Spencer Tracy biography

Synopsis

Early Life

During his long career, Spencer Tracy played an impressive range of roles, from prisoners to priests. He managed to make each character seem believable and genuine. For more than three decades, Tracy displayed his tremendous talents on the big screen.

Tracy grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the youngest son of an Irish-American sales manager for a truck company. Raised Catholic, both he and his older brother Carroll served as altar boys. The young Tracy got into trouble early on for missing school and getting into fights. According to some accounts, Tracy went to at least 15 different elementary schools.

At the age of 18, Tracy enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War I with friend Pat O'Brien. He never saw any action, having spent most of his time stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. After the war, Tracy spent several semesters at Ripon College, where he discovered acting. He then made his way to New York City, where he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Stage and Film Work

Tracy spent much of the 1920s as a stage actor. In 1922, he made his Broadway debut alongside Pat O'Brien as a robot in R.U.R., a science fiction play by Kavel Capek. He also appeared in the short-lived comedy A Royal Fandango the following year. Tracy continued to appear in both comedies and dramas over the next few years, both in New York and elsewhere. In 1930, he gave a star-making performance as a convicted killer in the Broadway drama The Last Mile. Director John Ford saw Tracy in the production and wanted him for his film Up The River (1930), which also featured Humphrey Bogart.

Under now contract with Fox, Tracy made a string of films from 1930 to 1935. He was often cast as a tough guy or criminal. With 20,000 Years in Sing Sing, Tracy began to attract positive notices from critics. The film, which also starred Bette Davis, failed to draw much of an audience. He earned raves for The Power and the Glory. Written by Preston Sturges, the film examined the life of wealthy businessman (Tracy).

Tracy developed a reputation as a heavy drinker off screen. Married to Louise Treadmill since 1923, he was also known to have extramarital affairs with other performers, including Loretta Young. Tracy may have broken his marriage vows, but he and Louise never divorced. The couple had two children, John and Susan.

Making the move to MGM in 1935, Tracy started to achieve box office success. His first hit as a leading man came with 1936 revenge drama Fury, directed by Fritz Lang. Tracy scored again later that same year with San Francisco, co-starring with Clark Gable in this disaster tale.

In 1937, Tracy achieved both commercial and critical success with Captains Courageous. Audiences and critics alike praised his performance as a Portuguese fisherman, and the film brought him his first Academy Award. Tracy picked up another Academy Award the following year for his portrayal of Father Flanagan in Boys Town.

In 1942, Tracy first appeared opposite Katharine Hepburn in Woman