Blue-blood, stage-trained actor who made his film debut in 1932. Owing to his upper-class poise and polish, Tone was pigeonholed as a tuxedoed, cafe society sophisticate in a host of mostly MGM comedies and dramas. By 1937 the tall, handsome and sensitive actor was one of Hollywood's most prominent leading men, receiving recognition for his roles in "Mutiny on the Bounty" (1935), "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer" (1935) and "Three Comrades" (1938). Too often, though, he found himself stifled in standardized romantic leads, playing consort to dynamic star actresses, especially his then-wife Joan Crawford.
Save for an occasional success such as Billy Wilder's fascinating "Five Graves to Cairo" (1943) and Robert Siodmak's landmark early film noir, "Phantom Lady" (1944), Tone made few memorable films during the 1940s, and his screen career was all but washed up by the early part of the next decade. Tone was received unwanted publicity when he was assaulted by actor Tom Neal as the two men had an altercation over starlet Barbara Payton, whom Tone would later married. He did, though, successfully repair to the stage in the 50s and intermittently surfaced in character parts in films through the 1960s. He was especially fine as the President of the United States in Otto Preminger's fine political drama "Advise and Consent" (1962) and as the seedy, menacing nightclub owner in Arthur Penn's offbeat 1965 drama, "Mickey One". Tone was also featured in the popular TV series, "Ben Casey" (1965-66).
Family
SON: Pascal Franchot Tone. Mother Jean Wallace.
SON: Thomas Jefferson Tone. Mother Jean Wallace.
Companion
WIFE: Joan Crawford. Actor. Married October, 1935, divorced 1939; co-starred with Tone in "Dancing Lady" (1933) and "Sadie McKee" (1934).
WIFE: Jean Wallace. Actor. Married 1941, divorced 1948; two sons together; Franchot Tone won custody after divorce.
WIFE: Barbara Payton. Actor. Married 1951, divorced 1952.
WIFE: Dolores Dorn-Heft. Actor. Married 1956, divorced 1959; met during stage production of "Uncle Vanya".
Milestone
Returned to US and joined McGarry Players stock company in Buffalo NY
1928: Joined the New Playwrights Company in Greenwich Village, with whom he made NY stage debut in "The Belt"
1929: Became a member of the Theatre Guild, appearing in "Red Dust", "Meteor", "Hotel Universe" (1930) and "Green Grow the Lilacs" (1931)
1931: Founding member of the Group Theatre
1932: Film debut, "The Wiser Sex" (filmed at Paramount's Astoria Studio in NY while he was appearing on stage in the evenings)
1932: Signed a five-year contract with MGM
1939: Returned to stage in Group Theatre's production, "The Gentle People"
1951: Assaulted by actor Tom Neal over disagreement regarding actor Barbara Payton
Staged (and acted in) acclaimed revival of Anton Chekhov's classic play, "Uncle Vanya", in the mid-1950s
1967: With Jean Dalrymple, purchased Theatre Four in NY to use for experimental play productions; appeared there as narrator in "Beyond Desire"
1968: Appeared in last film, "The High Commissioner"
Education
University of Rennes - summer course
Cornell University - Ithaca , New York - 1927 - head of drama club; elected Phi Beta Kappa
"In 1951 he appeared in some very unpleasant headlines over a romance with starlet Barbara Payton, when he was beaten senseless on September 14 by ex-boxer Tom Neal (an actor best remembered for "Detour" 1945), who claimed Payton was engaged to both of them. Extensive plastic surgery was required on Tone's face, but undaunted, he married her. They were divorced the following year."--James Robert Parish ("The MGM Stock Comapny")
Contributions
You have the incorrect year listed for Franchot Tone's birthdate. It's 1905, per his birth certificate. Thanks, Lisa Burks - Franchot Tone Biographer/www.franchottone.com
-- Submitted by: Lisa Burks
David Jackson
Highly underrated
I just discovered Franchot Tone last month when I saw "Dangerous" (1935), with Bette Davis, for the first time.
Then ...
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Lori Gibson
Mutiny on the Bounty
The performance of Tone As " Byam" was exceptional , and earned a well-deserved nomination of Best supporting ...
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