Michael Rennie

Acting • Born 1909-08-25 – Died 1971-06-10

Acting2Bradford, Yorkshire, England

Biography

Michael Rennie (born August 1909 – June 10, 1971) was an English actor best known for his role as Klaatu in the science fiction classic The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). He enjoyed a successful career spanning film, television, and theater, gaining fame for his dignified and often authoritative roles. Michael Rennie was born Eric Alexander Rennie in Ilford, Essex, England. His early interest in acting led him to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), where he trained and developed his skills as a performer. He worked initially in British theater before transitioning to film. Rennie’s early career included several roles in British films, but it was his move to Hollywood in the 1940s that helped him gain more widespread recognition. He appeared in a series of films, often portraying dignified or authoritative characters, with his tall stature, smooth voice, and good looks making him a natural fit for leading roles. His breakthrough came with the science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), where he portrayed the alien visitor Klaatu. The film is considered one of the most influential sci-fi movies of all time, and Rennie’s portrayal of the calm and rational Klaatu became iconic. The film's message of peace, tolerance, and warning against militarism resonated with audiences, and Rennie’s performance as the alien ambassador remains one of his most famous and enduring roles. Following The Day the Earth Stood Still, Rennie continued to appear in a variety of films, often in roles of authority or leadership. Some notable films he starred in include The Lost World (1960), The 27th Day (1957), and Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959), where he appeared alongside actors like James Mason and Pat Boone. Rennie also appeared in numerous television series, including The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and The Invaders. In the 1960s, he had roles in various TV shows, further establishing his presence in the science fiction and adventure genres. Rennie was married twice. His first marriage was to actress Dorothy Dandridge in 1959, but they eventually divorced. Later, he married Shirley Sutherland, with whom he remained until his death. Despite his fame, Rennie led a relatively private life and was known to be a gentleman both on and off screen. He had a reputation for being reserved and professional, a trait that made him well-suited to the types of roles he was often cast in. Michael Rennie passed away on June 10, 1971, at the age of 61, from a heart attack while vacationing in Spain. His death marked the end of a distinguished career in film and television. Rennie’s most enduring legacy is his portrayal of Klaatu in The Day the Earth Stood Still, which remains a staple of science fiction cinema. His calm, authoritative presence in the film and his portrayal of an alien visitor with a message of peace continue to resonate with audiences and are considered a high point in 1950s science fiction. Throughout his career, he brought dignity and depth to the roles he played, earning him a place in cinematic history, particularly within the science fiction genre.

Filmography

126 credits

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Movie • 1951

Klaatu, alias Mr. Carpenter

Assignment Terror

Movie • 1970

Dr. Odo Warnoff

The Lost World

Movie • 1960

Lord John Roxton

This Man in Paris

Movie • 1939

Gang Member (uncredited)

The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel

Movie • 1951

Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

The Patient Vanishes

Movie • 1941

Inspector

The Horror Show

Movie • 1979

(archive footage)

The Wicked Lady

Movie • 1945

Kit Locksby

Dangerous Crossing

Movie • 1953

Dr. Paul Manning

The Robe

Movie • 1953

Peter

Demetrius and the Gladiators

Movie • 1954

Peter

Désirée

Movie • 1954

Bernadotte

Island in the Sun

Movie • 1957

Hilary Carson

Cyborg 2087

Movie • 1966

Garth A7

Sailor of the King

Movie • 1953

Lt. Richard Saville

Soldier of Fortune

Movie • 1955

Inspector Merryweather, Hong Kong Marine Police

The Power

Movie • 1968

Arthur Nordlund

Third Man on the Mountain

Movie • 1959

Captain John Winter

King of the Khyber Rifles

Movie • 1953

Brig. Gen. J. R. Maitland

The Rains of Ranchipur

Movie • 1955

Lord Albert Esketh

The 13th Letter

Movie • 1951

Dr. Pearson

The House in the Square

Movie • 1951

Roger Forsyth

Phone Call from a Stranger

Movie • 1952

Dr. Robert Fortness

Teenage Rebel

Movie • 1956

Jay Fallon

5 Fingers

Movie • 1952

Colin Travers

Lost In Space Forever

Movie • 1998

The Keeper (archive footage)

Ride Beyond Vengeance

Movie • 1966

Brooks Durham

The Battle of El Alamein

Movie • 1969

Bernard Law Montgomery

Hondo and the Apaches

Movie • 1967

Tribolet

Mary, Mary

Movie • 1963

Dirk Winston

Les Miserables

Movie • 1952

Jean Valjean

Seven Cities of Gold

Movie • 1955

Father Junipero Serra

Tower of Terror

Movie • 1941

Anthony Hale

Perilous Assignment

Movie • 1959

Self

Princess of the Nile

Movie • 1954

Rama Khan

Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey

Movie • 1995

Klaatu (archive footage) (uncredited)

Omar Khayyam

Movie • 1957

Hasani Sabah

The Root of All Evil

Movie • 1947

Charles Mortimer

Death on the Run

Movie • 1967

Major Worthington Clark

White Cradle Inn

Movie • 1947

Rudolph

Stoney

Movie • 1969

Harvey Ward

Subterfuge

Movie • 1968

Goldsmith

The Last Chance

Movie • 1968

George McConnell

Seven Into Hell

Movie • 1968

Blynn

The Gap

Movie • 1937

Chemist-Radio Operator (uncredited)

The Sky’s the Limit

Movie • 1943

George

The Desert Rats

Movie • 1953

Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

Hotel

Movie • 1967

Geoffrey - Duke of Lanbourne

Gangway

Movie • 1937

Ship's Officer

Secret Agent

Movie • 1936

Army Captain (uncredited)

Mambo

Movie • 1954

Enrico Marisoni

The Squeaker

Movie • 1937

Medical Examiner

Trio

Movie • 1950

Major George Templeton (segment Sanatorium)

I'll Be Your Sweetheart

Movie • 1945

Miss Pilgrim's Progress

Movie • 1949

Bob Thane

The Body Said No!

Movie • 1950

The Body

The Golden Madonna

Movie • 1949

Mike Christie

Uneasy Terms

Movie • 1948

Slim Callaghan

Ships with Wings

Movie • 1941

Lieut. Maxwell

The Black Rose

Movie • 1950

King Edward

The Big Blockade

Movie • 1942

George

Battle of the V-1

Movie • 1958

Stefan

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Movie • 1955

Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde

The Devil's Brigade

Movie • 1968

Lt. Gen. Mark Clark

Turned Out Nice Again

Movie • 1941

Diner

"Pimpernel" Smith

Movie • 1941

Prison Camp Officer

Dangerous Moonlight

Movie • 1941

Kapulski

The Divorce of Lady X

Movie • 1938

Minor Role (uncredited)

Titanic

Movie • 1953

End Narrator (Voice)

Caesar and Cleopatra

Movie • 1945

1st Centurion

The Conquest of the Air

Movie • 1931

Marquis d'Arlandes (uncredited)

Idol of Paris

Movie • 1948

Hertz

Naked You Die

Movie • 1968

Inspector Durand

The Man Who Could Work Miracles

Movie • 1936

San Francisco Cop

Bank Holiday

Movie • 1938

Guardsman (uncredited)

Gypsy

Movie • 1936

Circle of the Day

Movie • 1957

Eric Millet

The Time Tunnel

TV • 1966

Capt. Malcolm Smith

The Dick Powell Show

TV • 1961

Inspector Marshall

The Great Adventure

TV • 1963

President Jefferson Davis

Kraft Suspense Theatre

TV • 1963

Robert Thurston

The F.B.I.

TV • 1965

Conrad Letterman

Batman

TV • 1966

Sandman

Route 66

TV • 1960

Lost in Space

TV • 1965

The Keeper

Perry Mason

TV • 1957

Prof. Edward Lindley

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

TV • 1955

Allen Bliss

Daniel Boone

TV • 1964

Maj. Peter Wellington

The Virginian

TV • 1962

Michael O'Rourke

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

TV • 1951

Climax!

TV • 1954

Lord Edward Dominey / Major General Von Raggenstein

Hondo

TV • 1967

Branded

TV • 1965

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

TV • 1956

Matthew Birch

DuPont Show of the Month

TV • 1957

Suspicion

TV • 1957

Angus Martin

Jericho

TV • 1966

The Third Man

TV • 1959