In this biography, author Samuel Garza Bernstein presents a comprehensive account of Roddy McDowall's life and career. Bernstein did an enormous amount of research, and even includes plot summaries of much of Roddy's movie, television, and theater work, which spanned all genres. It also acquainted Roddy with (what seems like) almost everyone connected with the entertainment industry.
I'll just mention some highlights of the book, to provide a feel for the narrative.
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Roddy McDowall (1928–1998) was a British-born American actor who had hundreds of roles in movies, television, and the theater over the course of his 60+ year career. Roddy was also a professional photographer; a leader in the movement for film preservation and restoration; a supporter of the Motion Picture and Television Fund (MPTF) - which assists financially struggling industry members; and more.
Roddy McDowall
Roddy was born in England to Winefriede Corcoran McDowall, an aspiring singer; and Thomas McDowall, a merchant marine. When Winefriede's dreams of stardom dim, she transfers her ambitions to her children, Virginia and Roddy, who are encouraged to sing, dance, act, and learn Shakespeare from early childhood.
Roddy's professional career begins when he's eight, in print ads and extra work, and soon afterwards as a featured actor in British films. In 1940, Winefriede and the children relocate to America while Thomas joins England's war effort.
From left to right: Virginia, Winifriede, Roddy, and Thomas McDowall
Soon after his arrival in the United States, Roddy is cast in How Green Was My Valley (1941), and signed to Fox. Roddy's American movie career takes off from there.
Roddy's mother Winifriede is a driving force behind his success. She pushes for Roddy's movie roles and entertains frequently and grandly, making sure Roddy meets EVERYONE who can help his career. Bernstein writes, "Roddy is almost always 'on'....[he] greets the reporters and photographers by name, chatting easily about his father's heroism, answering questions about his next movie, and posing for pictures."
During this time, Roddy attends the dedication of the Motion Picture Country House (MPCH), where elderly members of the film community can be cared for. Bernstein notes the MPCH and its umbrella organization, the MPTF "becomes and will remain an essential part of Roddy's life; it's the charity that means the most to him and the one he works the hardest to nurture and protect."
Motion Picture and Television Country House and Hospital
When Roddy is fourteen and Elizabeth Taylor is ten, they meet on the set of 'Lassie Come Home' (1943) and become lifelong friends. Years later Roddy tells Liz, "You were the most exquisite thing that I had ever seen in my life and about the nicest. And it has been wonderful to watch you over the years matriculate as a human being, as an actress, and as a major contributor to the welfare of mankind." 
Roddy grows up, and faces the problem all child actors have. Bernstein observes, "Roddy's breathtaking ability to communicate loss and grief...that can move audiences to tears...is just not as relevant or marketable at age eighteen as it was at age twelve." Fox releases Roddy, who's unemployed, but not for long. Roddy embarks on a stage career, makes vaudeville appearances, stars in radio dramas, becomes the guest host of a radio anthology series, plays Malcolm in a film of Macbeth (1948) with Orson Welles, makes commercials, and does other work.
While continuing different projects, Roddy gets back to film work at Monogram Pictures, for which he makes a string of films including 'Kidnapped' (1948), Killer Shark (1950), and The Steel Fist (1952).
To further his career by appearing on TV shows, 22-year-old Roddy moves from California to New York in 1951. Numerous actors and singers live nearby, and Roddy - who has a knack for camaraderie, becomes close to myriad up-and-coming stars, including Merv Griffin, Farley Granger, Nancy Walker, Montgomery Clift, Jack Larson, Peggy Ann Garner, Libby Holman, and more. 
Top Row: Merv Griffin, Farley Granger, Nancy Walker, Montgomery Clift; Bottom Row: Peggy Ann Garner, Libby Holman, Roddy McDowall, Jack Larson
Bernstein writes, "Correspondence from Roddy's archives reveals extraordinarily close friendships. Along with deeply personal letters, he keeps up a constant stream of postcards, congratulating friends on good reviews, life milestones, birthdays, and anniversaries. The actor John Glover says he remembers one evening at a theater....and there's Roddy in the orchestra section, scribbling away at his postcards before the show starts - the DMs of another age."
Note to Alan Jay Lerner and his wife Liz
Roddy and other young actors are sometimes featured in 'eligible bachelor' layouts, but Roddy is discreetly gay, out to close friends, colleagues, agents, and many people in Hollywood. Over the years, Roddy has long-term relationships with Montgomery Clift, John Valva, Paul Anderson, and Steven Jongeward, but Bernstein doesn't focus on Roddy's private life. 
Roddy McDowall (left) and Montgomery Clift in 'The Defectors' (1966)
In the early 1960s, Roddy develops an interest in photography, and learns the craft from the inside out. Roddy embarks on a parallel career as an actor/photographer, and over the years, Roddy publishes four books entitled Double Exposure. Each volume contains celebrity portraits accompanied by personal essays written by other famous people.
Roddy enjoys giving parties, bringing people together who might find one another stimulating. Roddy sometimes shows old films, and sometimes invents games. Bernstein writes, "Roddy doesn't throw parties to move his way up the social and professional ladder, but his gatherings do attract new people into his orbit. Suddenly Lenny Bernstein and Steve Sondheim are part of his life. This is when he becomes close to Kate Hepburn and Lauren Bacall." 
Roddy McDowall with Lauren Bacall
Following an eight year hiatus from movies, Roddy takes a supporting role in The Subterraneans (1960), a Beat generation romance and jazz film; plays Ariel in The Tempest (1960) on the Hallmark Hall of Fame; has an important role in Cleopatra (1963); and more.
By the 1960s, Roddy is back living in Los Angeles, and making movie after movie. Bernstein notes, Roddy's string of films and endless television appearances keep him almost frantically busy. While he's shooting films, he also appears as a presenter at the Tony and the Emmy Awards on opposite coasts. He does anthology episodes on TV and guest stars on the drama series Combat! and Ben Casey. He guests on The Merv Griffin Show and The Mike Douglas Show. He also appears on Password, The Match Game, The Price is Right, The Celebrity Game, Stump the Stars, and his favorite - Hollywood Squares. 
Roddy McDowall on Hollywood Squares
The five movies in the Planet of the Apes franchise govern much of Roddy's schedule from 1967 to 1975. In the first film, entitled Planet of the Apes (1968), an astronaut (Charlton Heston) crash lands on a planet where an ape society hunts and enslaves a race of mute primitive humans. Charlton is captured and studied by chimpanzee psychologist Zira (Kim Hunter) and her archaeologist fiancé Cornelius (Roddy McDowall). Once Zira and Cornelius learn Charleton can speak, read, and write, they help him escape, and the threesome are pursued by a band of apes.
Roddy McDowall getting his ape make-up
Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, and Charleton Heston in Planet of the Apes
Between 'Apes' projects and work on Tam Lin (1970) - a folk horror movie Roddy directs - Roddy makes myriad episodic appearances on a string of TV show, including Columbo, Ironside, McCloud, Mission Impossible, McMillan and Wife, and others. Roddy also goes on make more movies; film pilots; do theater; focus on animation; etc.
Roddy co-stars in my favorite Agatha Christie adaptation, Evil Under The Sun (1982), where Roddy plays Rex Brewster, a gossip columnist and unauthorized celebrity biographer of infamous actress - and murder victim - Arlena Marshall (Diana Rigg).
Roddy McDowall and Diana Rigg in Evil Under The Sun
Sadly, in the 1980s the AIDS epidemic begins, and Roddy's friend Rock Hudson is dying of the disease. Bernstein notes, "Roddy is behind the scenes the entire time, helping coordinate private home care and doing his best to shield Rock from the media." Roddy's friend Elizabeth Taylor founds several AIDS research foundations, funneling much of her own money into science, treatment, and care. 
Elizabeth Taylor founds AmFAR, the foundation for AIDS research
In 1985, Elizabeth Taylor presents Roddy and his co-honoree Deborah Kerr with the American Cinema Foundation Career Achievement Award. The focus is Roddy's film work, but he's also cited for philanthropic activities, including his contributions to the photo collection library at the Academy and his advocacy for the MPTF, emphasizing the importance of caring for the industry's elders and those who've fallen on hard times. 
American Cinema Foundation Career Achievement Award
Roddy goes on working hard. Bernstein says, "The main thing is to keep working...he always has employment; from the time he's eight years old, he works nonstop...It's like he's a shark - if he doesn't keep moving forward, he'll drown."
In 1998, Roddy is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, and spends his days writing to all the people in his life, finding the right thing to give them. When Roddy passes, he wants no ceremony, just to be cremated and his ashes scattered at sea by the Neptune Society.
I enjoyed the book, which is a comprehensive view of Roddy's work, and highlights Roddy's fine qualities. Roddy knew people's secrets, but never revealed them.
Thanks to Netgalley, Samuel Garza Bernstein, and Kensington for an ARC of the book.
Rating: 4 stars
