Laird Cregar

Laird Cregar's haunting portrayal of Jack the Ripper in 1944 marked the peak of his troubled career as a typecast villain. Standing 6' 3" and over 300 pounds, he struggled against his image, yearning to transform into "a beautiful man." His extreme dieting efforts ultimately led to his untimely death at 31. This first biography delves into the poignant life of the talented yet tragic actor, featuring appendices on his film, theatre, and radio contributions, along with many previously unpublished photographs.