Percy Marmont, a tall and debonair British matinée idol, embarked on his acting career on the stage in 1900. He would go on to become a romantic lead on screen, making his debut in the 1916 film "De Voortrekkers" while touring South Africa with a theatrical troupe. This marked the beginning of a prolific career in film, with Marmont appearing in over fifty silent movies.
During his time in Hollywood, Marmont divided his attention between the theatre and films, achieving significant success in both mediums. He was so well-liked that a street was even named after him, Marmont Lane, and the rich and famous could rent a room at the recreated gothic castle, Chateau Marmont, for up to $750 per month.
Marmont's serious and somewhat tortured on-screen demeanor may have been influenced by a hernia he suffered while filming "Mantrap" in 1926, starring alongside Clara Bow. After leaving Hollywood in 1928, he returned to Britain, where he continued to star in films, playing dapper Lotharios and appearing in adaptations of classic American plays on the London stage.
In his later years, Marmont partnered with Vivien Leigh in her final British theatrical appearance in "La Contessa" in 1965. He spent the final years of his life, almost completely blind, at his sprawling country estate, an hour's train ride from London.
