Frank Capra's 1946 classic, It's a Wonderful Life, starring James Stewart, also features Prudhoe-born actor Henry Travers who plays guardian angel Clarence. He grew up in Berwick and trained as an architect before moving to the USA in 1917 where he worked on Broadway and was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Mrs Miniver.
This fascinating piece of Northumberland film history is commemorated with a plaque dedicated to Travers in Prudhoe town centre. The plaque includes his famous line from It’s a Wonderful Life, ‘Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings’, as well as the words ‘Our very own angel born in Prudhoe’.
So this Christmas when you sit down to watch It's a Wonderful Life, look out for the Northumberland-born actor who created one of the most iconic characters in film history.
