Donald Crisp


1882 - 1974

Actor, film director and producer. Crisp was born in London, although he claimed to have been born in Aberfeldy (Perth & Kinross) and maintained a faux Scottish accent throughout his life. He emigrated for the U.S. in 1906. Despite having acted in more than 400 Holywood films, being an accomplished director and taking a leading role in film financing, Crisp became known as Scotland's forgotten actor. His roles included Birth of a Nation (1915), Intolerance (1916), Dawn Patrol (1938), starring fellow Scot David Niven (1909-83), How Green is my Valley (1941) for which he was awarded an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor, National Velvet (1944), starring with Elizabeth Taylor and, of Scottish interest, Greyfriars Bobby (1961), in which Crisp took a leading role as the caretaker. He died in Los Angeles (USA). A commemorative plaque was unveiled by comedian Jimmy Logan (1928 - 2001) in Crisp's supposed Scottish birthplace.


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