Freddie Bartholomew

Born in Harlesden, London, on 1924-03-28, Frederick Cecil Bartholomew—better known as Freddie Bartholomew—became one of the most beloved child stars of 1930s Hollywood, dazzling audiences with his polished diction, angelic looks, and astonishing emotional range. From a precocious elocutionist in Warminster to the title role in MGM’s spectacular David Copperfield (1935), his early career was a whirlwind of acclaim, with fellow child star Mickey Rooney dubbing him “the finest child star of our time,” and Spencer Tracy later praising his performance in Captains Courageous (1937) as “so fine, simple and true it was way over people’s heads.” His breakthrough roles in Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936) and Captains Courageous cemented his status as the second‑highest‑paid child actor after Shirley Temple, and he amassed a legion of admirers while earning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.

Behind the glitter, Bartholomew’s life was marred by relentless legal battles with his estranged birth parents, who fought for custody and a share of his earnings, draining his fortune in attorney fees and settlements. The protracted disputes forced a salary renegotiation with MGM in 1937, causing a year‑long hiatus that cost him coveted roles such as the lead in Kim. After serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, his film career dwindled, and he pivoted to television, becoming a director at WPIX (1949‑1954) and later a producer and executive at the advertising agency Benton & Bowles, where he helped shape classics like The Andy Griffith Show, As the World Turns, and The Edge of Night. He married three times—first to publicist Maely Daniele, then to television chef Aileen Paul (with whom he had two children), and finally to Elizabeth Grabill—remaining with his last wife until his death from heart failure in Sarasota, Florida, on 1992-01-23.