Colin Glenn Clive (born Clive-Greig; 20 January 1900 – 25 June 1937) was a British actor. Known for portraying individualistic, tumultuous characters which often mirrored his personal life, he is most famous for his role as Dr. Henry Frankenstein in the 1931 film Frankenstein and its 1935 sequel, Bride of Frankenstein. Clive’s maniacal delivery of the words, "It's alive, it's alive!" when Dr. Frankenstein confirms his creature is moving, was listed by American Film Institute (AFI) as one of the 100 greatest movie quotes of all time.

Early life Clive was born in Saint-Malo, France, to an English colonel, Colin Philip Greig, and his wife, Caroline Margaret Lugard Clive, a member of the aristocratic Clive family. In a 1935 interview, Clive stated his mother had moved to France to escape the tumult of the ongoing Second Boer War. His family had intended for Clive to embark on a military career, and he attended Stonyhurst College and subsequently the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where he broke both knees after being thrown from and crushed by a horse. Recuperating from his injuries, Clive decided to become an actor. He was a member of the Hull Repertory Theatre Company for three years.

Clive created the role of Steve Baker, the white husband of racially mixed Julie LaVerne, in the first London production of Show Boat; the production featured Cedric Hardwicke and Paul Robeson. Clive first worked with James Whale in the Savoy Theatre production of Journey's End and subsequently joined the British community in Hollywood, repeating his stage role in the film version.

Hollywood Clive's first screen role, in Journey's End (1930), was also directed by James Whale. Clive played the tormented alcoholic Captain Stanhope, a character that (much like Clive's other roles) mirrored his personal life. He was an in-demand leading man for several major film actresses of the era, including Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Corinne Griffith, and Jean Arthur. He starred as Edward Rochester in the 1934 adaptation of Jane Eyre opposite Virginia Bruce. He was a descendant of Robert Clive and appeared in a starring role in Clive of India (1935), a biopic of his ancestor. Clive remarked that he was disappointed he did not get to portray his own ancestor in the film.

Colin Clive, together with Leo G. Carroll, starred in a radio play titled The Other Place. It was written by John L. Balderston for the radio program The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour hosted by Rudy Vallee. It was aired on 14 November 1935.

In a 1935 interview with Film Weekly, Clive stated that he hated horror films and preferred more serious dramatic roles, only appearing in horror for financial reasons and because his performances were popular with audiences.

When his agent discovered that Clive was only accruing 30% of his actual income due to paying taxes in both the United States and the United Kingdom, Clive refused to obtain American citizenship, which would have removed British taxes, fearing that it would prevent him from serving in the British army if a war broke out.

Author Ayn Rand wrote Clive a fan letter in 1934 after seeing a stage performance of Journey’s End, praising Clive’s performance and character. Clive responded that he was very touched by the letter and would always keep it.

Personal life Clive was married to Jeanne de Casalis in June 1929. By 1935, Clive and Casalis had been living separately, with Clive in Los Angeles County and Casalis in London.

Death Colin Clive suffered from severe chronic alcoholism and he died from complications of tuberculosis on 25 June 1937 at age 37.

Clive's alcoholism was apparent to his co-stars. He was often seen napping on set and sometimes was so intoxicated that he had to be held upright for over-the-shoulder shots. Clive was tormented by the medical threat of amputation of his long-damaged leg.

Forrest J Ackerman recalled visiting Clive's body: "I actually saw him in death, lying in a bed at a mortuary where it was possible for the public to view his body. He looked remarkably as he had when lying in bed in The Bride of Frankenstein." Over 300 mourners turned out. One of the pallbearers was Peter Lorre. His remains were cremated and his ashes returned to England. His cenotaph is located at Chapel of the Pines Crematory.

Roles

Stage Peter and Paul (September 1925) Advertising April (November 1925)

Date of 1st performanceTitleAuthor(s)CityTheatreRole1925 March 20 Rose-Marie Otto Harbach, Rudolf Friml, Herbert Stothart London Drury Lane Edward HawleyShared role with Brian Gilmour.1926 May 30Getting Mother MarriedNeil Grant London Apollo Capt. Eric Wilbraham1927 June 30FireArthur Rose LondonEveryman Theatre St. John Sevening1928 May 3 Show BoatOscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern LondonDrury LaneSteveShared part with Jack Livesey.1928 November 4The Dark Path Evan John LondonSavoy Theatre James Havilland1929 January 21 Journey's EndR. C. Sherriff LondonSavoy Theatre Cpt. Stanhope1929 April 14Let's Leave It At ThatJeanne de Casalis, Colin Clive LondonPrince of Wales's Theatre Michael SternRevived at the Queen's Theatre on 10 June 1929.1929 April 23Shall We Join the Ladies?J. M. Barrie LondonPalaceTheatre Mr. Vaile1930 February 2Forty-SevenSydney Loch London Prince of Wales's Theatre Forty-Seven1930 April 22 HamletWilliam Shakespeare LondonHaymarket Theatre Laertes1930 June 30The Swan Ferenc Molnár LondonSt. James's Theatre Dr. Nicholas AgiReplaced by Basil Langton and Glen Byam Shaw.1930 December 5Overture William Bolitho New York Longacre Theatre Karl Ritter"Overture", Internet Broadway Database.1931 May 21The Crime at BlossomsMordaunt Shairp LondonPlayhouse Theatre Christopher Merryman1932 July 19 EscapeJohn Galsworthy LondonGarrick Theatre Matt Denant1932 August 22LoyaltiesJohn Galsworthy London Garrick Theatre Ronald Dancy1932 September 29Justice John Galsworthy London Garrick Theatre William Falder1933 October 28Eight Bells Percy G. Mandley New York Hudson Theatre Dale"Eight Bells", Internet Broadway Database.1933 December 26The Lake Dorothy Massingham and Murray MacDonald New York Martin Beck Theatre John Clayne"The Lake", Internet Broadway Database.1935 December 20Libel Edward Wooll New York Henry Miller's Theatre Sir Mark Loddon, Bart. M.P."Libe", Internet Broadway Database.

Film Journey's End (1930) as Capt. Dennis Stanhope (film debut) Frankenstein (1931) as Dr. Henry Frankenstein The Stronger Sex (1931) as Warren Barrington Lily Christine (1932) as Rupert Harvey Christopher Strong (1933) as Sir Christopher Strong Looking Forward (1933) as Geoffrey Fielding The Key (1934) as Capt. Andrew 'Andy' Kerr One More River (1934) as Sir Gerald Corven Jane Eyre (1934) as Edward Rochester Clive of India (1935) as Capt. Johnstone The Right to Live (1935) as Maurice Bride of Frankenstein (1935) as Dr. Henry Frankenstein The Girl from 10th Avenue (1935) as John Marland Mad Love (1935) as Stephen Orlac The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo (1935) as Bertrand Berkeley The Widow from Monte Carlo (1936) as Lord Eric Reynolds History Is Made at Night (1937) as Bruce Vail The Woman I Love (1937) as Capt. Thelis (final role)

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