Took up acting after a serious accident curtailed his career as a circus acrobat. Brynner moved to America in 1940, failed a screen test at Universal in 1947 because he looked "too oriental" and gave the first of 4,625 performances (over the course of many revivals) as the King of Siam in the hit Broadway musical "The King & I" in 1951. Brynner recreated the role for the 1956 screen version, winning an Oscar as Best Actor, and subsequently began a successful starring career in filmsTrading on his unidentifiably exotic looks and somewhat imperial manner, Brynner played a succession of royals, secret agents and gunslingers, notably in "The Magnificent Seven" (1960) and "Westworld" (1973).
Family
SON: Rock Brynner.
DAUGHTER: Victoria Brynner.
DAUGHTER: Mia Brynner.
DAUGHTER: Melody Brynner.
Companion
WIFE: Virginia Gilmore. Actor. Married in 1944; divorced.
COMPANION: Claire Bloom. Actor. Appeared together in two films in 1958; she recounted their relationship in her memoirs.
WIFE: Doris Kleiner. Divorced.
WIFE: Jacqueline de Croisset. Divorced.
WIFE: Kathy Lee.
Milestone
Began career as circus acrobat
Took up acting after serious accident
Supported himself as singer and guitarist
1934: Joined French acting troupe
1941: Moved to USA
US stage acting debut in "Twelfth Night" (with touring company)
1947: Failed Universal screen test for looking "too Oriental"
1949: American film acting debut, "Port of New York"
1951: First production of "The King & I" (ran for 1,246 performances)
1956: Recreated his signature role in "The King and I"; received Best Actor Oscar
1960: Co-starred in "The Magnificent Seven"
1973: Played a robot in the sci-fi thriller "Westworld"
1985: Returned to Broadway in "The King & I"
Mr Brynner's birthyear was variously reported as 1915, 1917, 1920 and 1922.
Special consultant to United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees in 1960.
Named honorary president of the International Gypsy Conference in 1977.
Contributions
His real name was Yuli Borisovitch Bryner.
He was born in Vladivostok, Primorsky province of Russia.
His last citizenship was Swiss, he returned to his Swiss nationality in 1960.
The name of Taidje Kahn was invented for himself, as well as his birth place and his birthdate, usually he gave different histories about himself in each interviews he gave.
The names he gave when he arrived to the United States were Youl Bryner and Jules Bryner, then, he and his sister Vera added a "N" to his last name. Brynner, and modified his first name to Yul.
-- Submitted by: Cerveral
Nina
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