Michael Wilding
Michael Charles Gauntlet Wilding (23 July 1912 – 8 July 1979) was an English stage, television, and film actor. He is best known for a series of films he made with Anna Neagle; he also made two films with Alfred Hitchcock, Under Capricorn (1949) and Stage Fright (1950); and he guest starred on Hitchcock's TV show in 1963. He was married four times, including to Elizabeth Taylor, with whom he had two sons.
For the writer and literary scholar, see Michael Wilding (writer).
Michael Wilding
8 July 1979 (aged 66)
1933–1979
2
Biography[edit]
Early life[edit]
Born in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England, and educated at Christ's Hospital,[1] Wilding left home at age 17 and trained as a commercial artist. He went to Europe when he was 20 and supported himself in Europe by doing sketches.[2] He wanted to get into designing sets for films and approached a London film studio in 1933 looking for work. They invited him to come to work as an extra.[3]
Personal life[edit]
Wilding was married four times: to Kay Young (married August 1937, separated December 1945, divorced December 1951);[19] Elizabeth Taylor (married February 1952, separated July 1956, divorced January 1957); Susan Nell (married February 1958, divorced July 1962);[20] and Margaret Leighton (married from July 1964 until her death in January 1976).
He and Taylor, who was 20 years his junior, had two sons, Michael Howard (born 6 January 1953) and Christopher Edward (born 27 February 1955). In 1957 he had a short-lived romance with actress Marie McDonald, who was nicknamed The Body.
In the 1960s he was forced to cut back on his film appearances because of illness related to his lifelong epilepsy.
Death[edit]
Wilding died on 8 July 1979 in Chichester, West Sussex, as a result of head injuries from a fall down a flight of stairs during an epileptic seizure.[21] His body was cremated and the ashes were scattered.