Robert Donat (March 18, 1905 - June 9, 1958) was an English actor, best remembered for his roles in The 39 Steps (1935) and Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939 film) (for which he won an Academy Award). Donat was born in Withington, Manchester , of Polish descent, but his success was largely due to typecasting as the quintessential English gentleman.

Donat made his first stage appearance in 1921 and his film debut in 1932 in The Private Life of Henry VIII (as Thomas Culpepper), under the renowned film director and producer Alexander Korda. However, he suffered from ill-health (asthma) which blighted his career, and his last role, as the Mandarin of Yang Cheng in The Inn of the Sixth Happiness is memorable because it was apparent that he knew he was close to death. He died from a cerebral haemorrage in London aged 53.

Robert Donat was married to Ella Annesley Voysey (1929-1946) and to the British actress Renee Asherson (1953-1958).

Other films

• The Count of Monte Cristo (1934) - Edmond Dantes/The Count of Monte Cristo
• The Winslow Boy (1948)- Sir Robert Morton

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