Frank Sinatra called him “The Gray Fox.” Fellow actors knew him as “The Pope.” Even Lee Strasberg, known as the "father of method acting" described him as “the perfect method actor.”

Previous books on Spencer Tracy have sensationalized and even fabricated the events of his life. Biographer James Curtis sets out to correct, disprove and improve on their shortfalls with what he calls “the first major Tracy biography in 40 years.” Tracy’s long relationship with Katherine Hepburn has been well documented, but what about the first four decades of his life, before they met?

In ”Spencer Tracy: A Biography,” Curtis starts by uncovering the actor’s early years, including his first marriage to fellow actor and writer Louise Tracy. Their union produced a son, John, who was deaf, which left Tracy with a deep sense of guilt that impacted his marriage and his life.

Along with details of his distinguished career, Curtis also discusses Tracy’s Catholicism and ahead-of-its-time natural acting technique, and delves into his battles with alcoholism and insomnia. Incorporating over 100 photographs, full stage and screen chronologies and a bibliography, Curtis’ book is, as he describes it, “a big package,” one that paints a rich and vibrant, yet intimate, portrait of this very big personality.

Guest:

James Curtis, author of “Spencer Tracy: A Biography” (Knopf).