Rauff Daun de Ryther (Acklom) Manners (1900 - 1998)

Born 30 Apr 1900 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Ancestors

Died 23 Dec 1998 at age 98 in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States

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Biography

David (Acklom) Manners is Notable.

David Manners was "a Canadian-American actor who plays John Harker in Tod Browning's 1931 horror classic Dracula, which stars Bela Lugosi in the title role. The following year, Manners portrayed the archaeologist Frank Whemple in The Mummy, another pre-Code thriller by Universal Pictures."^[1] During his heyday, he starred opposite some of Hollywood's top actresses, including Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Stanwyck and Claudette Colbert. He was distantly related to Princess Diana.^[2]

David (originally Rauff Acklom) was born 30 April 1900 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He was the son of George Acklom and Lilian Manners. ^[3][4]

"He lived in the city with his father George, a schoolteacher, and mother Lillian until he was nine. His father ran the then-Tower Road boys school Harrow House, where prominent families of the day sent their children."^[5]

In 1925, his school catalog for Kappa Alpha described him as follows: "Rauff deRyther Daun Acklom; born, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, April 30, 1901. Prepared at Collegiate School, Windsor, N.S., and Trinity School, New York, N.Y. Student, University of Toronto, 1920-23. Actor, New York, N.Y., 1923-26. With Durlacher Bros., art dealers, of London, England, 25 West 54th St., New York."^[6]

"As a young man, Mr. Manners attended the University of Toronto to obtain a forestry degree, but later trained in acting at Hart House Theatre in Toronto, making his theatrical debut in 1924. He eventually changed his name to Manners, his mother's maiden name. While starting out in theatre in Toronto, New York and Chicago, Mr. Manners later moved to Hollywood, primarily, he said later, because - as a lifelong asthmatic - he sought clean air."^[7]

David's big screen debut as in Journey's End, 1930. After signing with Universal Studios, he appeared in a string of successes, including Dracula, 1931; The Mummy, 1932; and The Black Cat, 1934. Among his dozens of films were A Bill of Divorcement with Katharine Hepburn, 1932; Mystery of Edwin Drood, 1935; and A Woman Rebels, 1936.^[8]

"Mr. Manners himself was far less enraptured by Hollywood. After 36 films in six years during the 1930s, he turned his back on Hollywood and blamed increased smoking in studios for his departure. He returned briefly to acting in the late 1940s but had by then become a novelist, penning 1941's Convenient Season, set in Bridgetown. "Few moments, even fewer people, were memorable enough for me to want to remember," he said in 1978, noting he had never even seen his famous star. "I suppose it's an honour," he told Mr. Foster. "But tell me, would you like your name trodden on by hundreds of dirty shoes every day of the year?"^[9]

""Just a dear to work with and a totally professional and talented actor," recalled Ms. Hepburn. "Every girl in town wanted to work with him," echoed Ms. Young, who appeared with Mr. Manners in five films. "He was the dream actor, handsome, charming and totally genuine." And Ms. Ball confessed: "I still have a thing for him after all those years." Even the reclusive Mr. Brando - who made his Broadway debut opposite Mr. Manners in 1946's Truckline Cafe - told Mr. Foster that he owed his entire career to the Halifax-born actor."^[10]

David was married once. His wife was Suzanne Bushnell, whom he married 23 May 1929 in Manhattan, New York. On the marriage record, his name was listed as Rauff Acklom and his parents George Acklom and Lillian Manners. Susanne was 22, and born in 1907. The names of her parents were John Bushnell and Jesse Harwood.^[11] This marriage ended in divorce in 1932.

David officially changed his name to David Joseph Manners in 1940, the same year he applied to become a United States citizen.^[12] Later, in 1948, he established "a long-term domestic relationship with playwright Frederic William "Bill" Mercer.^[13] Initially, they lived together at David's ranch but left Victorville in 1956 to move to another residence in Pacific Palisades. Manners and Mercer remained partners until Bill's death in 1978." ^[14]

David Manners died 23 December 1999 in Santa Barbara, California. ^[15][16]

General Information about all Ackloms can be found at : https://www.wikitree.com/genealogy/Acklom

Sources

1. ↑ David Manners on Wikipedia.
2. ↑ David Manners Biography on IMDb. David was certainly related to Pricess Diana on his father's side: His first cousin three times removed Esther (Acklom) Spencer a great heiress, in 1814 married Lord Althorp, leader of the House of Commons and later 3rd Earl Spencer. Princess Diana was a daughter of the 7th Earl.
3. ↑ "Nova Scotia Delayed Births, 1837-1904," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRF-KLN1 : 8 November 2017), Rauff Acklom, 30 Apr 1900; citing Birth, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, certificate number 7, Nova Scotia Archives, Halifax.
4. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXYM-3W6 : 24 August 2019), Rauff De Ryther Daun Acklom, 1917-1918.
5. ↑ Halifax (Nova Scotia)-born star died with little notice - by LOIS LEGGE -- Halifax Herald - www.herald.ns.ca, 6 January 1999.
6. ↑ US School Catalogs, Kappa Alpha, 1925.
7. ↑ Halifax (Nova Scotia)-born star died with little notice - by LOIS LEGGE -- Halifax Herald - www.herald.ns.ca, 6 January 1999.
8. ↑ David Manners Filmography on IMDb.
9. ↑ Halifax (Nova Scotia)-born star died with little notice - by LOIS LEGGE -- Halifax Herald - www.herald.ns.ca, 6 January 1999.
10. ↑ Halifax (Nova Scotia)-born star died with little notice - by LOIS LEGGE -- Halifax Herald - www.herald.ns.ca, 6 January 1999.
11. ↑ "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24ZS-HRW : 10 February 2018), Rauff Acklom and Suzanne Bushnell, 23 May 1929; citing Marriage, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,653,675.
12. ↑ Rauff Daun Acklom, in the US Naturalization Records, 1840-1957; Rauff Daun Acklom (known as David Manners); aged 33; born 30 April 1900 in Canada; arrival years: 1907; residence: California; declaration date: 11 May 1933; District Court Filing.
13. ↑ Jones, David Morgan; editor (2006). The Wonder Within You: From the Metaphysical Journals of David Manners. Trafford Publishing, 2006; ISBN 1-4120-5013-8; ISBN 978-1412050135.
14. ↑ David Manners on Wikipedia.
15. ↑ "Arizona, Payson, Obituaries, 1948-2008", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2W7-WWD5 : 26 October 2019), Mr David Manners born Rauff de Ryther Daun Acklom, 1999.
16. ↑ Find a Grave Memorial for David Manners.