Adolphe Menjou

Who was Adolphe Menjou?

Adolphe Jean Menjou [/'ædɒlf 'mɒnʒuː/] (February 18, 1890 – October 29, 1963) was an American actor whose career spanned both silent films and talkies. He played prominent roles in The Sheik (1921), A Woman of Paris (1923), The Marriage Circle (1924), Morocco (1930), A Farewell to Arms (1932), Morning Glory (1933), and the original A Star Is Born (1937). Menjou was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to a French father, Albert Menjou, and an Irish mother, Nora (née Joyce). His brother, Henry Arthur Menjou, was a year younger and also an actor. Menjou attended the Culver Military Academy, and graduated from Cornell University with a degree in engineering. Mainly a supporting actor after the 1940s, he played a prominent role as the antagonist of Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory (1957).

In 1960, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the motion picture industry.

Historical significance

He became a leading man during the 1920s, known for his debonair and sophisticated screen presence. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Front Page (1931).