Richard Dix

Biography

Richard Dix, born Ernest Carlton Brimmer on July 18, 1893, in St. Paul, Minnesota, emerged as a prominent leading man at RKO Radio Pictures from 1929 until 1943. Educated in Minnesota, he initially pursued a path in medicine to fulfill his father's wishes. However, his undeniable talent for acting shone through during his participation in the school drama club, where he frequently took on leading roles. Standing at 6 feet and weighing 180 pounds, Dix was also an accomplished athlete, excelling in football and baseball—skills that would contribute to his dynamic film performances.

After a brief stint at the University of Minnesota and a job at a bank, he dedicated his evenings to honing his craft in local theater. His career took off through a local stock company, leading to further opportunities in New York. Following his father's death, Dix moved to Los Angeles, where he became a leading man with the Morosco Stock Company. His rugged charisma and striking looks quickly earned him a contract with Paramount Pictures.

Dix's breakout role came in the 1928 film Warming Up, which was notable for being the studio's first feature with synchronized sound. He made a significant impact with his performance in RKO’s 1929 mystery drama, Seven Keys to Baldpate. In 1931, his role in Cimarron garnered him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, while the film itself won the Oscar for Best Picture. Throughout the 1930s, Dix was a major box-office attraction, starring in a variety of genres, including westerns and thrillers. Later, he appeared in the "Whistler" series at Columbia in the mid-1940s.

Dix retired from acting in 1947. He was married twice, first to Winifred Coe, with whom he had a daughter, and later to Virginia Webster, with whom he had twin sons and an adopted daughter. Richard Dix passed away at the