SNIPPET: By the 1920s, the Broadway stage had lost much of its popularity to moving pictures, and Irish-Americans made a major impact on the screen. The most distinguished of all Irish-American film actors and perhaps the preeminent actor of his generation was Spencer TRACY, whose long career spanned nearly four decades. TRACY began acting in college theater productions, then appeared in summer stock, eventually reaching the Broadway stage in the 1920s. When sound was introduced to feature movies in 1927, his expressive voice made him a natural for that medium, and in the 1930s he established himself as one of Hollywood's most versatile stars. He won consecutive Academy Awards for his portrayal of a fisherman in "Captains Courageous" (1937) and a priest in "Boys Town" (1938), both fine dramatic performances. TRACY's real forte, however, was the subtler art of comedy. Teamed with Katharine HEPBURN in a succession of films, most notably "Woman of the Year" (1942) and "Adam's Rib" (1949), he played to perfection that most universal of male roles, the husband, his face a mobile mask of humorous wisdom, his voice effortlessly scaling a range of emotions. No one conveyed better the sense of being the lone sane presence in a world spinning toward madness; and in his best moments, such as the classic scene in "Woman of the Year" in which he struggles valiantly to remain calm during his bride's disastrous first attempt at preparing breakfast, TRACY's artistry is such that we forget we are watching a performance and feel instead that we are glimpsing an unguarded moment in the life of an actual man. He was not alone in helping to alert filmgoers to the virtues of the Irish character -- the energy, wit, and toughness of James CAGNEY; the suave, relaxed crooning of Bing CROSBY; the musc! ular acrobatic dancing of Gene KELLY; the delicate gentility of Maureen O'SULLIVAN and Grace KELLY, etc. Born in Milwaukee, WI, in 1900, Spencer Bonaventure TRACY had one of the most successful careers in the history of film. Throughout his 74 films, he displayed tremendous versatility in roles ranging from Fr. FLANAGAN in "Boys Town" (1938) to Clarence DARROW in "Inherit the Wind" (1960). After serving in the navy during WWI, he returned to college where he took up acting, meeting actor Pat O'BRIEN in the process. In the early 1920s he began acting in NY where he caught the eye of producer George M. COHAN from whom he received both mentoring and roles in major Broadway productions. With his reputation established, TRACY went to Hollywood where he signed with Twentieth Century Fox in 1930. In his first film, "Up the River" (1930), director John FORD gave him the lead opposite Humphrey BOGART. TRACY went on to win consecutive Oscars for his roles in "Captains Courageous" and "Boys Town," and earned many more nominations in the years that followed. His romance with Kathar! ine HEPBURN, both on- and off-screen, gave his roles an extra depth.