Michael Rennie
Acting
Born: August 25, 1909 · Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, UK
Died: June 10, 1971 (aged 61)
Highest Rated
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.
Known for
The Day the Earth Stood Still
1951
Batman
1966
Bonanza
1959
The Robe
1953
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
The Time Tunnel
1966
Secret Agent
1936
Titanic
1953
Perry Mason
1957
Lost in Space
1965
The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel
1951
The Lost World
1960
Photos (4)
Movies (74)
The Devil's Brigade
Lt. Gen. Mark Clark
Titanic
End Narrator (Voice)
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Klaatu / Mr. Carpenter
Désirée
Bernadotte
The Lost World
Lord John Roxton
The Robe
Peter
The Power
Arthur Nordlund
The Rains of Ranchipur
Lord Albert Esketh
The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Phone Call from a Stranger
Dr. Robert Fortness
Demetrius and the Gladiators
Peter
Third Man on the Mountain
Captain John Winter
The Desert Rats
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Soldier of Fortune
Inspector Merryweather, Hong Kong Marine Police
The Battle of El Alamein
Bernard Law Montgomery
Naked You Die
Inspector Durand
Caesar and Cleopatra
1st Centurion
The Black Rose
King Edward
Seven Cities of Gold
Father Junipero Serra
Teenage Rebel
Jay Fallon
Ride Beyond Vengeance
Brooks Durham
Secret Agent
Army Captain (uncredited)
The Divorce of Lady X
Minor Role (uncredited)
Hotel
Geoffrey - Duke of Lanbourne
King of the Khyber Rifles
Brig. Gen. J. R. Maitland
Princess of the Nile
Rama Khan
5 Fingers
Colin Travers
The Squeaker
Medical Examiner
Les Miserables
Jean Valjean
Island in the Sun
Hilary Carson
Battle of the V-1
Stefan
"Pimpernel" Smith
Prison Camp Officer
Assignment Terror
Dr. Odo Warnoff
Dangerous Crossing
Dr. Paul Manning
Sailor of the King
Lt. Richard Saville
Lost in Space Forever
The Keeper (archive footage)
Mambo
Enrico Marisoni
Trio
Major George Templeton (segment Sanatorium)
The House in the Square
Roger Forsyth
The Body Said No!
The Body
Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey
Klaatu (archive footage) (uncredited)
Tower of Terror
Anthony Hale
Subterfuge
Goldsmith
Cyborg 2087
Garth A7
The Conquest of the Air
Marquis d'Arlandes (uncredited)
Seven Into Hell
Blynn
The 13th Letter
Dr. Pearson
Hondo and the Apaches
Tribolet
Miss Pilgrim's Progress
Bob Thane
The Root of All Evil
Charles Mortimer
This Man in Paris
Gang Member (uncredited)
Uneasy Terms
Slim Callaghan
Omar Khayyam
Hasani Sabah
Bank Holiday
Guardsman (uncredited)
The Man Who Could Work Miracles
San Francisco Cop
Dangerous Moonlight
Kapulski
The Horror Show
(archive footage)
Turned Out Nice Again
Diner
Ships with Wings
Lieut. Maxwell
I'll Be Your Sweetheart
1945
Circle of the Day
Eric Millet
Idol of Paris
Hertz
The Wicked Lady
Kit Locksby
Mary, Mary
Dirk Winston
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
The Patient Vanishes
Inspector
Death on the Run
Major Worthington Clark
The Gap
Chemist-Radio Operator (uncredited)
Gangway
Ship's Officer
The Big Blockade
George
The Last Chance
George McConnell
Stoney
Harvey Ward
White Cradle Inn
Rudolph
The Golden Madonna
Mike Christie
TV Shows (45)
Perry Mason
Prof. Edward Lindley · 1 eps
Bonanza
Prof. Poppy / Dr. P.A. Mundy · 1 eps
The Virginian
Michael O'Rourke · 1 eps
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Ralph Manson · 1 eps
Batman
Sandman · 2 eps
The F.B.I.
Conrad Letterman · 1 eps
The F.B.I.
Albert Robinson / Major John Anka · 1 eps
The F.B.I.
Eric Reverson · 1 eps
Climax!
Lord Edward Dominey / Major General Von Raggenstein · 1 eps
Climax!
Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde · 1 eps
Climax!
Charles Martin Westling · 1 eps
Climax!
'Irish' Sean Dillon · 1 eps
Climax!
James MacLennan · 1 eps
Climax!
Dr. Fitzroy · 1 eps
Climax!
Lorenzo · 1 eps
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Matthew Birch · 1 eps
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Grant Coburn · 1 eps
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Marshal Locke Gardner · 1 eps
Route 66
2 eps
Daniel Boone
Maj. Peter Wellington · 1 eps
Daniel Boone
Edgar Newton · 1 eps
Lost in Space
The Keeper · 2 eps
The Invaders
Magnus · 1 eps
The Invaders
Vice Chancellor Pierre Alquist · 2 eps
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Allen Bliss · 1 eps
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Sir Humphrey J. Orford · 1 eps
The Time Tunnel
Capt. Malcolm Smith · 1 eps
Kraft Suspense Theatre
Robert Thurston · 1 eps
12 O'Clock High
Gen. St. John Keighley · 1 eps
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Barnaby Partridge · 1 eps
The 20th Century Fox Hour
Narrator · 1 eps
Branded
1 eps
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
Julius · 1 eps
The Third Man
77 eps
Shirley Temple's Storybook
Captain Creighton · 1 eps
The Dick Powell Show
Inspector Marshall · 1 eps
The Dick Powell Show
General Conrad Munday · 1 eps
The Great Adventure
President Jefferson Davis · 1 eps
Suspicion
Angus Martin · 1 eps
ABC Stage 67
1 eps
DuPont Show of the Month
1 eps
Jericho
1 eps
Hondo
2 eps
The Danny Thomas Hour
Paul Heaton · 1 eps
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1 eps
