History Creator / YulBrynner

Yul Brynner remains one of the most distinctive-looking (and ''sounding'') Hollywood actors, and to this day his image is shorthand for badass. Among his influences is that he inspired the look of Professor Charles Xavier of the ''Franchise/XMen''.

Yul Brynner remains one of the most distinctive-looking (and ''sounding'') Hollywood actors, and to this day his image is shorthand for badass. Among his influences is that he inspired the look of Professor Charlies Xavier of the ''Franchise/XMen''.

His first major film role was Pharaoh Ramses in the 1956 film ''Film/TheTenCommandments''. As Charlton Heston was much taller than him, Brynner decided to bulk up for the role, and delivered an imposing performance as the Pharaoh. He would continue to star in epics through the [[TheFifties 1950s]], [[TheSixties 1960s]], and early [[TheSeventies 1970s]].

* ''Solomon and Sheba'' (1959 film) as King Solomon [[note]]Solomon and Sheba was originally filmed with Creator/TyronePower as Solomon, until two-thirds of the movie was filmed, and he collapsed during a dueling scene with George Sanders, dying sometime afterwards. The production staff decided to re-film Brynner as Solomon.[[/note]]

* BaldOfEvil: In villianous roles.

* ''The Madwoman of Chaillot'' (1969) as 'The President'.

Yul Brynner (born Yuliy Borisovich Briner, Russian: Юлий Борисович Бринер, July 11, 1920 – October 10, 1985) was a Russian-born American actor. He was born Yuliy (Julius) Borisovich Brynner in Vladivostok, though after his father left the family, his mother took him to Manchuria and Paris before they moved to the USA in 1940. During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Brynner used his French-language skills to broadcast American propaganda to occupied France. He became an American citizen in the [[TheForties 1940s]] and began working as an actor and model.

Yul Brynner (July 11, 1920 – October 10, 1985) was a Russian-born American actor. He was born Yuliy (Julius) Borisovich Brynner in Vladivostok, though after his father left the family, his mother took him to Manchuria and Paris before they moved to the USA in 1940. During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Brynner used his French-language skills to broadcast American propaganda to occupied France. He became an American citizen in the [[TheForties 1940s]] and began working as an actor and model.

* BaldOfAwesome: Ih heroic roles
* BaldOfEvil: In villianous role.
* DeadManWriting: Brynner's final message, which in a sense, was his final work, was delivered after his death via an American Cancer Society commercial.

[[quoteright:208:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/brynner_9198.jpg]]

-->--Excerpts from Brynner's appearance on ABC's ''Good Morning America'' on January 7, 1985, his final interview.

Brynner's last major role was as the Gunslinger robot in the 1973 film ''Film/{{Westworld}}''. Sadly, his smoking habit caught up to him, and he died of lung cancer in 1985. While wrapping up his career, Brynner's final wish, as mentioned above, was to make a PublicServiceAnnouncement to be run after his death to tell others not to make that mistake; at the proper time, the American Cancer Society [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNjunlWUJJI honored his wish]].

!Roles (selected)

* ''{{Film/Anastasia}}'' (1956 film) as General Sergei Pavlovich Bunin

* ''Film/TheMagnificentSeven'' (1960) as Chris Larabee Adams

!!! "The Tropes and I":

* BaldOfAwesome[=/=]BaldOfEvil: Depending on the role.
* TheCastShowOff: Actor, director, author, photographer, musician.
* DeadManWriting: Brynner's final message, delivered via an American Cancer Society commercial.
* LargeHam

* MultipleChoicePast: Brynner famously gave multiple origin stories to various media outlets in order to increase his mystique and star power.
* ReallyGetsAround: As a teenage performer in a circus, Yul reportedly seduced scores of women who were enamored with him. According to his son Rock's autobiography, ''The Man Who Would Be King'', he had flings with many women while married to his first wife, Virginia, including a one-night stand with Creator/MarilynMonroe.
* WellDoneSonGuy: To his son, Rock.

Yul Brynner (1920–1985) was a Russian-born American actor. He was born Yuliy (Julius) Borisovich Brynner in Vladivostok, though after his father left the family, his mother took him to Manchuria and Paris before they moved to the USA in 1940. During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Brynner used his French-language skills to broadcast American propaganda to occupied France. He became an American citizen in the [[TheForties 1940s]] and began working as an actor and model.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catlow Catlow]]'' (1971) aas Jed Catlow. [[note]] not to be confused with any [[Webcomic/GeneCatlow anthropomorphic cats]] [[/note]]

Yul Brynner remains one of the most distinctive-looking (and ''sounding'') Hollywood actors, and to this day his image is shorthand for {{Badass}}. Among his influences is that he inspired the look of Professor Charlies Xavier of the ''Franchise/XMen''.

* ''[=Anastasia=]'' (1956 film) as General Sergei Pavlovich Bunin

* DyeingForYourArt[=/=]ImportantHaircut: He shaved his head for ''The King And I'', and the look became iconic.

* PlaysGreatEthnics: As he was AmbiguouslyBrown, Brynner played Thai, Egyptian, Russian, Cossack, Native American, Cajun, Mexican, and other "ethnic" roles.

Brynner's StarMakingRole was as [[UsefulNotes/{{Thailand}} King Mongkut of Siam]] in ''Theatre/TheKingAndI'', which he first played in 1951 and would play 4633 times, not only on stage but also in the LiveActionAdaptation and a TV version. Brynner would end up winning both a Tony and an Oscar for this role, the only actor to win those two awards for the same role. It was for this role that he shaved his head, and the bald head would become Yul Brynner's iconic look.

->''I really wanted to make a commercial, when I discovered that I was that sick, and my time was so limited. I wanted to make a commercial that says simply, "Now that I am gone, I tell you: Don't smoke. Whatever you do, just don't smoke." If I could take back that smoking, we wouldn't be talking about any cancer. I'm convinced of that.''

-->Excerpts from Brynner's appearance on ABC's ''Good Morning America'' on January 7, 1985, his final interview.

'''Yul Brynner''' (July 11, 1920 -- October 10, 1985) was a Russian-born American actor. He was born Yuliy (Julius) Borisovich Brynner in Vladivostok, though after his father left the family, his mother took him to Manchuria and Paris before they moved to the USA in 1940. During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Brynner used his French-language skills to broadcast American propaganda to occupied France. He became an American citizen in the [[TheForties 1940s]] and began working as an actor and model.

His first major film role was Pharaoh Ramses in the 1956 film ''Film/TheTenCommandments''. As Charlton Heston was much taller than him, Brynner decided to bulk up for the role, and delivered an imposing performance as the Pharaoh. He would continue to star in epics through the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s.

'''Yul Brynner''' (July 11, 1920 -- October 10, 1985) was a Russian-born American actor. He was born Yuliy (Julius) Borisovich Brynner in Vladivostok, though after his father left the family, his mother took him to Manchuria and Paris before they moved to the USA in 1940. During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Brynner used his French-language skills to broadcast American propaganda to occupied France. He became an American citizen in the 1940s and began working as an actor and model.

Yul Brynner (July 11, 1920 -- October 10, 1985) was a Russian-born American actor. He was born Yuliy (Julius) Borisovich Brynner in Vladivostok, though after his father left the family, his mother took him to Manchuria and Paris before they moved to the USA in 1940. During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Brynner used his French-language skills to broadcast American propaganda to occupied France. He became an American citizen in the 1940s and began working as an actor and model.

Yul Brynner remains one of the most distinctive-looking (and ''sounding'') Hollywood actors, and to this day his image is shorthand for {{Badass}}.

Yul Brynner (1920-1985) was a Russian-born American actor. He was born Yuliy (Julius) Borisovich Brynner in Vladivostok, though after his father left the family, his mother took him to Manchuria and Paris before they moved to the USA in 1940. During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Brynner used his French-language skills to broadcast American propaganda to occupied France. He became an American citizen in the 1940s and began working as an actor and model.