Colin Clive, a British actor, was born to a British army colonel on assignment in France. Despite being the son of a colonel and an ancestor being Baron Robert Clive, the founder of the British Indian Empire, Clive chose not to follow in his family's military footsteps. Instead, he pursued a career in theater.
Clive's acting talents progressed throughout the 1920s, and he eventually replaced Laurence Olivier in the London production of "Journey's End" in 1928. The director, James Whale, was an up-and-coming scene designer and director who would later work with Clive on several films.
Whale's success with "Journey's End" led to his break in Hollywood, and he was soon directing films for Paramount. Clive starred alongside Whale in the 1930 film adaptation of "Journey's End," which was the first British-American co-produced sound film.
Clive's performance in the film led to opportunities in both British and American films. He appeared in several plays on Broadway, including "Overture" in 1930 and "The Stronger Sex" in 1931.
