertson ("The Subject Was Roses") and José Ferrer ("Cyrano de Bergerac"). |
| 23 | Is the basis for the voice of Stewie Griffin on Family Guy (1999). |
| 24 | When he accepted his Academy Award for My Fair Lady (1964), he dedicated it to his "two fair ladies", Audrey Hepburn and Julie Andrews. Andrews had played Eliza Doolittle in the Broadway production, but was passed over for the film version in favor of Hepburn. |
| 25 | Turned down the lead role in 13 Rue Madeleine (1946). It then went to James Cagney. |
| 26 | Once punched Frank Sinatra in the jaw, thinking the singer was hitting on his wife, Lilli Palmer. Afterwards the two men became good friends. |
| 27 | Turned down the role of the Prince in the Broadway production of Noël Coward's "The Girl Who Came To Supper" in order to do My Fair Lady (1964). The role went to José Ferrer. |
| 28 | Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II of England at the age of 81. [1989] |
| 29 | Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1965. |
| 30 | Won three Tony Awards: in 1949, as Best Actor (Dramatic) for "Anne of the Thousand Days"; in 1957, as Best Actor (Musical) for "My Fair Lady", which he recreated in an Oscar-winning performance in the film version of the same title, My Fair Lady (1964) and a Special Tony Award in 1969. He was also nominated in 1984 as Best Actor (Play) for his role as Capt. Shotover in George Bernard Shaw's "Heartbreak House". |
| 31 | Was cremated and part of his ashes were scattered in Italy in Portofino and on the grave of his second wife, Lilli Palmer. |
| 32 | Grandfather of Cathryn Harrison, Harriet Harrison, Simon Harrison, Chloe Harrison and Will Harrison. |
| 33 | Father, with Collette Thomas, of actor Noel Harrison. |
| 34 | Father, with Lilli Palmer, of Carey Harrison, born in 1944. |
| 35 | Has a style of hat named after him. |
| 36 | Was almost completely blind in one eye as the result of a childhood bout of measles. |
| 37 | Frequently wore a specific ring with a dark square-cut stone, on his little finger of his left hand. It appears in almost all of his films. |
| 38 | Was so fanatical about wine that he often sent the bottles back if it was not to his liking, sometimes even to his own wine cellar. |
| 39 | Died three weeks after his final stage appearance as Lord Porteous in "The Circle" (1990). |
| 40 | Turned down the role of The King in The King and I (1956). The role went to Yul Brynner. He previously played the role in Anna and the King of Siam (1946). |
| 41 | Hated the nickname given to him by the press, "Sexy Rexy". |
| 42 | Winner of 2 Tony Awards for Best actor for "Anne of the Thousand Days" and "My Fair Lady". |
ncG1vNJzZmimlanEsL7Toaeoq6RjvLOzjqecrWWnpL%2B1tI6rnLFlmJa%2Fs7XSqKVmppWperi70a2faA%3D%3D