Got on Wikipedia tonight. Was curious who the least-known best actor was (used a Sporcle quiz of Best Actor Oscar winners to pick one) and read about him. Get a load of this guy:
Victor McLaglen, at the age of 14, tried to join the British Army to fight in the Second Boer War. It didn’t work out, but he spent some time at Windsor Castle.
Victor McLaglen, at the age of 18, moved to Winnipeg and became a professional wrestler, boxer, and—for a time—constable.
Victor McLaglen toured with a circus, beating up attendees professionally (they’d get $25 if they lasted three rounds).
Victor McLaglen got back into the service during World War I, and won the British Army’s heavyweight boxing championship (no wonder that war took so long those guys took the time to organize multiple weight classes of boxing championships).
In 1933, Victor McLaglen founded the California Light Horse Regiment, which, per Wikipedia (this is all per Wikipedia), included a “riding parade club, a polo-playing group and a precision motorcycle contingent.” It was also, per Wikipedia, organized “to fight communists.”
In 1935, Victor McLaglen won the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in The Informer.
Also in 1935, Victor McLaglen built his own stadium near Griffith Park. It was damaged by a flood in 1938.
What a life.
