Trivia

He famously did not see his contract for "The Lady From Shanghai" until his first day of filming, which involved his playing dead whilst on a stretcher. He was still on the stretcher when he signed the contract, and claimed it was only then that he noted (with pleasure) that his salary for the film was to be $1250 per week.

Made his film debut in Sally of the Sawdust (1925). This movie was the first starring film for W.C. Fields and was directed by the legendary D.W. Griffith.

His leading ladies on the stage included Tallulah Bankhead, Helen Hayes, Claudette Colbert, Judith Anderson, Gladys Cooper and Ruth Gordon.