Photo: Tiffany Gainsborough and Welsh-Pearson / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Colin Clive, born on January 20, 1900 in Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine, France, was a stage actor and film actor. Colin Clive died on June 25, 1937 at the age of 37. Schooling on record includes Stonyhurst College.
My Take
Colin Clive built immortality out of a single line. His feverish cry of "It's alive!" as Henry Frankenstein is one of cinema's great moments, and I find his whole performance more nuanced than its horror trappings suggest, all nerves, guilt and barely contained mania. Born in France and trained on the British stage, he brought a theatrical intensity that the screen amplified. That he died at just 37, his turmoil reportedly bleeding into his roles, gives his legacy a tragic shading. To me he's the perfect example of how one indelible character can outweigh a short, troubled life.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Colin Clive
- Name (Japanese)
- コリン・クライヴ
- Reading
- こりん・くらいゔ
- Born
- January 20, 1900 – June 25, 1937
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Rat
- Origin
- Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine, France
- Occupation
- stage actor / film actor / actor
2. Background
- University
- Stonyhurst College
3. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin%20Clive
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q445538
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Colin Clive born?
Born January 20, 1900.
When did Colin Clive die?
Died June 25, 1937, aged 37.
Where was Colin Clive from?
Colin Clive was from Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine, France.
What did Colin Clive do?
Colin Clive worked as stage actor, film actor, actor.
Stage actor — see all → · Film actor — see all → · More people from France →