Most People Don’t Know That Claude Rains’ Gravesite Is Found Right Here In New Hampshire

New Hampshire's history is full of well-known figures who have either fleeting or deep connections to the state. From actors to politicians to entertainers, well-known names - and some not-so-well-known folks - have called the Granite State home. Sometimes these figures make their reputations elsewhere, but somewhere in their life, you can always draw a connection back to New Hampshire. Actor Claude Rains, an Englishman, chose the Red Hill Cemetery in Moultonborough for his final resting place, and his is one of the most famous graves in NH.

Claude Rains was a British actor who rose to prominence in the 1930s through the 1960s. He was nominated four times for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Rains' father was an actor and as a boy, he spent quite a bit of time in theaters surrounded by actors. He would learn his craft by observing the performers as well as the daily operations of a theater.

Rains had a very long career of nearly seven decades and became best known for playing the part of the cultured villain.

He starred in his American film debut in The Invisible Man (1933) as Dr. Jack Griffin and later appeared with James Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939).

Rains was cited by his colleagues, including Bette Davis and Sir John Gielgud, as one of the era's greatest performers.

His performance as the title character in Universal Pictures' 1943 remake of Phantom of the Opera helped to earn the film two Oscars.

Rains passed away in 1967 at the age of 77 and was buried at Red Hill Cemetery in Moultonborough. It is now one of the most famous graves in NH.

Many celebrities and other famous figures in history have been and continue to be proud of their ties to New Hampshire. Here are 10 famous folks from our small towns, and check out a diner in Manchester that local celebrities still return to.