Samuel Laird Cregar (July 28, 1913 â€" December 9, 1944) was an
American stage and film actor. Cregar was best known for his
villainous performances in films such as I Wake Up Screaming (1941)
and The Lodger (1944).Cregar's screen career began in 1940 working as
an extra in films. By 1941, he had signed a film contract with 20th
Century Fox. Cregar quickly rose to stardom, appearing in a variety of
genres from screwball comedy to horror. He was a popular actor until
his death in 1944 at the age of 31.Laird Cregar was born in
Philadelphia, the youngest of six sons of Elizabeth (née Smith) and
Edward Matthews Cregar. His father was a cricketer and member of a
team called the Gentlemen of Philadelphia, which toured
internationally in the late 1890s and early 1900s. Laird, at the age
of eight, was sent to England to be educated at Winchester College,
where he developed his abilities with British accents. He also
appeared on stage for the first time when he was eight. He performed
as a page boy with the Stratford-upon-Avon theatrical troupe, and
continued to act in several other productions at Stratford. "From that
time on", he said later, "all I've ever wanted to do is go on stage."
American stage and film actor. Cregar was best known for his
villainous performances in films such as I Wake Up Screaming (1941)
and The Lodger (1944).Cregar's screen career began in 1940 working as
an extra in films. By 1941, he had signed a film contract with 20th
Century Fox. Cregar quickly rose to stardom, appearing in a variety of
genres from screwball comedy to horror. He was a popular actor until
his death in 1944 at the age of 31.Laird Cregar was born in
Philadelphia, the youngest of six sons of Elizabeth (née Smith) and
Edward Matthews Cregar. His father was a cricketer and member of a
team called the Gentlemen of Philadelphia, which toured
internationally in the late 1890s and early 1900s. Laird, at the age
of eight, was sent to England to be educated at Winchester College,
where he developed his abilities with British accents. He also
appeared on stage for the first time when he was eight. He performed
as a page boy with the Stratford-upon-Avon theatrical troupe, and
continued to act in several other productions at Stratford. "From that
time on", he said later, "all I've ever wanted to do is go on stage."
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