Farley Granger

Farley Granger was an American actor, best known for his roles in the Alfred Hitchcock films Rope and Strangers on a Train, alongside Robert Walker and Ruth Roman. Granger's career spanned over five decades, with appearances in numerous films, including The North Star, The Purple Heart, and Enchantment, alongside David Niven and Elliott Nugent. He worked with renowned directors such as Nicholas Ray and Luchino Visconti, and actors like Marlon Brando and James Dean. Granger's performances were often praised by critics, including those from The New York Times and Variety.

● Early Life

Farley Granger was born in San Jose, California, to Eva Hopkins and Farley Granger Sr., and grew up in Los Angeles and New York City. He attended North Hollywood High School and later studied at New York University and the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, where he was taught by Sanford Meisner. Granger's early life was influenced by his parents' interests in the arts, with his mother being a Hollywood actress and his father a writer. He was also friends with actors like Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor, and often attended parties hosted by Cedric Gibbons and Dolores del Río.

● Career

Granger's career began in the 1940s, with his first film role in The North Star, directed by Sam Wood and starring Anne Baxter and Dana Andrews. He then appeared in The Purple Heart, alongside Dana Andrews and Richard Conte, and Enchantment, with David Niven and Teresa Wright. Granger's breakthrough role came with Alfred Hitchcock's Rope, alongside John Dall and Constance Collier. He went on to work with Hitchcock again in Strangers on a Train, alongside Robert Walker and Patricia Hitchcock. Granger also appeared in films like The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing, directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Joan Collins and Ray Milland, and The Prowler, directed by Joseph Losey and starring Van Heflin and Evelyn Keyes.

● Personal Life

Granger was openly gay, and his personal life was often subject to scrutiny by the media, including The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. He was in a long-term relationship with Robert Calhoun, an interior designer, and later with Hilton McLain, a screenwriter. Granger was friends with many notable figures, including Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams, and often attended parties hosted by Andy Warhol and Halston. He was also a supporter of the American Civil Liberties Union and the Human Rights Campaign, and often participated in AIDS awareness campaigns, alongside Elizabeth Taylor and Diana, Princess of Wales.

● Filmography

Granger's filmography includes The North Star, The Purple Heart, Enchantment, Rope, Strangers on a Train, The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing, and The Prowler. He also appeared in films like Our Very Own, directed by David Miller and starring Ann Blyth and Jane Wyatt, and Side Street, directed by Anthony Mann and starring Cathy O'Donnell and James Craig. Granger worked with actors like Marlon Brando and James Dean, and directors like Nicholas Ray and Luchino Visconti. His performances were often praised by critics, including those from The New York Times and Variety, and he was nominated for several awards, including the Golden Globe Award and the BAFTA Award.

● Legacy

Granger's legacy as an actor has been recognized by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Museum of Modern Art. He has been praised by critics and actors alike, including Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola, for his performances in films like Rope and Strangers on a Train. Granger's influence can be seen in the work of actors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon, who have both cited him as an inspiration. He has also been recognized for his contributions to the LGBTQ+ community, and has been honored by organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and the GLAAD Media Award. Granger's life and career have been the subject of several books, including those by Donald Spoto and Patrick McGilligan, and he has been featured in documentaries like The Celluloid Closet and Hollywood's Golden Age.