Henry Wilcoxon 1905–1984 starred as Marc Antony in Cecil B. DeMille’s 1934 epic Cleopatra and associate-produced The Greatest Show on Earth 1952 and The Ten Commandments 1956. The Dominican-born actor appeared in Unconquered, Samson and Delilah, and numerous television series. He earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Identity & family.
KIN · 2
Names, aliases, and relatives of Henry Wilcoxon — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Birth NameHarry Frederick Wilcoxon
NicknamesBiff
AliasesHenry Wilcoxen, Harry Wilcoxin, Henry Wilcoxin, Harry Wilcoxon
SPOUSES
Joan WoodburySheila Browning
At a glance.
STATS
Henry Wilcoxon by the numbers — life, work, and family.
78Years lived
69Film credits
1Award
2Marriages
Who was Henry Wilcoxon?
BIOGRAPHY
Henry Wilcoxon — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
I.
Early life
Shaped by his upbringing on the Caribbean island of Dominica, Henry Wilcoxon attended Harrison College and Wolmer’s Schools. His education there laid the foundation for a career that brought him to Cecil B. DeMille.
II.
Career
In 1934, DeMille cast Wilcoxon as Marc Antony in Cleopatra, launching a collaboration across six films. He starred in The Crusades 1935 and Samson and Delilah 1949, and played supporting roles in Unconquered 1947, The Greatest Show on Earth 1952, and The Ten Commandments 1956. After a decade-long estrangement following The Crusades, Wilcoxon and DeMille reconciled during the production of Unconquered. Wilcoxon became DeMille’s associate producer for his final two films—both nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, with The Greatest Show on Earth winning the Oscar. After DeMille’s death, Wilcoxon worked sporadically, taking minor roles in television series such as The Wild Wild West and Gunsmoke.
III.
Personal life
Wilcoxon married Sheila Browning in 1936, but the marriage ended the following year. In 1938, he married actress Joan Woodbury, with whom he had three daughters: Wendy Joan 1939, Heather Ann 1947, and Cecilia Dawn 1950. The couple divorced in 1969. Scott Eyman’s biography described Wilcoxon’s friendship with DeMille as a surrogate father-son relationship.
IV.
Legacy
Henry Wilcoxon collaborated with Cecil B. DeMille on six films as actor and associate producer. His name appears in the opening credits of the fictional film Tanner in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood. He earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to motion pictures. He is remembered for playing Marc Antony in Cleopatra and associate-producing The Greatest Show on Earth and The Ten Commandments.
Filmography.
FILMS · 69
Browse the complete filmography of Henry Wilcoxon — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
TV
The F.B.I.
5.5(24)
TV
The Wild Wild West
7.6(81)
TV
Running Point
7.3(133)
TV
Daniel Boone
7.0(33)
TV
Cagney & Lacey
7.0(69)
TV
Marcus Welby, M.D.
6.6(20)
TV
Gunsmoke
6.7(111)
TV
Cimarron Strip
5.7(13)
TV
It Takes a Thief
7.2(26)
Movie
The Ten Commandments
7.8(1.8k)
Movie
Sunset Boulevard
8.3(2.9k)
TV
Marvel's Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.
6.1(81)
Movie
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8Th Dimension
6.0(486)
Movie
Samson and Delilah
6.6(244)
()
·
Could not load more credits.
Awards & honors.
AWARDS · 1
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Henry Wilcoxon — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame01
Notable quotes.
QUOTES · 3
A wall of memorable lines from Henry Wilcoxon — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
It’s All the Same, You Know, This Whole Acting Business. Television, Motion Pictures, the Theater It’s All Acting with Very Slight Differences. the Approach to Character Is Always the Same. You Simply Must Remember the Fourth Wall.
The Fourth Wall Is an Expression That Refers to the Object of Your Acting. the Three Walls in a Theater Are Obvious. There’s the Wall Behind You, and the Wings on Either Side and the Fourth Wall Is the Audience.
So, You Simply Play to the Camera and Forget What Medium You’re Working In. I Just Go to Work on Time, Know My Lines, Know My Character, Keep My Sense of Humor and That’s It. and That, Also, You Might Say, Is a Secret for Professional Longevity.
Did you know?
FACTS · 9
Little-known facts about Henry Wilcoxon — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
01
Wilcoxon appeared frequently in Cecil B. DeMille’s films and was a close friend of the director off-screen. Scott Eyman’s biography Empire of Dreams: The Epic Life of Cecil B. DeMille 2010 described their bond as a surrogate father-son relationship.
02
As associate producer on DeMille’s final two films, The Greatest Show on Earth 1952 and The Ten Commandments 1956, Wilcoxon helped bring both to the screen. Both earned Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, with The Greatest Show on Earth taking the Oscar.
03
Across six DeMille pictures, Wilcoxon starred in Cleopatra 1934, The Crusades 1935, and Samson and Delilah 1949. He also played supporting roles in Unconquered 1947, The Greatest Show on Earth 1952, and The Ten Commandments 1956.
04
With Katherine Orrison, Wilcoxon wrote his autobiography Lionheart in Hollywood.
05
Wilcoxon and his wife Joan Woodbury had three daughters: Wendy Joan born December 28, 1939, Heather Ann born May 8, 1947, and Cecilia Dawn born May 25, 1950.
06
In Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood, the character Rick Dalton stars in a fake Western titled Tanner; Wilcoxon’s name appears in that film’s opening credits, seen on screen by a character played by Al Pacino.
07
DeMille originally cast Wilcoxon as Samson in a planned 1934 film opposite Miriam Hopkins as Delilah, but the project was shelved for over a decade. By the time Samson and Delilah was made in 1949, Victor Mature played Samson and Wilcoxon portrayed Ahtur, Samson’s adversary.
08
In 1934, Paramount Pictures named Wilcoxon one of its Stars of Tomorrow.
09
After The Crusades 1935, Wilcoxon and DeMille had a falling-out and did not speak for nearly a decade. They reconciled during the production of Unconquered 1947, in which Wilcoxon played Captain Steele.
You wanted to know.
FAQ · 32
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Henry Wilcoxon.
01When was Henry Wilcoxon born?
Henry Wilcoxon was born on September 8, 1905. His birthplace was the Caribbean island of Dominica, then part of the British West Indies.
02Where was Henry Wilcoxon born?
He was born in Dominica, British West Indies. This Caribbean location is now an independent island nation.
03When did Henry Wilcoxon die?
Henry Wilcoxon died on March 6, 1984. He was 78 years old at the time of his death.
04How old was Henry Wilcoxon when he died?
Wilcoxon was 78 years old when he passed away. He died in 1984 in Los Angeles, California.
05Where did Henry Wilcoxon die?
He died in Los Angeles, California, USA. The city was also where he had spent much of his Hollywood career.
06How did Henry Wilcoxon die?
Wilcoxon died from heart failure and cancer. He had been living in Los Angeles at the time.
07What was Henry Wilcoxon's birth name?
His full birth name was Harry Frederick Wilcoxon. He later adopted the stage name Henry Wilcoxon.
08What nickname did Henry Wilcoxon have?
Wilcoxon was known by the nickname Biff. The origin of the nickname is not widely documented.
09What aliases did Henry Wilcoxon use?
Over his career, Wilcoxon used several name variations, including Henry Wilcoxen, Harry Wilcoxin, Henry Wilcoxin, and Harry Wilcoxon. These appear in different credits and records.
10How tall was Henry Wilcoxon?
Henry Wilcoxon stood 6 feet 3 inches tall, which is 1.91 meters. His height was notable for a leading man of his era.
11What was Henry Wilcoxon's nationality?
Wilcoxon was of Dominican nationality, as he was born in Dominica.
12What was Henry Wilcoxon's occupation?
He worked as an actor, producer, and writer. He is remembered as a character actor and associate producer for Cecil B. DeMille.
13Who was Henry Wilcoxon married to?
Wilcoxon was married twice. His first marriage was to Sheila Browning from 1936 to 1937. He then married actress Joan Woodbury in 1938, and they had three daughters before divorcing in 1969.
14Where did Henry Wilcoxon go to school?
He attended Harrison College and Wolmer’s Schools. Both are educational institutions in the Caribbean—Harrison College in Barbados and Wolmer’s in Jamaica.
15What awards did Henry Wilcoxon win?
Wilcoxon received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This honor recognizes his contributions to the motion picture industry.
16What films did Henry Wilcoxon appear in with Cecil B. DeMille?
Wilcoxon appeared in six DeMille films: Cleopatra 1934, The Crusades 1935, Unconquered 1947, Samson and Delilah 1949, The Greatest Show on Earth 1952, and The Ten Commandments 1956.
17What is Henry Wilcoxon best known for?
He is known for playing Marc Antony in DeMille’s 1934 Cleopatra and for serving as associate producer on The Ten Commandments 1956 and The Greatest Show on Earth 1952.
18Did Henry Wilcoxon appear in The Ten Commandments?
Yes, he played the role of Pentaur in the 1956 epic The Ten Commandments. He also worked as associate producer on the film.
19Did Henry Wilcoxon win an Academy Award?
Personally, Wilcoxon did not win or receive a nomination for an Academy Award. However, two films he associate-produced, The Greatest Show on Earth and The Ten Commandments, were nominated for Best Picture, with The Greatest Show on Earth winning.
20How many children did Henry Wilcoxon have?
He had three daughters with his second wife, Joan Woodbury: Wendy Joan born 1939, Heather Ann born 1947, and Cecilia Dawn born 1950.
21What is the title of Henry Wilcoxon's autobiography?
Wilcoxon co-wrote his autobiography with Katherine Orrison titled Lionheart in Hollywood. The book covers his career and relationship with DeMille.
22Why did Henry Wilcoxon and Cecil B. DeMille have a falling out?
After the release of The Crusades in 1935, Wilcoxon and DeMille had a falling-out and did not speak for almost ten years. They eventually reconciled during the production of Unconquered 1947.
23Was Henry Wilcoxon originally cast as Samson?
In 1934, DeMille chose Wilcoxon to play Samson opposite Miriam Hopkins as Delilah, but the film was postponed. When Samson and Delilah was finally made in 1949, the role went to Victor Mature, and Wilcoxon played Ahtur.
24How is Henry Wilcoxon referenced in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood?
In Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film, the fictional Western Tanner credits include Wilcoxon’s name. The credits are seen on screen by a character played by Al Pacino.
25What TV shows did Henry Wilcoxon guest star on?
Wilcoxon appeared in numerous television series, including The F.B.I., The Wild Wild West, The Big Valley, Daniel Boone, Cagney & Lacey, Marcus Welby, M.D., Gunsmoke, Cimarron Strip, and It Takes a Thief.
26Was Henry Wilcoxon a Paramount Star of Tomorrow?
Yes, in 1934, Paramount Pictures named Wilcoxon one of its Stars of Tomorrow, highlighting promising actors at the studio.
27What was Henry Wilcoxon's role in The Greatest Show on Earth?
In the 1952 film The Greatest Show on Earth, Wilcoxon had a supporting role. He also worked as associate producer, helping to bring the circus spectacle to the screen.
28Did Henry Wilcoxon serve in the military?
The source record does not indicate any military service for Wilcoxon, so this information is not available.
29What was Henry Wilcoxon's height in meters?
Wilcoxon was 1.91 meters tall, equivalent to 6 feet 3 inches. This stature suited him for authoritative roles in historical epics.
30Who directed Henry Wilcoxon most frequently?
Cecil B. DeMille directed Wilcoxon in six films. Their collaboration spanned over two decades and included both starring and supporting roles.
31What role did Henry Wilcoxon play in Unconquered?
In the 1947 film Unconquered, Wilcoxon played Captain Steele. This role marked the reconciliation of his friendship with DeMille after a long estrangement.
32How many DeMille films did Henry Wilcoxon appear in?
Wilcoxon appeared in six of DeMille’s films. He starred in three—Cleopatra, The Crusades, and Samson and Delilah—and had supporting roles in the other three.
·
Read next.
RELATED · 12
Celebrities similar to Henry Wilcoxon — same craft, ranked by reach.
If something's wrong in a profile, Daniel will find it. With 7 years of research experience, he's developed an almost unreasonable eye for inaccurate career timelines, misattributed credits, and dates that don't quite add up. He doesn't publish anything he can't verify. The profiles on Famousy are as accurate as they are largely because of work you'll never see his name on.
Report an issue
If something on this page looks off, we genuinely want to know about it. Send us a quick email with the celebrity's name, the detail that seems incorrect, and any sources you're referencing. We review every report and update the page as soon as we can.
