Cecil Kellaway, a South African native, initially pursued a multifaceted career in Australian live theatre, where he excelled as an actor, author, and director, before venturing into the uncharted territory of Hollywood in the 1930s.
Despite his valiant efforts, Kellaway found himself relegated to playing gangster bit parts, a far cry from the kind of roles he had grown accustomed to in his Australian theatre days. This series of disappointing experiences led him to become disheartened and ultimately, he decided to return to his homeland, abandoning his aspirations of making it big in Tinseltown.
However, fate had other plans in store for Kellaway, as a telephone call from the renowned director William Wyler would soon change the course of his career. Wyler extended an offer to Kellaway to appear in the 1939 film adaptation of Emily Brontë's timeless classic, Wuthering Heights.
This pivotal moment marked a turning point in Kellaway's career, as he subsequently became a sought-after talent whenever a role required a twinkling, silver-haired leprechaun.
