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English actor
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Michael Charles Gauntlet Wilding (23 July 1912 – 8 July 1979) was an English stage, television, and film actor. He is best known for a series of films he made with Anna Neagle; he also made two films with Alfred Hitchcock, Under Capricorn (1949) and Stage Fright (1950); and he guest starred on Hitchcock's TV show in 1963. He was married four times, including to Elizabeth Taylor, with whom he had two sons.

Born in Leigh on Sea, Essex, England, and educated at Christ's Hospital, Wilding left home at age 17 and trained as a commercial artist. He went to Europe when he was 20 and supported himself in Europe by doing sketches. He wanted to get into designing sets for films and approached a London film studio in 1933 looking for work. They invited him to come to work as an extra.

Wilding appeared as an extra in British films such as Bitter Sweet (1933), Heads We Go (1933), and Channel Crossing (1933). He caught the acting bug and decided to make it a career. He reportedly appeared in an Austrian film called Pastorale. The plays included Personal Appearance, Victoria Regina, Tonight at Eight Thirty and George and Margaret. While in Australia he filmed a prologue for Personal Appearance. Back in England he appeared in the first Gate Revue, then followed this with another revue, Let's Face It and a pantomime, Who's Taking Liberty. Director Alfred Hitchcock then cast him in two consecutive films that he produced through his own film production company Transatlantic Pictures (distributed through Warner Brothers Pictures). The first, Under Capricorn (released in 1949), in which he played opposite Ingrid Bergman and Joseph Cotten, was shot mostly in London but had final retakes and overdubs filmed in Hollywood. It was one of Hitchcock's few flops. His second film for Hitchcock was the more popular Stage Fright (released in 1950), also filmed in London, with Marlene Dietrich and Jane Wyman. Thirteen years later, in 1963, Wilding starred in an Alfred Hitchcock Hour episode titled "Last Seen Wearing Blue Jeans". Wilcox used him in a film without Neagle, Into the Blue (1950) and the public response was considerably less enthusiastic than for the films they made together. He put Anouk Aimée under personal contract and announced plans to make a movie together but none resulted.

MGM made an offer for Wilding to appear opposite Greer Garson in The Law and the Lady (1951); the film was not a success. He returned to Britain for The Lady with a Lamp (1951), a biopic of Florence Nightingale with Neagle and Wilcox. It was popular in Britain, though less so than their earlier collaborations. So too was Derby Day (1952), the last Neagle–Wilding collaboration. Wilcox tried Wilding with a new star, Margaret Lockwood, in Trent's Last Case (1952), a minor hit. In 1952 British exhibitors voted him the fourth most popular star at the local box office. In May 1952 Wilding signed a long term contract with MGM. He turned down a role in MGM's Latin Lovers and the studio put him under suspension. In Hollywood, Wilding supported Joan Crawford in MGM's Torch Song (1953). 20th Century Fox borrowed him to play a pharaoh in their big budget spectacular, The Egyptian (1954), which was a box office disappointment. At MGM he was Prince Charming to Leslie Caron's Cinderella in The Glass Slipper (1955), and Major John André in The Scarlet Coat (1956).

Wilding journeyed with Taylor to Africa to appear in Zarak (1956) for Warwick Films, after which his marriage to Taylor ended. He began appearing regularly on U. S. television, including the title role in the 1957 episode "The Trial of Colonel Blood" of NBC's anthology series The Joseph Cotten Show. He had some roles in Danger Within (1959), a POW movie; The World of Suzie Wong (1960); The Naked Edge (1961); The Best of Enemies (1961); and A Girl Named Tamiko (1962).

His last roles included The Sweet Ride (1968) and Waterloo (1970). His last appearance in a feature was in a cameo in Lady Caroline Lamb (1972), which co starred his last wife, Margaret Leighton. His last role was in the TV movie Frankenstein: The True Story (1973).

Wilding died on 8 July 1979 in Chichester, West Sussex, as a result of head injuries from a fall down a flight of stairs during an epileptic seizure. His body was cremated and the ashes were scattered.

Year Title Role Other notes 1956 Screen Director's Playhouse David Scott Episode: The Carroll Formula 1955 1956 The 20th Century Fox Hour Robert Marryot Captain Robert Wilton Episode: Cavalcade Episode: Stranger in the Night 1957 The Joseph Cotten Show Colonel Blood Episode: The Trial of Colonel Blood1958 Climax! Lieutenant MacKenzie Barton Episode: The Volcano Seat (1) Episode: The Volcano Seat (2) Target Episode: The Clean Kill 1959 Lux Playhouse Stephen MacIllroy Episode: The Case of the Two Sisters 1958 1959 Playhouse 90 Sir John Alexander Chris Hughes Episode: Verdict of Three Episode: Dark as the Night 1962 Saints and Sinners Sir Robert Episode: A Night of Horns and Bells1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour David Saunders Season 1 Episode 28: "Last Seen Wearing Blue Jeans" Burke's Law Dr. Alex Steiner Episode: Who Killed Sweet Betsy?1966 The Girl from U. N. C. L. E. Franz Joseph Episode: The Lethal Eagle Affair Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Major Tucker Episode: The Fatal Mistake 1968 Mannix Phillip Montford/Sir Arnold Salt Episode: A View of Nowhere 1973 Frankenstein: The True Story Sir Richard Fanshawe TV film, (final film role)