Guy Kibbee (Who’s Who at MGM, 1937) 🇺🇸
Guy Kibbee has been connected with the theatre for more than thirty years. At the age of 16 he was property man for a stock company; the juvenile suddenly went alcoholic and Kibbee was sent from the backstage regions to take his place.
Guy was born in El Paso, Texas, on March 6. He spent his youth in Roswell, New Mexico, where his father, James Kibbee, edited a paper. He ran away from home when he was 14, leaving his five brothers and sisters.
His first stage role, into which he stepped without any dramatic training, was in The Convict’s Daughter. After a long and successful career, Guy made a hit on Broadway in The Torch Song and was brought to Hollywood for the William Powell picture, “Man of the World.” Placed under contract by Warners, he played in more than thirty pictures before joining Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a contract player.
Great Fisherman
Among his pictures are “High Pressure,” “Torch Song,” Taxi, “The Crowd Roars,” “Man Wanted,” Fireman, Save My Child!, “The Mouthpiece,” “So Big,” 42nd Street, Gold Diggers of 1933, Footlight Parade, “Lilly Turner,” “The Silk Express,” “The World Changes,” “Convention City,” “Merry Wives of Reno,” “The Merry Frinks,” “Babbitt,” “Don’t Bet On Blondes,” “I Live for Love,” Captain Blood, “Captain January,” “Little Lord Fauntleroy,” “I Married a Doctor,” “Big Business,” “Mama Steps Out” and “Way for a Pirate.” His first picture for M-G-M was Bad Man of Brimstone.
Fishing is his favorite outdoor sport, his main hobby, and would be his preference as a means of livelihood if he ever stopped being an actor. He likes to read Field and Stream magazine for relaxation.
Has Son and Daughter
The only interruption in his long and successful acting career was during a four-year period which he spent in the printing business in San Francisco. He is a member of the famous Lambs Club in New York, as well as Actor’s Equity and the Bohemian Club, and Lakeside Golf Club in Hollywood.
He resides in Hollywood with his wife and daughter, Shirley Ann, and son, Guy, Jr. He weighs 206 pounds, and has gray hair and gray eyes.
His new long term contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was followed by the fulfillment of a long-cherished desire. Kibbee for years wanted to own a farm, and raise fine horses. Travel on the road, stage work, and recently press of screen engagements, had always prevented his taking time to attempt it.
Has Ranch in Valley
Recently he purchased a ranch in the San Fernando Valley, and is now preparing to stock it with horses, aided and advised by Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Robert Taylor, Allan Jones and other horse experts among the screen actors. He has equipped his place completely, and passes all of his spare time on his farm, of which he is hugely proud.
The horse farm will replace the outside interest he formerly had in his printing shop. He believes every actor should have some outside activity to give perspective to his work.
Guy Kibbee is one actor whose screen characterizations closely resemble the man. His rollicking good-nature is evident both on and off the screen. That is an explanation of his popularity — Kibbee tries only to be himself.
Collection: Who’s Who at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1937)