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 One of the great voices of the Metropolitan Opera, Lawrence Mervil Tibbet was born in Bakersfield, California, in 1896. Born at the end of the "wild west" era, he was only six when his father, who was a Kern County deputy sheriff, was killed by bandits. After training with, among others, Metropolitan Opera bass (and later film actor) Basil Ruysdael, he joined the Met, adding another "t" to his name in his initial contract. He made his company debut in the small role of Lovitsky in Mussorgsky's "Boris Godonov" in 1923. Two years later, in 1925, he caused a sensation as "Ford" in Verdi's "Falstaff" and his future with the company was assured. At home in French, Italian, German, and American opera, he created the leads in numerous Met premiers, most notably in Deems Taylor's "The King's Henchman," Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra," and Louis Gruenberg's "The Emperor Jones." Blessed, in his younger days, with boyish good looks, in addition to his powerful voice, he was one of the first great opera stars to enjoy success in Hollywood films, most notably 1929's "The Rogue Song," which brought him an Oscar nomination, and 1931's "Cuban Love Song," the latter opposite Lupe Velez and Jimmy Durante. He was also a highly-regarded recitalist and appeared successfully on radio. His recordings for Victor sold in the millions. In 1936, along with violinist Jascha Heifetz, he founded the American Guild of Musical Artists, serving for 17 years as its active president.Unfortunately, beginning in around 1940, the stress of taking on too many heavy roles too early brought on a vocal crisis which only worsened in the next decade. He continued to take on new roles at the Metropolitan (Michele in Puccini's "Il Tabarro," Balstrode in Benjamin Britten's "Peter Grimes," Ivan in Mussorgsky's "Khovantchina"), but these were parts that stressed his considerable dramatic abilities, rather than his diminishing vocal ones. This vocal crisis also triggered a drinking problem (some have said vice versa) which also got progressively worse with time. Perhaps wisely, Tibbett left the Met at the end of the 1949-50 season.The 1950s saw him appearing on stage in both musical and dramatic roles, most notably succeeding former Met colleague Ezio Pinza in the Broadway musical hit "Fanny," as well as hosting "Golden Voices" on NBC radio. But heavy drinking, which also brought on a well-publicized traffic arrest, left his once good looks bloated and puffy. An increasingly unhappy life ended in early 1960 when he tripped on a Persian runner in his home, badly gashing his head on the corner of his TV set and driving bone fragments into his brain. He died on July 17 at the age of 64. Tibbett's unhappy end is best forgotten. His contributions to the world of music will live forever.He graduated from Manual Arts High School in 1915 and married his wife Grace Mackay Smith the following year. He served in the Merchant Marine in WWI and on his discharge he began singing prologues to silent films at Grauman's Theatre in Los Angeles. began his career as an actor and singer in light operas in Los Angeles then moved to New York Cty where he studied with Frank La Forge and in 1923 signed his first contract with the Metropolitan Opera and over the years sang the lead roles in over 50 operas. He first achieved national recognition playing the role of Ford in Verdi's Falstaff and toured the world performing in London, Paris, Prague, Vienna and Australia. In 1929 Filming started on His Glorious Night with Catherine Dale Owen but it was obvious from the rushes that they weren't working well together and that the film needed something. That was when Laurel and Hardy were added and nearly stole the production. Lawrence was called back from New York to shoot a scene with Stan and Ollie. The film was retitled The Rogue Song premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in January 1930 and while a gala occasion it wasn't remembered as one of M.G.M.'s best although Lawrence was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar Lawrence made 5 further Hollywood films all of which met with mixed results. During the 30's he had a radio programme on which he sang formal music. In 1936 with violinist Jascha Heifetz he founded the American Guild of Musical Artists, a union for solo performing artists. His operatic career ended in the early 1950's after which he performed in musicals and plays, spent a season in Summer stock and hosted a radio show featuring recordings of operatic singers. In his later years he suffered alcohol and arthritis problems aging prematurely and died following a fall in his New York apartment.
Bio:
One of the great voices of the Metropolitan Opera, Lawrence Mervil Tibbet was born in Bakersfield, California, in 1896. Born at the end of the "wild west" era, he was only six when his father, who was a Kern County deputy sheriff, was killed by bandits. After training with, among others, Metropolitan Opera bass (and later film actor) Basil Ruysdael, he joined the Met, adding another "t" to his name in his initial contract. He made his company debut in the small role of Lovitsky in Mussorgsky's "Boris Godonov" in 1923. Two years later, in 1925, he caused a sensation as "Ford" in Verdi's "Falstaff" and his future with the company was assured. At home in French, Italian, German, and American opera, he created the leads in numerous Met premiers, most notably in Deems Taylor's "The King's Henchman," Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra," and Louis Gruenberg's "The Emperor Jones." Blessed, in his younger days, with boyish good looks, in addition to his powerful voice, he was one of the first great opera stars to enjoy success in Hollywood films, most notably 1929's "The Rogue Song," which brought him an Oscar nomination, and 1931's "Cuban Love Song," the latter opposite Lupe Velez and Jimmy Durante. He was also a highly-regarded recitalist and appeared successfully on radio. His recordings for Victor sold in the millions. In 1936, along with violinist Jascha Heifetz, he founded the American Guild of Musical Artists, serving for 17 years as its active president.Unfortunately, beginning in around 1940, the stress of taking on too many heavy roles too early brought on a vocal crisis which only worsened in the next decade. He continued to take on new roles at the Metropolitan (Michele in Puccini's "Il Tabarro," Balstrode in Benjamin Britten's "Peter Grimes," Ivan in Mussorgsky's "Khovantchina"), but these were parts that stressed his considerable dramatic abilities, rather than his diminishing vocal ones. This vocal crisis also triggered a drinking problem (some have said vice versa) which also got progressively worse with time. Perhaps wisely, Tibbett left the Met at the end of the 1949-50 season.The 1950s saw him appearing on stage in both musical and dramatic roles, most notably succeeding former Met colleague Ezio Pinza in the Broadway musical hit "Fanny," as well as hosting "Golden Voices" on NBC radio. But heavy drinking, which also brought on a well-publicized traffic arrest, left his once good looks bloated and puffy. An increasingly unhappy life ended in early 1960 when he tripped on a Persian runner in his home, badly gashing his head on the corner of his TV set and driving bone fragments into his brain. He died on July 17 at the age of 64. Tibbett's unhappy end is best forgotten. His contributions to the world of music will live forever.
He graduated from Manual Arts High School in 1915 and married his wife Grace Mackay Smith the following year. He served in the Merchant Marine in WWI and on his discharge he began singing prologues to silent films at Grauman's Theatre in Los Angeles. began his career as an actor and singer in light operas in Los Angeles then moved to New York Cty where he studied with Frank La Forge and in 1923 signed his first contract with the Metropolitan Opera and over the years sang the lead roles in over 50 operas. He first achieved national recognition playing the role of Ford in Verdi's Falstaff and toured the world performing in London, Paris, Prague, Vienna and Australia. In 1929 Filming started on His Glorious Night with Catherine Dale Owen but it was obvious from the rushes that they weren't working well together and that the film needed something. That was when Laurel and Hardy were added and nearly stole the production. Lawrence was called back from New York to shoot a scene with Stan and Ollie. The film was retitled The Rogue Song premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in January 1930 and while a gala occasion it wasn't remembered as one of M.G.M.'s best although Lawrence was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar Lawrence made 5 further Hollywood films all of which met with mixed results. During the 30's he had a radio programme on which he sang formal music. In 1936 with violinist Jascha Heifetz he founded the American Guild of Musical Artists, a union for solo performing artists. His operatic career ended in the early 1950's after which he performed in musicals and plays, spent a season in Summer stock and hosted a radio show featuring recordings of operatic singers. In his later years he suffered alcohol and arthritis problems aging prematurely and died following a fall in his New York apartment.
Tivia:
One of only six actors to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his first screen appearance. The other five are Orson Welles, Paul Muni, Alan Arkin, James Dean and Montgomery Clift.Pictured on one of a set of four 32�� US commemorative postage stamps in the Legends of American Music series, issued 10 September 1997, celebrating opera singers. Other singers honored in this issue are Lily Pons, Rosa Ponselle, and Richard Tucker.Is portrayed by Joe Baker in Bugsy (1991).Awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6325 Hollywood Blvd.Interred at Forest Lawn (Glendale), Glendale, CA, in the Whispering Pines section, lot #794.Children: twin sons, Lawrence Tibbett Jr. and Richard Mackay Tibbett, Michael Edward Tibbett.Son Richard Mackay Tibbett was born in 1920 (he married in 1951 and had three children and six grandchildren).His father, William E. Tibbet, was Sheriff of Kern County (CA). He was killed while capturing a notorious bandit named McKinney.Became an overnight sensation at the Metropolitan Opera when he sang the role of Ford in Giuseppe Verdi's "Falstaff".His last name was variously spelled "Tibbet" or "Tibbett." Upon signing his first contract with the Metropolitan Opera, he permanently selected the latter spelling.He was one of the first grand opera stars to be heard in talking pictures.Had dark hair and blue eyes.Won fame with his singing while at school. and studied singing in New York.Educated at Los Angeles schools.He was the principal singer in the New York Met for 27 seasons.In 1941 he had to temporarily retire with what was called severe 'spasticity of the larynx muscle'.Has never appeared in a film nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.In March 1934 it was reported that producer Edward Small had signed him for five movies. Ultimately none were made. |
| Name: |
Lawrence Tibbett |
Type: |
Actor,Second Unit Director or Assistant Director,Soundtrack (IMDB) |
| Area: |
All World |
Platform: |
IMDB |
| Category: |
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Business scope: |
Actor,Second Unit Director or Assistant Director,Soundtrack |
| Products for sale: |
Actor,Second Unit Director or Assistant Director,Soundtrack |
| Last update: |
2024-07-03 02:14:26 |
| Height: |
6' 1' (1.85 m) |
| Biography: |
One of the great voices of the Metropolitan Opera, Lawrence Mervil Tibbet was born in Bakersfield, California, in 1896. Born at the end of the \"wild west\" era, he was only six when his father, who was a Kern County deputy sheriff, was killed b |
| Trivia: |
One of only six actors to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his first screen appearance. The other five are Orson Welles, Paul Muni, Alan Arkin, James Dean and Montgomery Clift.Pictured on one of a set of four 32�� US commemorative postage stamps in the Legends of American Music series, issued 10 September 1997, celebrating opera singers. Other singers honored in this issue are Lily Pons, Rosa Ponselle, and Richard Tucker.Is portrayed by Joe Baker in Bugsy (1991).Awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6325 Hollywood Blvd.Interred at Forest Lawn (Glendale), Glendale, CA, in the Whispering Pines section, lot #794.Children: twin sons, Lawrence Tibbett Jr. and Richard Mackay Tibbett, Michael Edward Tibbett.Son Richard Mackay Tibbett was born in 1920 (he married in 1951 and had three children and six grandchildren).His father, William E. Tibbet, was Sheriff of Kern County (CA). He was killed while capturing a notorious bandit named McKinney.Became an overnight sensation at the Metropolitan Opera when he sang the role of Ford in Giuseppe Verdi's "Falstaff".His last name was variously spelled "Tibbet" or "Tibbett." Upon signing his first contract with the Metropolitan Opera, he permanently selected the latter spelling.He was one of the first grand opera stars to be heard in talking pictures.Had dark hair and blue eyes.Won fame with his singing while at school. and studied singing in New York.Educated at Los Angeles schools.He was the principal singer in the New York Met for 27 seasons.In 1941 he had to temporarily retire with what was called severe 'spasticity of the larynx muscle'.Has never appeared in a film nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.In March 1934 it was reported that producer Edward Small had signed him for five movies. Ultimately none were made. |
| Job title: |
Actor,Second Unit Director or Assistant Director,Soundtrack |
| Others works: |
He sang the title role (in blackface!) in the original production of Louis Gruenberg's opera "The Emperor Jones", based on Eugene O'Neill's play.
With Helen Jepson as Bess, Serena and Clara, he sang the roles of Porgy and Jake in |
| Spouse: |
Jane Marston Burgard (January 1, 1932 - July 15, 1960) (his death, 1 child)Grace Mackay Smith (May 19, 1919 - September 15, 1931) (divorced, 2 children) |
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