Leslie Howard Steiner, a renowned actor, was born in London to Lilian Blumberg and Ferdinand "Frank" Steiner. His father, a Hungarian Jewish immigrant, and his mother, of German Jewish and mostly English descent, instilled in him a unique cultural heritage. Leslie attended Dulwich College before pursuing a career in banking, only to be interrupted by the outbreak of World War I. He enlisted in the army and, after being diagnosed with shell-shock in 1917, was advised to seek therapy through acting. This marked the beginning of his illustrious career, with his name becoming synonymous with the stages of London and New York.
Leslie's early filmography includes the 1914 silent movie, "The Heroine of Mons". He quickly gained recognition for his portrayal of the quintessential Englishman, a role he would reprise in many films, captivating audiences and inspiring women to dream about him. His first sound film, "Outward Bound" (1930),was an adaptation of a stage play in which he starred. He continued to embody the Englishman archetype in "Never the Twain Shall Meet" (1931) and "Smilin' Through" (1932).
Leslie's screen persona was perhaps best exemplified by his role as Sir Percy Blakeney in "The Scarlet Pimpernel" (1934),a foppish society gentleman. He was instrumental in securing the role of Duke Mantee for Humphrey Bogart in "The Petrified Forest" (1936),a part Bogart had previously played on stage. As his fame grew, Leslie became increasingly discerning about his film roles, typically limiting himself to two projects per year.
In 1939, Leslie played the iconic role of Ashley Wilkes, the honor-bound, disillusioned intellectual Southern gentleman, in "Gone with the Wind". However, with war looming over England, Leslie redirected his focus towards the war effort, dedicating himself to directing films, writing articles, and making radio broadcasts. Tragically, his life was cut short in 1943 when the KLM plane he was on was shot down by German fighters over the Bay of Biscay.
