Edward E. Clive was a Welsh-born actor-manager, initially destined for a medical career, but after four years, he surprisingly abandoned his studies at the University of Wales to pursue a life in the theatre.
For the next decade, he honed his craft in various theatrical productions across Britain, mastering a range of regional dialects and becoming a versatile performer.
In 1912, Clive arrived in the United States and established the Copley Theatre Stock Company in Boston, with himself as the leading performer.
By the 1920s, he had gained recognition as a producer and director on Broadway, working on productions such as "The Creaking Chair" (1926),"The Whispering Gallery" (1929),and "The Bellamy Trial" (1931).
Throughout his career, Clive continued to direct the Copley Theatre Stock Company, while also making a name for himself as a respected figure in the American theatre.
It wasn't until later in life that Clive made his debut on Hollywood screens, appearing in "The Invisible Man" (1933).
Although he was often typecast in small, stiff roles as British butlers, town mayors, and aristocrats, Clive managed to steal the show in certain scenes, showcasing his talent and range.
Some of his most notable roles include the burgomaster in "Bride of Frankenstein" (1935),Sir Humphrey Harcourt in "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1936),and the recurring character of manservant 'Tenny' Tennison in several installments of Paramount's "Bulldog Drummond" series.
