Whatever Happened To 'Michael Rennie' (Klaatu) ???

Born August 25, 1909 "Eric Alexander Rennie" was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England. He was to become a major motion picture star and portray "Klaatu" from the science fiction classic "The Day The Earth Stood Still"

Rennie, who stood 6'4" starred in 29 movies (and appeared in many more) He began his acting career in 1936 and after a screen test was told to look for another profession, that he wasn't actor material... He stuck around for a few days and while "standing in" for actor Robert Young - the director saw potential and got him back into acting...

He appeared in a few movies over the next few years but when WWII started heating up he joined the Royal Air Force and became a fighter pilot. When some of his fellow pilots asked him what he he did in civilian life, they laughed when he told them he was an actor... A few days later they went into town to watch a movie, "Ships with Wings" and Rennie got the last laugh when they realized it was him they were watching in the movie...

Finally in 1951 Rennie took the role he's best known for, Klaatu of "The Day The Earth Stood Still" By that time he was having respiratory problems which would eventually turn into Emphysema...

While he was best known for his role as Klaatu, he also played a role that introduced him to a much younger generation - the role was "The Keeper" a two part episode of "Lost In Space"...

He was living in Geneva, Switzerland when he received word that his brother had died. He flew to his mothers home in Yorkshire and it was there that he suffered a major heart attack and died two months short of his 62nd birthday...