Alan Marshal was an actor who performed on stage in the United States and in Hollywood films. He was sometimes billed as Alan Marshall or Alan Willey.
Biography
Early life
Born Alan M Willey in Sydney, Australia, he was the son of popular Queensland stage actress Irby Marshal and English actor-producer Leonard Willey. The family left Australia in mid 1914, when he was five years old. Willey and Marshal appeared in several Australian films made in 1912 – including The Strangler's Grip and The Mystery of the Black Pearl, both directed by Franklyn Barrett. Irby and Leonard continued their successful careers on the stage in the United States, first in San Francisco then in New York.
Early acting career
Alan reportedly first appeared on Broadway in The Swan, at age 15 as "Alan Willey". He went on to appear on Broadway in The Merchant of Venice, The Game of Love and Death, Michael and Mary, and Death Takes a Holiday. As "Alan Marshal", he had roles on Broadway in Foolscap, Going Gay, While Parents Sleep, Lady Jane, The Bishop Misbehaves and On Stage.
Film career
According to his son, Kit, Marshal was spotted by a studio scout while performing in a play in New York and was asked to do a screen test for Selznick International Studios. Selznick cast him in a supporting role in The Garden of Allah with Charles Boyer and Marlene Dietrich. Marshal was loaned to MGM where he was in After the Thin Man. That studio liked him and gave him a good part in Night Must Fall. Marshal was used by MGM for key roles in prestige pictures: Parnell, playing William O'Shea who was cuckolded by Clark Gable and Myrna Loy; and Conquest with Greta Garbo and Boyer, playing Philippe Antoine d'Ornano. Walter Wanger borrowed him for I Met My Love Again, billed fourth. Marshal's first lead role was in a B picture at Republic Films, Invisible Enemy. He went back to support parts for The Road to Reno at Universal, then was the romantic male lead in Dramatic School with Luise Rainer at MGM, a big flop. He played a similar sort of part in Four Girls in White then was Anna Sten's co star in Exile Express made at Grand National Pictures. Marshal had a strong role in 20th Century Fox's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes supporting Basil Rathbone and Ida Lupino. At RKO Marshal had a support part in The Hunchback of Notre Dame and the lead in a B picture, Married and in Love, directed by John Farrow. He supported Anna Neagle in Irene at RKO and Loretta Young in He Stayed for Breakfast at Columbia. Marshal stayed at Columbia for The Howards of Virginia with Cary Grant then went back to RKO to play one of Ginger Rogers's suitors in Tom, Dick and Harry, a big hit. He was second billed to Merle Oberon in Lydia. In 1942 Selznick sold many of his contracts to 20th Century Fox including Marshal's. Marshal was second billed to Irene Dunne in The White Cliffs of Dover at MGM, a huge hit. He was top billed in Bride by Mistake with Laraine Day, another box office success. "It's the third time I've been discovered", said Marshall, who was set to star in Claudia. However Marshal had a nervous breakdown and did not act for a number of years.
Television
Marshall was announced for Three Came Home but did not appear in the final film. It was reported he withdrew due to illness. Marshal concentrated on television in the 1950s, appearing in episodes of Lights Out , The Clock , Robert Montgomery Presents , and Climax! . Marshal returned to movies with a small role in The Opposite Sex. He was more commonly found on TV, such as in Playhouse 90, Perry Mason, Buckskin, General Electric Theatre, Wagon Train, The Ann Sothern Show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Rawhide, 77 Sunset Strip, M Squad , Sugarfoot, Bourbon Street Beat and Surfside 6. Marshall had a supporting role in House on Haunted Hill starring Vincent Price and directed by William Castle, and the westernDay of the Outlaw.
Filmography
Family
Marshal eloped with socialite Mary Grace Borel in November 1938. The couple had one son, Christopher, who also became an actor. Borel sued for divorce in August 1947. Marshal did not remarry.
