Tracy, Spencer, 1900-1967
Description
American film star and the first actor to win two consecutive Academy Awards for best actor, Spencer Bonaventure Tracy was born in Milwaukee, Wisonsin on April 5, 1900 to Caroline Brown and John Edward Tracy. Tracy joined the United States Navy in 1918. Upon his discharge, he enrolled at Ripon Colle as a premed student. While attending Ripon, Tracy auditioned for and eared a part in a play, and quickly discovered his true calling, acting. He moved to New York, New York in 1922 in order to enroll at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Tracy and his friend, Pat O'Brien, starred on Broadway and led in regional stock shows for the next eight years. Director John Ford gave Tracy his debut in cinema in the 1930 film Up the River. His performance earned him a five year contract with Fox Studios. Tracy signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1935, and recieved his first Oscar nomination the following year for his performance in San Francisco (1936), and won the award for best actor in 1937 and 1938. Additionally, Tracy starred in Howard Hughes' Sky Devils (1932).
Tracy married Louise Ten Broeck Treadwell in Hamilton, Ohio on September 12, 1923. The couple had two children, Louise Treadwell Tracy in 1924 and John Ten Broeck Tracy in 1932. Tracy died in Los Angeles, California on June 10, 1967.
Source:
Genealogy files about "Spencer Bonaventure Tracy." Accessed on October 22, 2021 on FamilySearch.org.
"Spencer Tracy." Encyclopedia Britannica, June 6, 2021. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Spencer-Tracy.
