A four-time Oscar-nominated supporting actor of the first degree, Claude Rains came to film in middle age after a highly successful career on the British stage.  He further distinguished  himself on the silver screen with his distinctive voice and often villainous screen presence.

Rains received his first Oscar nomination in 1939 for his performance as Senator Joseph Payne in Frank Capra's MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON with Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur.  Rains lead an all-star supporting cast in this Best Picture nominee, including Edward Arnold, Eugene Pallette, Guy Kibbee, Beulah Bondi and Thomas Mitchell.

Also in 1939, Rains reprised his role of musician father to four musical daughters (played by Priscilla, Rosemary, and Lola Lane and Gale Page) in DAUGHTERS COURAGEOUS, the dramatic sequel to the 1938 romance FOUR DAUGHTERS.  Both films also featured film-newcomer John Garfield (shown with Rains above) who made his debut in FOUR DAUGHTERS.

NOW, VOYAGER (1942) with Bette Davis and Paul Henreid, a Best Picture nominee, was the second of four films Rains would make with Bette Davis.  For their third film, MR. SKEFFINGTON (1944), both received Oscar nominations for their performances.

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