Alexander D'Arcy

Alexander D'Arcy (Arabic: ألكسندر دارسي; 10 August 1908 – 20 April 1996) was an Egyptian stage, television and film actor with an international film repertoire.

Alexander D'Arcy
ألكسندر دارسي
from the trailer for Topper Takes a Trip (1939)
Born
Alexander Sarruf

(1908-08-10)10 August 1908
Cairo, Egypt
Died20 April 1996(1996-04-20) (aged 87)
West Hollywood, California, U.S.
OccupationFilm actor
Years active1927–1973
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1940; div. 1943)​
Children1

Career

Born Alexander Sarruf in Cairo, Egypt, D'Arcy, variously credited as Alexandre D'Arcy, Alex D'Arcy, Alexandre Darcy and Alex d'Arcy, appeared in some 45 films, mostly as a suave gentleman or smooth rogue. His first film appearance was in 1927 in The Garden of Allah, and he then appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's Champagne (1928). He went to France, acted in a number of films, then departed for America. In 1936, listed as Joseph Alexandre Fabre – artist, aged 27, race French, nationality Egyptian – he sailed to New York as a first class passenger on the SS Île de France. He eventually left New York for Hollywood where he started by playing supporting roles in several films in the late 1930s, including The Prisoner of Zenda, Stolen Holiday, and The Awful Truth (all 1937). In 1953, he was one of the suitors of Marilyn Monroe's character in How to Marry a Millionaire and featured in Abdulla the Great and Soldier of Fortune in 1955.

His roles diminished in importance, and by the 1960s, he acted mostly on television and resurfaced in horror films, notably It's Hot in Paradise (1962) and as Dracula in Blood of Dracula's Castle (1969). Evidently a favorite of such cult directors as Roger Corman, Russ Meyer and Sam Fuller, D'Arcy was seen in Corman's The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967), Meyer's The Seven Minutes (1971) and Fuller's Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street (1972[1] or 1974[2] TV movie).

Throughout his life, D’Arcy split his time between his homes in the United States and Europe. In addition to acting, he worked as a restaurateur in Berlin.[3] He was naturalized as a United States citizen in Los Angeles in May 1942. In his petition for naturalization, he declared that upon naturalization he wished his name to be legally changed from Joseph Alexandre Fabre to Alexander d'Arcy.

Personal life

D’Arcy was married twice, first to actress Arleen Whelan and then, in 1964, to actress Yutta Darcy. They had a daughter named Susannah d'Arcy and divorced in 1973.[3][4] [5]

Death

D’Arcy died on 20 April 1996 at his home in West Hollywood, California at the age of 87.[3][4]

Filmography

References
  1. "Alexander D'Arcy Film Actor, 87". Associated Press. 28 April 1996.
  2. Glenn Erickson (25 April 2016). "Dead Pigeon On Beethoven Street".
  3. "Alexander D'Arcy; Film Actor". Los Angeles Times. 23 April 1996.
  4. Vosburgh, Dick (17 May 1996). "Obituary:Alex D'Arcy". The Independent. independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 April 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  5. Susannah D'Arcy
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