Fred Halliday's early years were marked by a thirst for adventure, which led him to fight with the British Army during the Boer War. He then embarked on a career as a mining engineer, searching for gold nuggets in Nevada, and quickly amassed a fortune, only to lose it just as rapidly. This experience likely influenced his decision to pursue a more peaceful profession, and he turned to acting, initially performing in Gilbert & Sullivan operettas and later in dramatic plays on Broadway from 1912 to 1936.
During his acting career, Halliday was known for his upper-crust British accent, which was a result of being raised in England, despite being born in Brooklyn. He was an incisive and debonair actor with a penchant for sophisticated comedy, and received good reviews for his performances in various films.
One of his most notable roles was as a co-star alongside Cary Grant and Nancy Carroll in The Woman Accused (1933). He was often cast as caddish bon vivants, gleeful villains, or wily arch rogues, showcasing his versatility as an actor. Some of his most memorable performances include Terror Aboard (1933),Desire (1936),and Intermezzo (1939).
Halliday's final notable role was as Katharine Hepburn's charming philanderer of a father in The Philadelphia Story (1940). He passed away in Honolulu, Hawaii, in October 1947, at the age of 67, due to a heart ailment.
