"Dear world, I am leaving you because I am bored."
A Russian born British actor, George Sanders portrayed the archetypical dastardly cad throughout the 1940s and 1950s, winning an Oscar for his portrayal of the
Caustic Critic Addison De Witt in
All About Eve. He is probably most familiar to younger audiences as the voice of Shere Khan in
The Jungle Book.
In his personal life, Sanders was an insecure, artistic man who disguised his true self through a cynically witty persona that he often performed in his films. He was married several times, notably to
Zsa Zsa Gabor. In 1972, he committed suicide, supposedly due to boredom.
Sanders wrote a rare but hilariously witty book,
Memoirs of a Professional Cad.
Tropes:
- Affably Evil
- Badass Baritone: As proved in Call Me Madam, as well as his own album The George Sanders Touch.
- Bi the Way
- Brilliant, but Lazy: Sanders was a skilled actor, singer, musician and composer who spent most of his life trying to avoid paying taxes and, indeed, avoid work.
- The Comically Serious: In most of his roles in comic films.
- Cultured Badass: Witty and sophisticated, but once nearly killed a man in a duel and has shown off his fencing talents in several films.
- Evil Brit: In most of his film appearances.
- Gentleman Snarker: In films and in private life.
- Heterosexual Life Partners: With fellow actor Brian Aherne, and secretary Stuart Hall.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Though prone to a venomous putdown or two, he cared very much for his wife Benita Hume and her daughter.
- Money, Dear Boy: Supposedly the only reason he acted.
- Old Friend: With Tyrone Power, as his co-star in Power's star-making film as well as his very last, as well as speaking at Power's funeral.
- Sophisticated as Hell: When asked why he wasn't supporting the war effort, Sanders replied, "Because I am a shit," and went back to his drink.
- Suicide Is Painless: In his suicide note, he wrote: "Dear World, I am leaving because I am bored. I feel I have lived long enough."
- Tall, Dark and Snarky
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