Monocle firmly in place, finger raised defiantly in the air, stately oratory grandly filling the room - if people remember this leonine, cultured actor at all, it is for the distinguished historical figures he played onscreen during the 20s and 30s.

Arliss began his stage career in 1886 at age 18, a British actor of the old school, with an ego to match. Once, during a court appearance, he described himself as the greatest living actor. “You see, I am on oath,” he explained.

He came to America in 1902 and stayed for two decades, appearing in many Broadway productions and, later, silent films. Onstage, Arliss established himself in historical roles or as eminent statesmen, kings, rajahs, eccentric millionaires, etc. He transferred these talents to film and unexpectedly became a major star.

At age 53, he debuted on film in The Devil (1921), in which he had appeared onstage in 1906. At the time of his motion picture debut, he was one of the oldest actors working in Hollywood. Also in 1921, Arliss reprised his stage work in the title role of the silent film Disraeli; he later won an Academy Award (becoming the first British actor to do so) for his work in the sound version of the same play (1930). Initially not thrilled at all with the medium of film, he revised his opinion with the coming of sound which allowed him to articulate and emote.

One of his movies was The Man Who Played God, which was Bette Davis' first leading role. Until the end of Davis' life she would credit Arliss, for personally insisting upon her as his leading lady, giving her a chance to show her mettle.

He appeared in several historical films, such as Alexander Hamilton, Voltaire and Cardinal Richelieu.

He often appeared with his wife, Florence Arliss (1871 - 1950), to whom he was married from 16 September 1899 until his death and with whom he made several films. He retired from the screen (following "Dr Syn") when Florence lost her sight in 1937. they had a son, Leslie Arliss, who became a prolific producer-director for Gainsborough Studios, with such films as Love Story (1944) and The Wicked Lady (1945).

Arliss published three autobiographies:

On the Stage (1926) Up the Years from Bloomsbury (1927) My Ten Years in the Studios (1940). Academy Awards and Nominations:

1930 Won for Disraeli 1930 Nominated for The Green Goddess He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6648 Hollywood Boulevard.