Randolph Scott

George Randolph Scott January 23 1898 March 2 1987 was an American actor best known for his roles in Western films His career spanned from 1928 to 1962 during which he appeared in over 100 films with more than 60 of them being Westerns Scott was raised in Charlotte North Carolina in a wealthy family His father George Grant Scott was the first certified public accountant CPA in North Carolina and his mother Lucille Crane Scott came from a prominent Virginia family He attended private schools and excelled in sports including football baseball horse racing and swimming During World War I Scott enlisted in the North Carolina National Guard and later served in France as part of the US Armys 2nd Trench Mortar Battalion After the war he trained as an artillery officer before returning to the United States Scott initially pursued a career in textile engineering but his interest in acting led him to Hollywood in the late 1920s He landed minor roles before securing a contract with Paramount Pictures where he met Cary Grant on the set of Hot Saturday 1932 The two actors became close companions sharing a home for several years which led to speculation about their relationship Scott and Grant lived together for over a decade first in a Los Angeles apartment then in a Beverly Hills home and later in a Santa Monica beach house Their close bond was widely discussed in Hollywood with some believing they were romantically involved though neither actor ever publicly confirmed this Photos from the time show them laughing exercising cooking and spending time together fueling further speculation Scotts career flourished in the 1930s and 1940s with roles in dramas comedies musicals war films and adventure movies However it was in the Western genre that he truly became a boxoffice star particularly in the 1950s His collaborations with director Budd Boetticher in films like Ride Lonesome 1959 and Comanche Station 1960 are considered classics of the genre Scott was married twice first to Marion DuPont 19361939 and later to Patricia Stillman 19441987 with whom he adopted two children Despite his Hollywood success he was known for his private nature preferring to avoid industry events and publicity After retiring in 1962 Scott focused on business investments amassing a fortune that allowed him to live comfortably until his passing on March 2 1987 at the age of 89 Scott remains one of Hollywoods greatest Western stars with his stoic rugged persona influencing generations of actors His films continue to be celebrated for their authentic portrayal of the American frontier