Week 1 of series 2 – “Horror Actors of the 1940s.” – of JPiC’s “Inktober” starts with Colin Clive. A prominent stage actor in his native London, Colin Clive made his Hollywood debut in 1930’s Journey’s End, a drama about an alcoholic British Navy officer, a role that eerily mirrored his own life. The film was directed by James Whale, who tapped Colin to star in his big-screen adaptation of Mary Shelley‘s classic novel Frankenstein. The film was well-received and Colin’s performance was applauded by critics and fans alike. Colin signed on for the sequel in 1935.
Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein were the only two horror movies he made in his short career. Colin was reportedly very difficult to work with, most likely a by-product of his alcoholism. Estranged from his wife and struggling with his own demons, Colin Clive died in 1937 at the age of 37.