Plaque unveiled in Harrogate in memory of Hollywood actor

A Hollywood actor who became a household name in the 1950s was honoured with a commemorative plaque at his family home in Harrogate on Saturday. 

Michael Rennie was born in 1909 in Idle, near Bradford, and went on to become the highest-paid filmstar in Britain in 1946, starring with many of the leading actors of the post-war period, including Orson Welles, Clarke Gable and Vivien Leigh. 

Arguably his most famous role was as Klaatu, the alien ambassador in the 1951 blockbuster The Day the Earth Stood Still. 

Less than three years after leaving Hollywood, he died at 1 Otley Road – his mother’s home – in Harrogate on June 10, 1971. His ashes were interred up the road in Harlow Hill Cemetery. 

The brown Harrogate Civic Society plaque was unveiled on the gatepost at 1 Otley Road by his son, David Rennie, who had instigated the process. 

Photo of the brown Harrogate Civic Society plaque unveiled in memory of Hollwood actor Michael Rennie.

The plaque includes the enigmatic words ‘Klaatu barada nikto’, uttered by Michael Rennie’s alien character in The Day The Earth Stood Still.

As well as the brief biographical details that tell passersby who Michael Rennie was, it also includes the words ‘Klaatu barada nikto, a phrase uttered by his character in The Day the Earth Stood Still.

The phrase, described by one journalist as “the most famous phrase ever spoken by an extraterrestrial”, has become iconic among science fiction fans, and its meaning has been the topic of much debate and speculation.

According to film historian Steven Jay Rubin, the film’s screenplay writer, Edmund H North, said it meant “There’s hope for Earth, if the scientists can be reached”. 

Also present at the unveiling ceremony were: Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough; Michael Harrison, charter mayor of Harrogate; Stuart Holland, chair of Harrogate Civic Society; David Bown, chief executive of Harrogate Theatre; Paula Stott, chair of Harrogate Film Society; as well as neighbouring residents and members of the Rennie family. 

Mr Holland said:

“Of the 94 brown plaques Harrogate Civic Society have unveiled over the years, 71 relate to buildings and places, but only 23 to people.

“We’re very keen to recognise people who have contributed to or influenced the town, and we hadn’t commemorated an actor before, so we were very pleased to be able to have this one made for one of the town’s finest, Michael Rennie.” 

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Hollywood star’s son to unveil plaque to famous father in Harrogate

A Hollywood star with strong connections to Harrogate is to be commemorated with a plaque next month. 

Michael Rennie was once a household name, and in 1946 became the highest-paid filmstar in Britain.

He acted with such Hollywood greats as Orson Welles, Richard Burton, Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando and Bette Davis. His most famous role was perhaps the lead in the 1951 sci-fi blockbuster The Day the Earth Stood Still.

Rennie was born in 1909 in Idle, near Bradford, and schooled in Cambridgeshire, but his family home was on Otley Road in Harrogate, where he died in 1971. His headstone can be seen at Harlow Hill Cemetery. 

The brown plaque, which has been created by Harrogate Civic Society, will be unveiled at 1 Otley Road – the Rennie family’s former home – by Rennie’s son, David, on Saturday, September 9, at 11am. Well-wishers are welcome.

David Rennie, a high court judge whose godmother was Elizabeth Taylor, told the Stray Ferret: 

“This plaque means a lot to me, because I didn’t know my father as well as I would have liked. I really got to know him – the way he moved, the sound of his voice – by watching his films.

“When I was growing up, it wasn’t unusual to meet people who knew of him and his roles, especially after he played Harry Lime in the TV series of The Third Man, and I always got the feeling that he was very much liked and admired. 

“When he wasn’t in Hollywood, London or Geneva, he came to Yorkshire. I’m confident that although he had this glamorous life, the fact that he always kept on coming back to the family home in Harrogate meant that the connection mattered to him, and I wanted to mark that.” 

Harrogate Civic Society is currently considering creating plaques for two other local figures of note: Charles Taylor, who founded Taylor’s Tea; and Claude Verity, who worked from a studio in Harrogate and is believed to have been the first person to add a soundtrack to film.

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Did you know a Hollywood film star died in Harrogate 50 years ago this month?

Hollywood star Michael Rennie, most famous for playing an alien in the 1951 sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still, died in Harrogate 50 years ago this month.

He suffered an aortic aneurysm on June 11 1971, aged 61, when he was visiting his mother’s home in the town. His ashes are interred at Harlow Hill cemetery.

The Bradford-born actor had a lively and diverse career, starting out with an uncredited role in Alfred Hitchcock’s Secret Agent.

He appeared in 20th Century Fox blockbusters alongside Orson Welles, Richard Burton and Clark Gable.

His most recognisable role was as the friendly alien Klaatu, which landed on a spaceship in Washington DC. It made famous the phrase “Klaatu barada nikto!”, which has left fans guessing its true meaning ever since.

He also made appearances in several hit TV shows during the 1960s, including opposite Adam West’s Batman as the dastardly villain the Sandman.

Film fans in Harrogate during Rennie’s era were spoiled for choice, with several cinemas showing the hits of the day, as Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam wrote in a recent Stray Ferret article.

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Mr Neesam told the Stray Ferret that whilst there are not many celebrities interred in Harrogate’s cemeteries, there are some notable names.

Also at Harlow Hill is the Royal Academy artist, Bernard Evans, RA, whose studio was on Park Parade.

Grove Road cemetery has Fridel Dalling-Hay, who was an immigrant from Nazi Germany and became the first person in the world to circumnavigate the island of Britain in a canoe.

Sergeant Major Robert Johnston, one of the gallant 600, who was in the charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War, is also buried at Grove Road.

Did you know that the Stray Ferret has teamed up with Malcolm to produce audio walking tours of Harrogate? The walks are sponsored by the Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) and take you back to the Golden Age of the Harrogate Spa and a walk through the Commercial Heart of Harrogate.  

Why not take a walk back in time and learn about Harrogate’s glorious past.. They’re easy to do and a great day out. For more information click here.