Actor. He is best known for his portrayal of 'Kris Kringle' in the 1947 Christmas holiday classic "Miracle on 34th Street," which he was the recipient of an Oscar Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe Award. He received a second Golden Globe and another Academy Award nomination for the comedy film "Mister 880" in 1950. After being educated at King's College in London, England, he began his long and successful acting career with bit comic roles starting in 1895 before he performed on stage, with his first being in 1916, "The Real Thing At Last." After World War II, he came to the United States and was successful on Broadway Theatre and in motion pictures. His prolific list of performances ended with "The Rocket from Calabuch" in 1956. He came from a theatrical family with his brother being actor Arthur Chesney, his cousin, Cecil Kellaway and for a short time, the brother-in-law of actress Estelle Winwood. He married actress Minnie Terry in 1901, a member of the large English theatrical Terry family. The couple traveled to Australia together where he played in a disastrous tour of "Ben-Hur". By World War I, the couple had divorced, she remarried, but they remained close friends even visiting each other in their elderly years. He died of pneumonia and complications of a stroke. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1751 Vine Street for his contributions to the film industry.
Actor. He is best known for his portrayal of 'Kris Kringle' in the 1947 Christmas holiday classic "Miracle on 34th Street," which he was the recipient of an Oscar Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe Award. He received a second Golden Globe and another Academy Award nomination for the comedy film "Mister 880" in 1950. After being educated at King's College in London, England, he began his long and successful acting career with bit comic roles starting in 1895 before he performed on stage, with his first being in 1916, "The Real Thing At Last." After World War II, he came to the United States and was successful on Broadway Theatre and in motion pictures. His prolific list of performances ended with "The Rocket from Calabuch" in 1956. He came from a theatrical family with his brother being actor Arthur Chesney, his cousin, Cecil Kellaway and for a short time, the brother-in-law of actress Estelle Winwood. He married actress Minnie Terry in 1901, a member of the large English theatrical Terry family. The couple traveled to Australia together where he played in a disastrous tour of "Ben-Hur". By World War I, the couple had divorced, she remarried, but they remained close friends even visiting each other in their elderly years. He died of pneumonia and complications of a stroke. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1751 Vine Street for his contributions to the film industry.
Bio by: Crystal J. Geiszler
Gravesite Details
Edmund Gwenn was interred in the Cathedral Mausoleum at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Sunday, December 3, 2023. His niche is located next to actress Helen Chandler.
Family Members
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See more Gwenn memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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