Spencer Bonaventure Tracy was an American actor, renowned for his natural flair and versatility. He emerged as one of the leading stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, earning two Academy Awards for Best Actor from nine nominations, tying the record for nominations in that category with the esteemed Laurence Olivier.
Tracy's journey in acting began during his college days at Ripon College, where he discovered his talent for the craft. He later received a scholarship to the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts, spending seven years in the theatre, working with various stock companies and occasionally on Broadway.
Tracy's breakthrough came in 1930, when his lead performance in The Last Mile caught the attention of Hollywood. Following a successful film debut in John Ford's Up the River, starring alongside Humphrey Bogart, he was signed to a contract with Fox Film Corporation. During his five-year stint with Fox, Tracy delivered a string of impressive performances, but unfortunately, they did not translate to commercial success, leaving him relatively unknown to audiences despite starring in nearly 25 films.
In 1935, Tracy joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, at the time the most esteemed studio in Hollywood. His career flourished with a series of hit films, and in 1937 and 1938, he won consecutive Oscars for Captains Courageous and Boys Town. He collaborated with Clark Gable on three smash hit films, solidifying the notion of the duo as a team in the public's imagination. By the 1940s, Tracy had become one of the studio's top stars.
In 1942, he appeared alongside Katharine Hepburn in Woman of the Year, marking the beginning of a popular partnership that produced nine films over 25 years. Tracy left MGM in 1955 and continued to work as a freelance star, despite growing weariness as he aged. His personal life was marked by struggles with severe alcoholism and guilt over his son's deafness. He remained married but became estranged from his wife, conducting a long-term relationship with Katharine Hepburn in private.
Towards the end of his life, Tracy worked almost exclusively with director Stanley Kramer, making his last film, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, in 1967, just 17 days before his passing.
Throughout his illustrious career, Tracy appeared in 75 films, earning a reputation among his peers as one of the greatest actors on screen. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him as the 9th greatest male star of Classic Hollywood Cinema.
