BIOGRAPHY OF STARS.

Chronicle (Levin), 31 May 1947, Page 7

BIOGRAPHY OF STARS.

LOUIS HAYWARD OF "SAINT" SERIES. If Louis Hayward had any fear that absehce -from the screen while serving overseas as a Marine lorps captain would diminish his ippeal to motion picture produc■)v s and fans, such apprehension vas quickly dissipated when he was presented with four major tssignments in short order during he months immediately following iis separatin from the servie-e. The star's first post-war picture was the mystery thriller, "And Then There Were None." This vas quickly followed by male

leads opposite Jane Russell in "Young Widow" and opposite Hedy Lamarr in "The Strange Woman." When Edward Sma.ll commenced plans for producing "The Return of Monte Cristo," at Columbia, the obvious choice for the stellar role was Hayward, who had previously rated critical huzzahs for his dashing performances in two previous Alexander «Dumas stories —"Son of Monte Cristo" and "The Man in the Iron, Mask." The new Columbia film necessitates Hayward's appearance in six different char'acterisations.- In addition to his appearance as Edmond Dante, heir to the ^Vlonte Cristo fortune, he is seen as Louis Brisseau, a Devil's Island convict; as Barberousse Blum, a hunchback detective; as Louis Napoleon, Emperor of France; and in the guises of an executive clerk and an Protestant minister. His last film before enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1942 was Columbia's "Ladies in Retirement," in Which he shared top billing with his then wife, Ida Lupino. Following his discharge from military duties, Hayward parted from Ida Lupino, and the two agreed on a' •divorce. On May 29* 1946 he married Peggy Morrow, Hollywood socialite. The personal life of Louis Hayward is simple. He remains mthusiastic about acting and likes nothing better than working before the cameras. His favourite actress continues to be Ida Lupino. Runner-up is Lynn Fontaine. Barry Fitzgerald and Alfred Lunt are his favourite actors. He thinks "Gone With the Wind" is the best picture yet • made, and he rates "Voice of thc. Turtle" tops among- modern plays. He likes intensely dramatic roles best of all ahd particularly enjoys dashing romantic costume parts as in "The Return of Monte Cristo." Hayward is five, feet eleven in height and weighs 180 pounds. He has blue eyes and brown hair. He has installed a fully-equigped gymnasium at his home in order to maintain perfect physical condition. 4,