Editing Claude Rains (section)

==Early life==
William Claude Rains was born on 10 November 1889 at 26 Tregothnan Road in [[Clapham]], [[County of London|London]].<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB|id=55624|title=Rains, (William) Claude (1889–1967)}}</ref> His parents were Emily Eliza ([[née]] Cox) and stage actor [[Fred Rains|Frederick William Rains]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d_mUJebJ4uwC&pg=PA181 |title=International Stars at War| isbn=978-1-5575-0965-9| last1=Wise| first1=James E.| last2=Baron| first2=Scott| year=2002|publisher=Naval Institute Press }}</ref> He lived in the slums of London.<ref name="Soister pg.1">Soister, p. 1</ref> Rains was one of twelve children, of whom all but four died while still infants. His mother took in boarders in order to support the family. Rains grew up with a [[Cockney accent]] and a [[speech impediment]].<ref name="Harmetz p. 147">Harmetz, p. 147</ref>
[[File:Captain Claude Rains.jpg|thumb|right|Rains in his captain's uniform during the First World War]]

Because his father was an actor, the young Rains would spend time in theatres and was surrounded by actors and stagehands. There he observed actors as well as the day-to-day running of a theatre. Rains made his stage debut at age 10 in the play ''Sweet Nell of Old Drury'' at the [[Haymarket Theatre]], so that he could run around onstage as part of the production. He slowly worked his way up in the theatre, becoming a [[call boy (theatre)|call boy]] (telling actors when they were due on stage) at [[Her Majesty's Theatre|His Majesty's Theatre]] and later a prompter, stage manager, understudy, and then moving on from smaller parts with good reviews to larger, better parts.
[[File:Actor, Claude Rains aged 23.jpg|thumb|right|A 23-year-old Rains in one of his early theatre roles, 1912]]