Robert Donat was one of the most acclaimed and popular actors of British cinema in the 1930s and 1940s. He is best remembered for his roles in Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps and Goodbye, Mr. Chips, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1939. However, his brilliant career was cut short by his chronic asthma, which affected his health and limited his film appearances. He died at the age of 53 from a cerebral thrombosis caused by a brain tumor.
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The Early Signs of Asthma
Robert Donat was born in Withington, Manchester, on March 18, 1905, to a German father and an English mother. He was the youngest of four sons and had a mixed ancestry of English, Polish, German and French. He suffered from a stammer and took elocution lessons from the age of 11 to overcome it. He also developed an interest in acting and joined various theater companies as a teenager.
Donat’s asthma was first diagnosed when he was 14 years old, after he had a severe attack while playing rugby. He later recalled: “I was carried off the field on a stretcher and taken to hospital where they told me I had asthma. I didn’t know what it was then. I thought it was something you got over like measles.”
However, Donat soon realized that his asthma was a chronic condition that would affect him for the rest of his life. He had to avoid dust, smoke, cold air and physical exertion, which often triggered his attacks. He also had to carry an inhaler with him at all times and take medication to ease his breathing.
The Rise to Stardom
Despite his asthma, Donat pursued his acting career with passion and determination. He made his film debut in 1932 in Men of Tomorrow, produced by Alexander Korda, who recognized his talent and signed him to a three-year contract. He then co-starred with Charles Laughton in The Private Life of Henry VIII, which was a huge success and earned Laughton an Oscar.
Donat’s breakthrough came in 1935, when he starred in The 39 Steps, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. He played Richard Hannay, a Canadian who gets caught up in a spy thriller involving a mysterious organization called “The 39 Steps”. The film was a masterpiece of suspense and humor, and showcased Donat’s charm and versatility as an actor. It also established him as a leading man in British cinema.
Donat followed up with other memorable roles in films such as The Ghost Goes West, Knight Without Armour, The Citadel and The Young Mr. Pitt. He also married Ella Annesley Voysey, a fellow actress, in 1929 and had three children with her.
The Hollywood Experience
Donat’s success in Britain attracted the attention of Hollywood studios, who offered him lucrative contracts and roles. However, Donat was reluctant to leave England and work in America, for several reasons. He disliked the Hollywood lifestyle, the studio system and the lack of artistic freedom. He also feared that his asthma would worsen in the dry climate of California.
He only made one film in Hollywood, The Count of Monte Cristo, in 1934, which he later regretted. He turned down many other offers, including Captain Blood (which went to Errol Flynn), The Prisoner of Zenda (which went to Ronald Colman) and Rebecca (which went to Laurence Olivier).
Donat preferred to work with British filmmakers who respected his artistic vision and accommodated his health issues. He also wanted to stay close to his family and friends in England.
The Oscar Win
In 1939, Donat starred in Goodbye, Mr. Chips, based on the novel by James Hilton. He played Charles Chipping, a shy and gentle schoolteacher who falls in love with a young woman (played by Greer Garson) and devotes his life to teaching generations of boys at an English boarding school.
Donat gave a remarkable performance that spanned over 60 years of Chipping’s life, from a young man to an old man. He used makeup, prosthetics and voice modulation to portray the different stages of aging. He also infused the character with warmth, humor and dignity.
The film was a critical and commercial success, and earned Donat his first and only Oscar nomination for Best Actor. He faced stiff competition from Clark Gable (Gone with the Wind), Laurence Olivier (Wuthering Heights), James Stewart (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) and Mickey Rooney (Babes in Arms).
To everyone’s surprise, Donat won the Oscar over Gable, who was widely expected to win for his iconic role as Rhett Butler. Donat was not present at the ceremony, as he was in England filming The Young Mr. Pitt. He received the news by telegram and was overjoyed. He later said: “I was so happy I nearly fell out of bed.”
The Decline of Health
Donat’s Oscar win was the peak of his career, but also the beginning of his decline. His asthma became more severe and frequent, affecting his ability to work and his quality of life. He often had to cancel or postpone film projects due to his ill health. He also suffered from depression and anxiety, which worsened his condition.
He divorced his first wife in 1946 and married Renée Asherson, another actress, in 1953. He had a few more film roles, such as The Adventures of Tartu, Perfect Strangers, The Winslow Boy and The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, but none matched his earlier success.
He also tried to return to the stage, but found it too exhausting and stressful. He once collapsed on stage during a performance of Murder in the Cathedral in 1953.
The Final Days
In 1957, Donat was diagnosed with a brain tumor, which was inoperable due to his asthma. He continued to work despite his deteriorating health, hoping to complete one last film, The Blue Lamp, in which he played a policeman.
However, he died before he could finish it, on June 9, 1958, at his home in London. He was 53 years old. The cause of death was cerebral thrombosis, a blood clot in the brain. His widow said: “He died peacefully in his sleep.”
He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the garden of his home.
The Legacy
Robert Donat is remembered as one of the finest actors of his generation, who brought grace and intelligence to every role he played. He is also admired for his courage and perseverance in overcoming his asthma and pursuing his passion for acting.
He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a plaque on his former home in Manchester. His Oscar is displayed at the National Film Theatre in London.
He is also an inspiration for many actors who suffer from asthma or other chronic conditions, such as Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone and David Beckham.
According to IMDb, he once said: “I have been a very lucky actor. I have been able to play parts that interest me. I have never had to do anything for money.”
