WALTER PIDGEON ACTOR DIES AT 87
Walter Pidgeon Walter
Walter Pidgeon   the courtly actor who distinguished  his  47-year career with portrayals of men who prove both sturdy and wise  died yesterday at a hospital in Santa Monica  Calif. He was 87 years old and had suffered a series of strokes.
 Walter Pidgeon  was born September 23  1897 in the city of St. John  New Brunswick  Canada. The New Brunswick schools paid attention to  his   his  splendid singing voice and that inspired a glimmer for the stage.  He  went to the University of New Brunswick to study law and dramatics classes there affirmed  his  theatrical ambitions.
World War I  however  prompted  him  to enlist in the Canadian army. Before  he  could see action   he  was trapped between two rolling gun carriages in France and was hospitalized for 17 months.
After the war   he  found work as a Boston bank runner  but found  he  did not like banking and moved to New York. According to a studio biography   he  walked in to the office of English actor and producer E.E. Clive and said  he  could act and sing and could prove it.
 He  made  his  debut in ''You Never Can Tell'' and  growing a mustache  starred in Broadway productions of ''The Mannequin '' ''Something Gay'' and ''There's Wisdom in Women.'' Teamed With Garson
In 1926  ''Mannequin'' was made into a film and Mr. Pidgeon's role there was  his  introduction to movies. Mr. Pidgeon was dissatisfied with the preponderance of singing roles and during that period intermittently left Hollywood for Broadway.
In 1939   he  made  his  first film with Miss Garson  ''Blossoms in the Dust'' and  his  career seemed to soar. With Miss Garson  there followed ''Mrs. Miniver '' ''Madame Curie '' ''Mrs. Parkington '' ''Julie Misbehaves '' ''That Forsythe Woman '' ''The Miniver Story'' and ''Scandal at Scourie.''
[TGT]   the courtly actor who distinguished  [TGT]  47-year career with portrayals of men who prove both sturdy and wise  died yesterday at a hospital in Santa Monica  Calif. He was 87 years old and had suffered a series of strokes.
 [TGT]was born September 23  1897 in the city of St. John  New Brunswick  Canada. The New Brunswick schools paid attention to  [TGT]   [TGT]  splendid singing voice and that inspired a glimmer for the stage.  [TGT]  went to the University of New Brunswick to study law and dramatics classes there affirmed  [TGT]  theatrical ambitions.
World War I  however  prompted  him  to enlist in the Canadian army. Before  he  could see action   he  was trapped between two rolling gun carriages in France and was hospitalized for 17 months.
After the war   he  found work as a Boston bank runner  but found  he  did not like banking and moved to New York. According to a studio biography   he  walked in to the office of English actor and producer E.E. Clive and said  he  could act and sing and could prove it.
 He  made  his  debut in ''You Never Can Tell'' and  growing a mustache  starred in Broadway productions of ''The Mannequin '' ''Something Gay'' and ''There's Wisdom in Women.'' Teamed With Garson
In 1926  ''Mannequin'' was made into a film and Mr. Pidgeon's role there was  his  introduction to movies. Mr. Pidgeon was dissatisfied with the preponderance of singing roles and during that period intermittently left Hollywood for Broadway.
In 1939   he  made  his  first film with Miss Garson  ''Blossoms in the Dust'' and  his  career seemed to soar. With Miss Garson  there followed ''Mrs. Miniver '' ''Madame Curie '' ''Mrs. Parkington '' ''Julie Misbehaves '' ''That Forsythe Woman '' ''The Miniver Story'' and ''Scandal at Scourie.''