Personality and Life Story of Randolph Scott
Randolph Scott was a dashing American leading man who rose to become one of the most popular and iconic Western stars in Hollywood. Born to George and Lucy Crane Scott during a visit to Virginia, Scott was raised in a wealthy family in Charlotte, North Carolina. After serving in the U.S. Army in France during World War I, he attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, but due to a football injury, he transferred to the University of North Carolina, where he earned a degree in textile engineering and manufacturing.
Scott's introduction to acting came later, and he moved to California, where he met Howard Hughes, who arranged an audition for him with Cecil B. DeMille for the film "Dynamite" (1929). Although the role went to Joel McCrea, Scott was hired to coach Gary Cooper in a Virginia dialect for "The Virginian" (1929) and made a brief appearance in the film.
Paramount scouts discovered Scott in a play and offered him a contract. He met Cary Grant, another Paramount contract player, on the set of "Hot Saturday" (1932),and the pair began a romantic relationship that would last until 1942. Scott married and divorced wealthy heiress Marion DuPont in the late 1930s.
As his career progressed, Scott transitioned from playing supporting roles to leading men, initially in comedies, dramas, and occasional adventures. However, it wasn't until he focused on Westerns in the late 1940s that he achieved his greatest stardom. His on-screen persona transformed into that of a stoic, craggy, and uncompromising figure, a tough, hard-bitten man seemingly disconnected from his earlier light comedy leads.
Scott became one of the top box-office stars of the 1950s, and in Westerns directed by Budd Boetticher, he played a critically important role in elevating the Western genre to an art form. His critically acclaimed, less-heroic-than-usual role in "Ride the High Country" (1962) marked the end of his film career.
After retiring from acting, Scott lived a life of luxury, playing golf, and avoiding the film industry. He passed away in 1987, leaving behind his second wife, Patricia Stillman, and his two adopted children, Christopher and Sandra. Scott is buried in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina.
