ACTOR · BORN 1912 · DIED 1992
José Ferrer
- Born
- 8 January 1912
- Died
- 26 January 1992
37 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
15 Facts From José Ferrer's Career
- #003
In the 1943 Broadway production of 'Othello', José Ferrer played Iago opposite Paul Robeson's Othello, a performance that earned him a place in theatre history. The production broke the record for the longest-running Shakespeare play in Broadway history, a record that remains unbroken to this day. This achievement led Ferrer to be remembered as one of the most respected theatre actors of his era.
- #006
José Ferrer is one of only nine actors in the world to have won both a Tony and an Oscar for the same role. He achieved this with 'Cyrano de Bergerac', winning the Tony in 1947 and the Oscar in 1950. The other actors include Yul Brynner, Rex Harrison, Viola Davis, Anne Bancroft, Joel Grey, Paul Scofield, Shirley Booth and Jack Albertson. This exceptional achievement is proof of Ferrer's ability to bring the same character to life both on stage and on screen.
- #007
Although José Ferrer was an actor of Puerto Rican origin, he portrayed many French characters throughout his career. He appeared before audiences as the Dauphin Charles in 'Joan of Arc' (1948), in the title role in 'Cyrano de Bergerac' (1950), as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 'Moulin Rouge' (1952), as Alfred Dreyfus in 'I Accuse!' (1958) and as Athos in 'The Fifth Musketeer' (1979). These roles reveal his command of French culture and his versatility as a character actor.
- #010
José Ferrer's most unforgettable performance became identified with the role of 'Cyrano de Bergerac'. He first played the role on stage in 1946 and brought it back to the stage in 1953. In 1950 he played the same role on screen and won the Best Actor Oscar. He also reinterpreted the character on live television in 1949 and 1955, and in the 1964 French production 'Cyrano et d'Artagnan'. Ferrer, who was awarded the Tony for this role in 1947, became one of the rare actors to win both a Tony and an Oscar for the same character on Broadway and in cinema.
- #011
By winning the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in 'Cyrano de Bergerac' (1950), José Ferrer became the first Hispanic actor to receive the award. This historic achievement showed that he was not only a talented actor but also held an important place in cinema history. With this award, Ferrer became an inspiration to actors of Latin origin and emphasized the importance of diversity in Hollywood.
- #012
José Ferrer holds the distinction of being one of the first actors to win a Tony Award, in 1947, the year the Tony Awards were first held. Along with Fredric March, Helen Hayes, Ingrid Bergman, David Wayne and Patricia Neal, he was among the first recipients of theatre's most prestigious award. This was an important turning point in his career and further consolidated his reputation in the theatre world.
- #013
In the early 1950s, José Ferrer had an intense period in both cinema and theatre. While appearing in some of his best-remembered films, he simultaneously starred in or directed four different Broadway productions: 'Stalag 17', 'The Fourposter', 'The Shrike' and the 1951 revival of 'Twentieth Century'. This extraordinary energy and versatility proved that he was one of the hardest-working and most talented theatre people of his time.
- #014
José Ferrer appeared in three productions nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: 'Moulin Rouge' (1952), 'The Caine Mutiny' (1954) and 'Lawrence of Arabia' (1962). Of these films, only 'Lawrence of Arabia' won the award. Ferrer's roles in these films showed how successful he could be in productions of different genres and brought significant prestige to his career.
- #019
José Ferrer stepped into the world of cinema exactly eight years after becoming an established star on Broadway. During that time he achieved great successes in the theatre and made a name for himself. His move to cinema marked the beginning of a new period in his career, and he soon became one of Hollywood's most sought-after actors.
- #021
At the age of 60 in 1972, José Ferrer had his left ear pierced at the insistence of his girlfriend, whom he later married. For the rest of his career he chose to wear an earring in many of his roles, and it became his signature even when it was anachronistic for some productions. His earring-wearing roles include 'Paco' (1975), 'The Return of Captain Nemo' (1978), 'Fedora' (1978), 'The Fifth Musketeer' (1979), 'The Man from the South' (1979), 'Battle Creek Brawl' (1980), 'Evita Peron' (1981) and 'Dune' (1984). In 'Fedora', the matter was even made into a joke.
- #024
José Ferrer was the first name Billy Wilder considered for the lead in 'The Lost Weekend' (1945). The studio, however, wanted a more attractive matinee idol such as Cary Grant. When it became clear that Paramount would not approve the film with Ferrer, Wilder gave up and began looking for another star. The role was turned down by many of the era's male stars because they found it 'unsympathetic'; it eventually went to Ray Milland. Milland accepted the role reluctantly and won an Oscar for his performance.
- #025
José Ferrer was among the names considered for the role of Addison DeWitt in 'All About Eve' (1950). The role, however, went to George Sanders, who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for it. Ferrer's loss of the part can be seen as the loss of an important opportunity in his career, though Sanders's performance went down in cinema history.
- #030
José Ferrer won three Tony Awards over the course of his career. The first two were in the Best Actor (Dramatic) category: in 1947 for 'Cyrano de Bergerac' and in 1952 for the original Broadway production of 'The Shrike'. In 1952 he also won the Best Director award for three plays: 'The Shrike', 'The Fourposter' and 'Stalag 17'. He later both reprised his role and directed the film version of 'The Shrike' (1955). These achievements proved his talent in both acting and directing.
- #031
José Ferrer and Gérard Depardieu are the two actors nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for playing Cyrano de Bergerac. Ferrer played the role in 1950 and won the award, while Depardieu was nominated in 1990 for the film 'Cyrano de Bergerac'. The pair is mentioned alongside other famous duos who played the same character, such as Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro (Don Vito Corleone) and John Wayne and Jeff Bridges (Rooster Cogburn).
- #032
José Ferrer is one of 10 performers who have won both a Tony and an Oscar for the same role. He achieved this with 'Cyrano de Bergerac': the Tony in 1947 and the Oscar in 1950. The other names, in chronological order, are Shirley Booth, Yul Brynner, Rex Harrison, Anne Bancroft, Paul Scofield, Jack Albertson, Joel Grey and Viola Davis. These nine actors won their Tonys before their Oscars; the tenth, Lila Kedrova, won her Oscar first (1964) and then her Tony (1984).
Continue through the archive
Lawrence of Arabiaas Turkish Bey- The Sentinelas Robed Figure
- The Caine Mutinyas Lt. Barney Greenwald
- The Fifth Musketeeras Athos
- Battle Creek Brawlas Dominici
- Fedoraas Doctor Vando
- Moulin Rougeas Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
- The Cockleshell Heroesas Major Geoffrey Stringer
- The Evil That Men Doas Dr. Hector Lomelin
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
Sources for the entries on this page
- IMDb IMDb
Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work