359:, the cinematographer on the picture, said that he was standing outside the hotel during the parade and the incident never happened. Tracy, he said, was standing on the balcony observing the parade when a Mexican in the street below made an obscene gesture at him. Tracy replied in kind; and the next day a local newspaper printed a story that, in effect, Tracy had insulted Mexico, Mexicans in general, and their national flag in particular. The story caused an uproar in Mexico, and MGM decided to remove Tracy from the production so authorities would allow the studio to continue filming there. The young actor
1094:
38:
1063:
354:
and urinated down onto a passing military parade. Elsewhere in his autobiography, Arnaz claims that from then on, if one watched other crowds of spectators, they would visibly disperse any time an
American stepped out onto a balcony. However, other crew members there at the time disputed this
230:
Soon after his discharge from the army, Tracy decided to alter his career plans, abandoning engineering and turning instead to acting and to working in local stage productions. As early as 1920, in that year's federal census for
Pennsylvania, he officially identifies his occupation as "actor,
379:
During World War II, Tracy returned to military service. His career after the war focused increasingly on radio work and performing on the rapidly expanding medium of television. Between 1949 and 1954, he performed on both the radio and televised versions of the weekly series
445:
to treat the disease. His condition following the operation steadily worsened over "several months", and on
October 16, 1968, the 70-year-old actor had to re-enter the hospital, where he died two days later. He was buried beside his parents at Evergreen Cemetery in
227:. Although he served in the army for only a short time, he quickly rose to the rank of second lieutenant, a promotion likely attributable to his prior education at Western Military Academy and to his knowledge in engineering.
839:"Fourteenth Census of the United States: 1920", digital copy of original enumeration page, family of William L. Tracy in Sayre, Pennsylvania, 17 January 1920; Bureau of the Census, United States Department of Commerce;
231:
theatrical company". His rise in the ranks in theatre, as in his brief military service, proved to be rapid. After performing for two years in productions with traveling companies, Tracy began performing regularly in
273:. Despite Tracy's success portraying the character Hildy Johnson in the Broadway production, the film's producers did not believe he possessed sufficient star power to attract large audiences to cinemas to see the
392:. Tracy did continue to return periodically to the big screen. In 1964, he portrayed the former President of the United States "Art Hockstader", a fictitious character loosely based on
281:
in the part. Undeterred, Tracy continued to gain admirers of his work among studio executives and moviegoers. In 1932 he again received praise for his portrayal of Alvin
Roberts, a
162:
1113:
269:
In 1929, Tracy arrived in
Hollywood, where he played a news reporter in several films, although he was not cast in that role for the 1931 screen version of
138:
stage, film, and television actor. He is known foremost for his portrayals between the late 1920s and 1940s of fast-talking, wisecracking news reporters,
223:
to pursue a degree in electrical engineering. His studies there were interrupted by his induction into the United States Army during the final weeks of
1153:
426:
Tracy was married once. In July 1938, he wed Helen Thomas Wyse (also cited Wyze) in a small ceremony at the home of a
Presbyterian minister in
255:. Then, in 1928, his stage performance as the "hard-drinking, fast talking" news reporter Hildy Johnson in the original Broadway production of
1178:
386:, in which he was one of four actors to play the title role. In 1958, he returned to the role of newspaper reporter in the syndicated series
1163:
183:. His father's profession often required the family to relocate, so young Tracy grew up in a variety of locations, including Atlanta,
1168:
1148:
158:
867:
Historical
Newspapers, Ann Arbor, Michigan; subscription access through The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library.
1188:
1183:
1019:
332:
Lee Tracy's flourishing film career was temporarily disrupted on 19 November 1933, while he was on location in Mexico filming
1099:
142:, lawyers, and salesmen. From 1949 to 1954, he was also featured in the weekly radio and television versions of the series
1143:
1138:
747:
613:
235:
in New York, earning a steady salary of $ 35 a week. By 1924 he made his
Broadway debut in the original production of
1158:
953:
501:
388:
153:
1173:
683:
541:
983:
928:
731:
691:
629:
438:
621:
325:
252:
675:
581:
179:
Born in 1898 in
Atlanta, Georgia, Tracy was the only child of Ray (née Griffith) and William L. Tracy, a
1089:
987:
812:
589:
212:
437:
in 1965. Three years later, after being diagnosed with advanced liver cancer, he underwent surgery at
477:
236:
433:
Tracy's final acting performance was in the role of Father
Maurice Britt in the Broadway production
769:
573:
447:
442:
402:
382:
204:
167:
144:
93:
493:
368:
739:
723:
715:
605:
311:
278:
148:, as well as starring as the newspaper columnist Lee Cochran in the 1958–1959 British-American
1028:(Salt Lake City, Utah), 19 October 1968, p. 2A. Google Newspapers. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
970:
880:
755:
597:
188:
876:
1133:
1128:
637:
549:
469:
305:
184:
8:
1093:
667:
196:
192:
430:. The couple remained together over 30 years, until Lee's death. They had no children.
485:
461:
17:
1080:
949:
924:
356:
309:. The year 1933 attracted further attention to Tracy as he starred as a columnist in
1068:
659:
557:
509:
286:
220:
43:
1085:
707:
525:
517:
411:
282:
247:
208:
316:
300:
257:
48:
1122:
1114:
Lee Tracy: A Motormouth, Ambulance Chasing, Four Flusher (TCM Movie Morlocks)
840:
565:
533:
427:
415:
339:
291:
216:
1104:
367:, was also fired from the project for his refusal to testify against Tracy.
296:
1108:
1024:
393:
364:
360:
355:
story, giving a sharply different account of events. In his autobiography,
320:
274:
241:
699:
407:
351:
334:
224:
149:
37:
1076:
645:
418:
nomination, as Best Supporting Actor, for his performance in the film.
397:
343:
232:
200:
180:
991:
139:
135:
864:
994:. The Broadway League, New York, N.Y. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
74:
990:(IBDB), October 7, 1966–October 9, 1965, Henry Miller Theatre,
105:
946:
Highlights and Shadows: The Memoirs of a Hollywood Cameraman
1003:"Lee Tracy Dies at 70, Stage, Films, TV Actor", obituary,
900:
Smith, Jack. "Lee Tracy, Veteran Stage-Film Actor, Dies",
245:. Two years later, he starred in the hit production of
199:, where his father was employed as superintendent of a
1058:
261:received widespread popular and critical acclaim.
203:shop. Lee during his teenage years studied at the
1120:
968:"Lee Tracy, Helen Wyse Wed After Delayed Trip",
859:"Lee Tracy, Actor, Is Dead at 70...", obituary,
363:replaced Tracy. The film's original director,
174:
835:
833:
831:
779:(1965, TV Movie) as Albert (final film role)
396:, in both the stage and film adaptations of
134:(April 14, 1898 – October 18, 1968) was an
1092:
1015:
1013:
421:
157:. Later, in 1964, he was nominated for an
36:
828:
904:, 19 October 1968, pp. C1, C7. ProQuest.
1010:
914:
912:
910:
896:
894:
892:
890:
855:
853:
851:
849:
374:
159:Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
1154:Deaths from liver cancer in California
1121:
943:
577:(1933) as Joseph Phineas "Joe" Stevens
465:(1929) as Radio Announcer (uncredited)
342:. According to the actor and producer
918:
1179:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players
907:
887:
846:
784:
655:(1935, Short) as Pirate (uncredited)
350:(1976), Tracy stood on a balcony in
165:for his supporting role in the film
1007:, 19 October 1968, p. 15. ProQuest.
703:(1939) as Charlie "The Fixer" Dugan
569:(1933) as Pvt. William "Bill" Jones
13:
773:(1964) as President Art Hockstader
295:(1932). That same year, he played
14:
1200:
1164:20th-century American male actors
1054:
948:. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press.
502:The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
1061:
1020:"Actor Lee Tracy Dies of Cancer"
974:, 21 July 1938, p. 12. ProQuest.
765:(1950, TV Movie) as Stick Keenan
323:'s highly successful production
1169:Union College (New York) alumni
1149:American male television actors
1031:
545:(1932) as Button Gwinnett Brown
997:
977:
962:
937:
870:
561:(1933) as Buckley Joyce Thomas
529:(1932) as Mayor Bobby Kingston
453:
264:
1:
1189:RKO Pictures contract players
1184:Warner Bros. contract players
821:
653:Pirate Party on Catalina Isle
406:. The movie version featured
923:. New York: William Morrow.
253:New York Drama Critics Award
251:, for which he received the
7:
944:Clarke, Charles G. (1989).
884:. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
175:Early life and stage career
10:
1205:
1144:American male stage actors
1090:Internet Broadway Database
988:Internet Broadway Database
863:, 19 October 1968, p. 37.
414:. Tracy received his only
23:American actor (1898–1968)
15:
1139:American male film actors
695:(1938) as Michael Winslow
542:Washington Merry-Go-Round
319:'s agent in the director
215:before briefly attending
119:
111:
101:
82:
56:
35:
28:
1159:Male actors from Atlanta
1046:(1): 32–39. Winter 2014.
751:(1945) as Gabriel Patton
735:(1943) as Griff Thompson
641:(1935) as Chick Thompson
505:(1932) as Scotty Cornell
448:Shavertown, Pennsylvania
443:Santa Monica, California
383:Martin Kane: Private Eye
211:and graduated from that
205:Western Military Academy
145:Martin Kane: Private Eye
125:(m.1938–1968; his death)
94:Santa Monica, California
1174:Burials in Pennsylvania
1038:"Those Were The Days".
877:Overview for Lee Tracy.
807:Old Gold Comedy Theatre
617:(1934) as Stanley Brown
608:(1933) as Toby Prentiss
537:(1932) as Alvin Roberts
513:(1932) as Stanley Fiske
494:She Got What She Wanted
422:Personal life and death
346:, in his autobiography
299:'s frenetic manager in
759:(1947) as Hugh Fresney
743:(1945) as Eddie Carter
740:Betrayal from the East
716:Millionaires in Prison
687:(1937) as Eddie Haines
633:(1934) as Wally Brooks
625:(1934) as Bud Hannigan
606:Advice to the Lovelorn
601:(1933) as Space Hanlon
481:(1930) as Bill O'Brien
312:Advice to the Lovelorn
971:The Indianapolis Star
881:Turner Classic Movies
719:(1940) as Nick Burton
711:(1939) as Jed Marlowe
671:(1936) as Tom Mallory
663:(1936) as Pete Perkin
553:(1932) as Jimmy Bates
489:(1930) as The Buzzard
473:(1929) as Eddie Burns
389:New York Confidential
154:New York Confidential
1100:Moviefone: Lee Tracy
919:Arnaz, Desi (1976).
727:(1942) as Brad McKay
684:Behind the Headlines
649:(1935) as Hap Hurley
593:(1933) as Joe Gimlet
550:The Half-Naked Truth
521:(1932) as Lee Taylor
375:Radio and television
306:The Half-Naked Truth
277:. They instead cast
16:For the artist, see
748:I'll Tell the World
668:Wanted! Jane Turner
614:I'll Tell the World
590:Turn Back the Clock
439:St. John's Hospital
197:Sayre, Pennsylvania
861:The New York Times
732:Power of the Press
692:Crashing Hollywood
630:The Lemon Drop Kid
585:(1933) as Max Kane
213:preparatory school
42:Tracy in the 1928
18:Lee Tracy (artist)
902:Los Angeles Times
819:
818:
785:Radio appearances
763:Come Out Fighting
679:(1937) as Brandon
357:Charles G. Clarke
132:William Lee Tracy
129:
128:
123:Helen Thomas Wyse
112:Years active
61:William Lee Tracy
1196:
1096:
1071:
1069:Biography portal
1066:
1065:
1064:
1048:
1047:
1040:Nostalgia Digest
1035:
1029:
1017:
1008:
1005:The Boston Globe
1001:
995:
986:, cast listing,
981:
975:
966:
960:
959:
941:
935:
934:
916:
905:
898:
885:
874:
868:
857:
844:
837:
789:
788:
622:You Belong to Me
558:Clear All Wires!
510:Love Is a Racket
287:gossip columnist
89:
86:October 18, 1968
70:
68:
40:
26:
25:
1204:
1203:
1199:
1198:
1197:
1195:
1194:
1193:
1119:
1118:
1067:
1062:
1060:
1057:
1052:
1051:
1037:
1036:
1032:
1018:
1011:
1002:
998:
984:"Minor Miracle"
982:
978:
967:
963:
956:
942:
938:
931:
917:
908:
899:
888:
875:
871:
858:
847:
838:
829:
824:
798:Episode/source
787:
782:
777:Steptoe and Son
708:The Spellbinder
676:Criminal Lawyer
582:Dinner at Eight
526:The Night Mayor
497:(1930) as Eddie
456:
424:
412:Cliff Robertson
377:
326:Dinner at Eight
283:Walter Winchell
267:
209:Alton, Illinois
177:
124:
97:
91:
87:
78:
77:, Georgia, U.S.
72:
66:
64:
63:
62:
52:
31:
24:
21:
12:
11:
5:
1202:
1192:
1191:
1186:
1181:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1146:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1117:
1116:
1111:
1102:
1097:
1083:
1073:
1072:
1056:
1055:External links
1053:
1050:
1049:
1030:
1009:
996:
976:
961:
954:
936:
929:
906:
886:
869:
845:
826:
825:
823:
820:
817:
816:
813:Boy Meets Girl
809:
804:
800:
799:
796:
793:
786:
783:
781:
780:
774:
766:
760:
752:
744:
736:
728:
720:
712:
704:
696:
688:
680:
672:
664:
656:
650:
642:
634:
626:
618:
610:
602:
594:
586:
578:
570:
562:
554:
546:
538:
530:
522:
514:
506:
498:
490:
482:
474:
466:
457:
455:
452:
423:
420:
376:
373:
371:replaced him.
317:John Barrymore
315:and portrayed
301:Gregory LaCava
271:The Front Page
266:
263:
258:The Front Page
176:
173:
127:
126:
121:
117:
116:
113:
109:
108:
103:
99:
98:
92:
90:(aged 70)
84:
80:
79:
73:
71:April 14, 1898
60:
58:
54:
53:
49:The Front Page
46:production of
41:
33:
32:
29:
22:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1201:
1190:
1187:
1185:
1182:
1180:
1177:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1147:
1145:
1142:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1126:
1124:
1115:
1112:
1110:
1106:
1103:
1101:
1098:
1095:
1091:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1078:
1075:
1074:
1070:
1059:
1045:
1041:
1034:
1027:
1026:
1021:
1016:
1014:
1006:
1000:
993:
989:
985:
980:
973:
972:
965:
957:
955:9780810822375
951:
947:
940:
932:
926:
922:
915:
913:
911:
903:
897:
895:
893:
891:
883:
882:
878:
873:
866:
862:
856:
854:
852:
850:
842:
841:Family Search
836:
834:
832:
827:
815:
814:
810:
808:
805:
802:
801:
797:
794:
791:
790:
778:
775:
772:
771:
767:
764:
761:
758:
757:
753:
750:
749:
745:
742:
741:
737:
734:
733:
729:
726:
725:
721:
718:
717:
713:
710:
709:
705:
702:
701:
697:
694:
693:
689:
686:
685:
681:
678:
677:
673:
670:
669:
665:
662:
661:
660:Sutter's Gold
657:
654:
651:
648:
647:
643:
640:
639:
635:
632:
631:
627:
624:
623:
619:
616:
615:
611:
609:
607:
603:
600:
599:
595:
592:
591:
587:
584:
583:
579:
576:
575:
571:
568:
567:
566:Private Jones
563:
560:
559:
555:
552:
551:
547:
544:
543:
539:
536:
535:
534:Blessed Event
531:
528:
527:
523:
520:
519:
515:
512:
511:
507:
504:
503:
499:
496:
495:
491:
488:
487:
483:
480:
479:
478:Born Reckless
475:
472:
471:
467:
464:
463:
459:
458:
451:
449:
444:
440:
436:
435:Minor Miracle
431:
429:
428:Yuma, Arizona
419:
417:
416:Academy Award
413:
409:
405:
404:
399:
395:
391:
390:
385:
384:
372:
370:
366:
362:
358:
353:
349:
345:
341:
340:Wallace Beery
337:
336:
330:
328:
327:
322:
318:
314:
313:
308:
307:
302:
298:
294:
293:
292:Blessed Event
288:
284:
280:
276:
272:
262:
260:
259:
254:
250:
249:
244:
243:
238:
234:
228:
226:
222:
218:
217:Union College
214:
210:
206:
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
182:
172:
170:
169:
164:
160:
156:
155:
151:
147:
146:
141:
137:
133:
122:
118:
114:
110:
107:
104:
100:
95:
85:
81:
76:
59:
55:
51:
50:
45:
39:
34:
27:
19:
1109:Find a Grave
1043:
1039:
1033:
1025:Deseret News
1023:
1004:
999:
979:
969:
964:
945:
939:
920:
901:
879:
872:
860:
811:
806:
776:
770:The Best Man
768:
762:
754:
746:
738:
730:
722:
714:
706:
698:
690:
682:
674:
666:
658:
652:
644:
636:
628:
620:
612:
604:
596:
588:
580:
574:The Nuisance
572:
564:
556:
548:
540:
532:
524:
516:
508:
500:
492:
484:
476:
468:
460:
434:
432:
425:
403:The Best Man
401:
394:Harry Truman
387:
381:
378:
365:Howard Hawks
361:Stuart Erwin
347:
333:
331:
324:
321:George Cukor
310:
304:
290:
275:comedy drama
270:
268:
256:
246:
242:The Show-Off
240:
237:George Kelly
229:
195:, and later
178:
168:The Best Man
166:
163:Golden Globe
152:
143:
140:press agents
131:
130:
88:(1968-10-18)
47:
1134:1968 deaths
1129:1898 births
700:Fixer Dugan
454:Filmography
408:Henry Fonda
369:Jack Conway
352:Mexico City
335:Viva Villa!
279:Pat O'Brien
265:Film career
225:World War I
189:Kansas City
150:crime drama
1123:Categories
930:0688003427
822:References
724:The Payoff
646:Two-Fisted
398:Gore Vidal
344:Desi Arnaz
297:Lupe Vélez
233:vaudeville
201:locomotive
185:Louisville
181:railroader
102:Occupation
67:1898-04-14
1105:Lee Tracy
1086:Lee Tracy
1077:Lee Tracy
992:Manhattan
843:archives.
756:High Tide
598:Bombshell
400:'s novel
193:St. Louis
120:Spouse(s)
115:1920–1965
30:Lee Tracy
865:ProQuest
638:Carnival
518:Doctor X
470:Big Time
248:Broadway
239:'s play
221:New York
136:American
44:Broadway
1088:at the
795:Program
75:Atlanta
952:
927:
921:A Book
486:Liliom
462:Salute
348:A Book
285:-type
161:and a
96:, U.S.
338:with
289:, in
106:Actor
1081:IMDb
950:ISBN
925:ISBN
803:1945
792:Year
410:and
83:Died
57:Born
1107:at
1079:at
441:in
303:'s
219:in
207:in
1125::
1044:40
1042:.
1022:,
1012:^
909:^
889:^
848:^
830:^
450:.
329:.
191:,
187:,
171:.
958:.
933:.
69:)
65:(
20:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
