Michael Rennie

Acting

Michael Rennie

Born 1909-08-25 · Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Michael Rennie (born August 1909 – June 10, 1971) was an English actor best known for his role as Klaatu in the science fiction classic The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). He enjoyed a successful career spanning film, television, and theater, gaining fame for his dignified and often authoritative roles. Michael Rennie was born Eric Alexander Rennie in Ilford, Essex, England. His early interest in acting led him to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), where he trained and developed his skills as a performer. He worked initially in British theater before transitioning to film. Rennie’s early career included several roles in British films, but it was his move to Hollywood in the 1940s that helped him gain more widespread recognition. He appeared in a series of films, often portraying dignified or authoritative characters, with his tall stature, smooth voice, and good looks making him a natural fit for leading roles. His breakthrough came with the science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), where he portrayed the alien visitor Klaatu. The film is considered one of the most influential sci-fi movies of all time, and Rennie’s portrayal of the calm and rational Klaatu became iconic. The film's message of peace, tolerance, and warning against militarism resonated with audiences, and Rennie’s performance as the alien ambassador remains one of his most famous and enduring roles. Following The Day the Earth Stood Still, Rennie continued to appear in a variety of films, often in roles of authority or leadership. Some notable films he starred in include The Lost World (1960), The 27th Day (1957), and Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959), where he appeared alongside actors like James Mason and Pat Boone. Rennie also appeared in numerous television series, including The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and The Invaders. In the 1960s, he had roles in various TV shows, further establishing his presence in the science fiction and adventure genres. Rennie was married twice. His first marriage was to actress Dorothy Dandridge in 1959, but they eventually divorced. Later, he married Shirley Sutherland, with whom he remained until his death. Despite his fame, Rennie led a relatively private life and was known to be a gentleman both on and off screen. He had a reputation for being reserved and professional, a trait that made him well-suited to the types of roles he was often cast in. Michael Rennie passed away on June 10, 1971, at the age of 61, from a heart attack while vacationing in Spain. His death marked the end of a distinguished career in film and television. Rennie’s most enduring legacy is his portrayal of Klaatu in The Day the Earth Stood Still, which remains a staple of science fiction cinema. His calm, authoritative presence in the film and his portrayal of an alien visitor with a message of peace continue to resonate with audiences and are considered a high point in 1950s science fiction. Throughout his career, he brought dignity and depth to the roles he played, earning him a place in cinematic history, particularly within the science fiction genre.

Acting credits

The Robe poster
6.8

Drunk and disillusioned Roman, Marcellus Gallio, wins Jesus' robe in a dice game after the crucifixion. Marcellus has never been a man of faith like his slave, Demetrius, but when Demetrius escapes with the robe, Marcellus experiences disturbing visions and feels guilty for his actions. Convinced that destroying the robe will cure him, Marcellus sets out to find Demetrius — and discovers his Christian faith along the way.

The Robe

1953

The Day the Earth Stood Still poster
7.5

An alien and a robot land on Earth after World War II and tell mankind to be peaceful or face destruction.

The Day the Earth Stood Still

1951

Titanic poster
6.6

Unhappily married, Julia Sturges decides to go to America with her two children on the Titanic. Her husband, Richard also arranges passage on the luxury liner so as to have custody of their two children. All this fades to insignificance once the ship hits an iceberg.

Titanic

1953

The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel poster
6.7

The life and career of Erwin Rommel and his involvement in the plot to assassinate Hitler.

The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel

1951

Désirée poster
6.6

In Marseilles, France in 1794, Desiree Clary, a young millinery clerk, becomes infatuated with Napoleon Bonaparte, but winds up wedding General Jean-Baptiste Berandotte, an aid to Napoleon who later joins the forces that bring about the Emperor's downfall. Josephine Beauharnais, a worldly courtesan marries Napoleon and becomes Empress of France, but is then cast aside by her spouse when she proves unable to produce an heir to the throne.

Désirée

1954

The Power poster
6.3

One by one members of a special project team are being killed by telekinesis - the ability to move things with the power of the mind alone. The race is on to determine which of the remaining team members is the murderer and to stop them.

The Power

1968

Demetrius and the Gladiators poster
6.5

The story picks up at the point where "The Robe" ends, following the martyrdom of Diana and Marcellus. Christ's robe is conveyed to Peter for safe-keeping, but the emperor Caligula wants it back to benefit from its powers. Marcellus' former slave Demetrius seeks to prevent this, and catches the eye of Messalina, wife to Caligula's uncle Claudius. Messalina tempts Demetrius, he winds up fighting in the arena, and wavers in his faith.

Demetrius and the Gladiators

1954

Caesar and Cleopatra poster
6.2

At the height of the Roman Civil War, an aging Julius Caesar finds himself intrigued by the young Egyptian queen Cleopatra, whom he teaches how to rule Egypt.

Caesar and Cleopatra

1945

Cyborg 2087 poster
5.9

In the future world of the year 2087, freedom of thought is illegal and the thoughts of the world's populations are controlled by the government. A small band of "free thinkers" send a cyborg back in time to the year 1966 to prevent a scientist from making the breakthrough that will eventually lead to the mass thought control of the future. Our time traveler soon discovers he is not alone when government agents from the future try to prevent him from carrying out his mission.

Cyborg 2087

1966

5 Fingers poster
7.5

During WWII, the valet to the British Ambassador to Ankara sells British secrets to the Germans while trying to romance a refugee Polish countess.

5 Fingers

1952

Teenage Rebel poster
7.0

Nancy Fallon gets her teenage daughter back from her ex-husband when she remarries and must win her love.

Teenage Rebel

1956

Secret Agent poster
6.1

During World War I, a novelist declared dead is recruited by British intelligence and sent to Switzerland under a new identity to assassinate a German spy. Teamed with a fellow agent posing as his wife and an eccentric assassin known as “the General,” the trio close in on their target — until two of them grow ambivalent when their duty to the mission clashes with their consciences.

Secret Agent

1936

The Devil's Brigade poster
6.3

At the onset of World War II, American Lt. Col. Robert Frederick is put in charge of a unit called the 1st Special Service Force, composed of elite Canadian commandos and undisciplined American soldiers. With Maj. Alan Crown leading the Canadians and Maj. Cliff Bricker the acting head of the American contingent, there is initial tension -- but the team comes together when given a daunting mission that few would dare to attempt.

The Devil's Brigade

1968

Soldier of Fortune poster
6.0

An American woman arrives in Hong Kong to unravel the mystery of her missing photographer husband. After getting nowhere with the authorities, she is led by some underground characters to an American soldier of fortune working in the area against the Communists. He promises to help find her husband.

Soldier of Fortune

1955

The Lost World poster
5.8

Professor Challenger leads an expedition of scientists and adventurers to a remote plateau deep in the Amazonian jungle to verify his claim that dinosaurs still live there.

The Lost World

1960

"Pimpernel" Smith poster
7.1

Eccentric Cambridge archaeologist Horatio Smith takes a group of British and American archaeology students to pre-war Nazi Germany to help in his excavations. His research is supported by the Nazis, since he professes to be looking for evidence of the Aryan origins of German civilisation. However, he has a secret agenda: to free inmates of the concentration camps.

"Pimpernel" Smith

1941

The Desert Rats poster
6.3

In North Africa, German Field Marshal Rommel and his troops have successfully fended off British forces, and now intend to take Tobruk, an important port city. A ramshackle group of Australian reinforcements sent to combat the Germans is put under the command of British Captain MacRoberts. The unruly Aussies immediately clash with MacRoberts, a gruff, strict disciplinarian, however this unorthodox team must band together to protect Tobruk from the German forces.

The Desert Rats

1953

Princess of the Nile poster
7.3

Shalimar, an Egyptian princess, striving to rid her country of its Bedouin conquerors, forms an alliance with Prince Haidi, son of the Caliph of Bagdad. She practices her intrigues both at the court and, disguised as a dancing girl, in the market place.

Princess of the Nile

1954

Naked You Die poster
5.6

A woman is strangled in the bath by a black-gloved killer who disposes of her body in a large trunk. The trunk is delivered to St. Hilda College, an exclusive finishing school. Betty-Anne, one of the female students, is strangled in the school cellar. The police, led by Inspector Durand, are called in to investigate. Suspects include La Floret, the voyeuristic gardener; Di Brazzi, the new swimming instructor; Mrs. Clay, the summer school French mistress; an old professor who collects birds; and a philandering young teacher called Richard. The murders continue but Jill, a keen amateur detective, helps the police identify the unlikely killer...

Naked You Die

1968

Phone Call from a Stranger poster
6.4

Four strangers board a plane and become fast friends, but a catastrophic crash leaves only one survivor. He then sets off on a journey to discover who these people were, but ultimately discovers the devastating truth about himself.

Phone Call from a Stranger

1952

The Divorce of Lady X poster
5.9

A London barrister believes the woman who spent the night in his hotel suite is the erring wife of his newest client.

The Divorce of Lady X

1938

Third Man on the Mountain poster
6.7

Famous British mountaineer Winter wants to climb a difficult summit, the Citadel. He goes to a small village but no guide wants to accompany him. A young man from the village, Rudi Matt, whose father died fifteen years earlier during an attempt to climb the Citadel, is determined to accompany him, with the help of his uncle. Winter also manages to hire a guide from a neighboring village and competitor, Emil Saxo. The roped party of four men then begins the ascent of the still untouched summit.

Third Man on the Mountain

1959

The Black Rose poster
6.5

In the 13th century, Walter of Gurnie, a disinherited Saxon youth, is forced to flee England. With his friend, Tristram, he falls in with the army of the fierce but avuncular General Bayan, and journeys all the way to China, where both men become involved in intrigues in the court of Kublai Khan.

The Black Rose

1950

The Man Who Could Work Miracles poster
6.0

An ordinary man, while vigorously asserting the impossibility of miracles, suddenly discovers that he can perform them.

The Man Who Could Work Miracles

1936