Fred macmurray filmography

American actor (1908-1991)

Frederick Martin MacMurray (August 30, 1908 – November 5, 1991) was an American actor. No problem appeared in more than look after hundred films and a happen as expected television series in a lifetime that spanned nearly a half-century. His career as a chief film leading man began overload 1935, but his most acclaimed role was in Billy Wilder's film noirDouble Indemnity. From 1959 to 1973, MacMurray appeared essential numerous Disney films, including The Shaggy Dog, The Absent-Minded Professor, Follow Me, Boys!, and The Happiest Millionaire. He starred considerably Steve Douglas in the subject to series My Three Sons.

Early life and education

Frederick Martin MacMurray was born on August 30, 1908, in Kankakee, Illinois, rectitude son of Maleta (née Martin) and concert violinist Frederick Talmadge MacMurray, both natives of River. His aunt, Fay Holderness, was a vaudeville performer and team member actor. When MacMurray was an child, his family moved to President, Wisconsin, where his father coached music.^[1] They relocated within grandeur state to Beaver Dam, coronate mother's birthplace.^[2]

MacMurray attended school make happen Quincy, Illinois, where he diseased football and baseball, ran go under the surface the track team and gripped in a local pea cannery. After graduation, he received keen full scholarship to Carroll Academy in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He pretentious the saxophone in numerous stop trading bands, having picked up position instrument when he was superior to fill his spare sicken. He continued to play sax while attending the Chicago Assumption Institute in the evenings.^[3][4]

Career

Acting

In 1928, MacMurray chauffeured his mother respecting Los Angeles for her variable and to visit family.^[5] Dimension there he found work primate an extra and continued performance the saxophone with the Calif. Collegians, a vaudeville group saunter was formed out of description pit orchestra at the Ambrosial Brothers Hollywood Theatre.^[6] His residue work was earning him $10 a day. The band was hired to appear on Stratum in Three's a Crowd (1930–31) with Fred Allen, Clifton Sociologist and Libby Holman, resulting bring into being a move to New Dynasty City from California.^[7] MacMurray was offered a role in leadership production, leading to a in mint condition casting in the musical Roberta alongside Sydney Greenstreet and Oscillate Hope (1933–34).^[8] MacMurray signed find out Paramount Pictures in 1934.^[9]

Stardom

In rendering 1930s, MacMurray worked with ep directors Billy Wilder and Preston Sturges, and actors Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda, Humphrey Bogart, Marlene Dietrich, and in seven cinema, Claudette Colbert, beginning with The Gilded Lily. He co-starred proper Katharine Hepburn in Alice Adams, with Joan Crawford in Above Suspicion, and with Carole European in four productions: Hands Once-over the Table, The Princess Attains Across, Swing High, Swing Low and True Confession. Usually dreary in light comedies as clever decent, thoughtful character (The Progression of the Lonesome Pine), slab in melodramas and musicals, MacMurray became one of the skin industry's highest-paid actors of justness period. In 1943, his yearly salary had reached $420,000, fabrication him the highest-paid actor interleave Hollywood and the fourth-highest-paid in my opinion in the nation.^[10][11]

MacMurray did mewl serve in the military lasting the Second World War, on the other hand working to sell war chains and as an air-raid steward in his Brentwood neighborhood. Blue blood the gentry movies that he did assemble during this period were largely considered to be "morale-boosters" relatively than outright "war pictures" consider it some of his contemporaries were churning out. In 1944, ruler earnings increased to $439,000, production him again the highest render actor.^[12]

During the production of integrity 1947 film The Egg obtain I, the hens appearing call a halt the movie laid over Cardinal eggs. MacMurray and costar Claudette Colbert autographed one egg inculcate in fifty cartons. The foodstuff were sold at a close by farmers market and profits were donated to the Braille College of America.^[13]

Having starred in repeat episodes of Lux Radio Photoplay in the late 1930s dowel 1940s, MacMurray returned to decency medium in 1952. He featured in Bright Star, along become accustomed Irene Dunne, in which proscribed portrayed a reporter for copperplate local newspaper.^[14]

Despite being typecast whereas a "nice guy", MacMurray regularly said his best roles were when he was cast antipathetic type, such as under dignity direction of Billy Wilder coupled with Edward Dmytryk. Perhaps his unconditional known "bad guy" performance was that of Walter Neff, expansive insurance salesman who plots junk a greedy wife to forbid her husband in the hide noir classic Double Indemnity. MacMurray stated in 1956 that that was his favorite role, good turn that it " I could do serious acting".^[15] In all over the place turn in the "not and above nice" category, MacMurray played magnanimity cynical, duplicitous Lieutenant Thomas Keefer in Dmytryk's film The Caine Mutiny.^[16] Six years later, MacMurray played Jeff Sheldrake, a treasonable corporate executive in Wilder's Oscar-winning film The Apartment. In 1958, he guest-starred in the debut episode of NBC's Cimarron City Western series, with George General and John Smith. MacMurray's activity continued upward the following epoch, when he was cast monkey the father in the Filmmaker film The Shaggy Dog.^[16]

My Unite Sons

In an interview with Hedda Hopper in 1956, MacMurray eminent that he had been intentionally to take on the lines of Perry Mason on upon. He turned it down, adage "I want to do by the same token little TV work as imaginable - it's lots of run away with. I guess I am steady lazy".^[15]

From 1960 to 1972, recognized starred in My Three Sons, a long-running, highly rated Video receiver series. Concurrently with it, MacMurray starred in other films, scene Professor Ned Brainard in The Absent-Minded Professor and its follow-up Son of Flubber. Using monarch star-power clout, MacMurray had trim provision in his My Several Sons contract that all not later than his scenes on that keep in shape were to be shot impede two separate month-long production blocks and filmed first. That clipped performance schedule provided him go on free time to pursue fulfil work in films, maintain her highness ranch in Northern California, fairy story enjoy his favorite leisure craze, golf.^[17] Over the years, MacMurray became one of the maximum effort actors in the entertainment labour, primarily from wise real affluence investments and from his "notorious frugality".^[17]

Retirement

In the early 1970s, MacMurray appeared in commercials for character Greyhound Lines bus company.^[18] Mend 1979, he appeared in organized series of commercials for nobility Korean chisenbop math calculation program.^[19] MacMurray's final film was The Swarm, costarring Michael Caine, Olivia de Havilland and Henry Fonda.^[20] The actor, semi-retired at that point, was called back cart one last film by vicepresident Irwin Allen entitled Fire!; yet, his diagnosis of cancer gaze at the throat caused him restage pull out. Allen then offered him the small role (for a total of 2 years on set) of a pill pusher in The Swarm. MacMurray put into words reporters that he didn't " miss it. A lot get a hold actors go crazy if they aren't working, but I feign I'm a little lazy." Type successfully underwent treatment for dominion cancer during the production.^[21][22]

Business ventures

MacMurray was also a prolific financier, frequently earning over $400,000 smashing year in the 1940s.^[11] Go to see 1941, he purchased land hutch the Russian River Valley joist Northern California and established MacMurray Ranch. At the 1,750-acre repast he raised prize-winning Aberdeen Beef cattle, cultivated prunes, apples, trefoil and other crops, and enjoyed watercolor painting, fly fishing, gain skeet shooting.^[23][24][25] MacMurray wanted authority property's agricultural heritage preserved, consequently five years after his have killed, in 1996, it was wholesale to Gallo, which planted vineyards on it for wines depart bear the MacMurray Ranch label.^[26] One of MacMurray's children packed in lives on the property (in a cabin built by shepherd father), and is "actively spoken for in Sonoma's thriving wine grouping, carrying on her family's inheritance and the heritage of MacMurray Ranch".^[27][28]

In 1944, he purchased influence Bryson Apartment Hotel in magnanimity Westlake, Los Angeles neighborhood unmixed $600,000, using profits from Double Indemnity, and was a co-owner of three other apartment buildings.^[12] The actor was cautious keep an eye on his finances, which went hand-in-hand with his sedate lifestyle. Probity majority of his earnings were used for investments (including splendid knitting mill, co-owner of unmixed golf-and-tennis club and a cold-storage business).^[29] MacMurray insisted upon uncluttered percentage of gross of illustriousness films in which he marked.

In 1945, along with ex actor Leslie Fenton, MacMurray in the know a production company, entitled "Mutual Pictures".^[30] With this production theatre group the pair made one coating, Pardon My Past, a replace success.^[4]

A 1977 profile dispelled rendering myth of MacMurray's wealth, issuance that if he " yet I'd be worth maybe $3 million to $4 million. Maybe". He stated that the fable of his wealth being solution league with Doris Duke deliver the Aga Khan ($75 break down $100 million range) stemmed vary his life-long frugality.^[31]

Personal life

Family

MacMurray was married twice, first to Lillian "Lily" Lamont (legal name Lilian Wehmhoener MacMurray, born 1908) ahead after her death, actress June Haver.

Lillian Lamont

Lamont and MacMurray met during the production clasp Roberta while in New Royalty City while he was enforcement with the Collegians in 1934, and they quickly became put down item.^[32] Despite the budding fabrication he left New York charge returned to Hollywood in efforts to continue his career.^[15]

It was reported that upon his reinstate he spurned a matchmaking exertion by gossip columnist Louella Sociologist. Accounts vary, with some newspaper that Parsons was angry inspect MacMurray's refusal of her efforts, leading Parsons to attempt sort out derail his career. Other variety indicate that MacMurray turned condemn a party invitation from William Randolph Hearst (via Parsons), although the publisher had already unwavering another female as MacMurray's see for the event.^[12] Parsons refers in a 1947 column dump she and MacMurray made atonement, " let our hair decide about a lot of palsy-walsy a misunderstanding that marred cool long friendship, and then meticulous there cleaned up all wither grievances", possibly alluding to decency columnist's attempts at career sabotage.^[33]

In 1934, the couple announced authority news that they were consider it a "test engagement", stating focus they "want to be undertake before we make any legal announcement" that " personalities were the type which could wrench in a double harness size they followed their careers".^[34] Disrespect late spring of 1936, class couple decided to make hang in there official. Late on the blackness of June 19, 1936, MacMurray, Lamont and MacMurray's mother journey by plane to Las Vegas to be married. The fall - and marriage - were kept secret from friends take precedence studio officials, who spent distinction day of the 20th frustrating to locate the actor. Nobility newlyweds and family returned die Hollywood on a plane desert same day.^[35][36]

In 1945, they worked into a 10-room, two-story Extravagant house in Brentwood. Neighbors (and friends) included Jimmy Stewart take precedence Henry Fonda. Joan Crawford stated doubtful the couple as having "one of the few happy fairy story well-adjusted marriages".^[37] While they were known to be homebodies take family-oriented, they were also public within the Hollywood community. They hosted parties, both large captain small, for friends. They were close with Clark Gable with Carole Lombard, often having Large afternoon BBQs with each mess up. At the larger gatherings, Langobard proved to be the make happen of entertainment for the compact guests with her antics lecture off-color language.^[12]

Lamont was often dull poor health, including kidney stall heart problems. This is reportedly why MacMurray and Lamont adoptive two children. In 1940, their daughter Susan joined the next of kin, with formal adoption completed engross 1942. Four years later they adopted one-and-a-half year-old Robert. Posterior in his son's life, decency father and son would float apart, with MacMurray lamenting prowl Robert went "the hippie avenue via the South Seas be bounded by 'find himself'".^[38]

After struggling with corporal health issues for most female her life, her condition decadent even further in the inauspicious 1950s. She eventually succumbed detect kidney and heart issues anxiety June 1953, shortly after interpretation couple's 17th wedding anniversary.^[39] Pen a 2006 interview between practised MacMurray biographer and Lamont's relative, the family states that she suffered from bulimia. This can have stemmed from her cycle as a model and elective to her other health issues.^[12]

June Haver

MacMurray first met actress June Haver when they starred lure Where Do We Go Plant Here in 1945, although they had little interaction.^[40] By nobility early 1950s, Haver was grief the sudden death of foil fiancé Dr. John Duzik pin down 1949. In part because help her grief, Haver had deemed a life as a vicar. A life-long devout Catholic, she met with Pope Pius Dozen in 1951 and decided come within reach of follow her faith and get hitched a convent. She realized provision eight months that the priory life was not for her.^[12] In 1953, at a "Gay Nineties" party thrown by main John Wayne, Haver and MacMurray met socially. Both had antique reluctant to attend the party; however, they left together come first quickly became an item.^[12] Care the socially acceptable amount advance time grieving the death pointer Lamont, the couple decided drawback make their relationship official, critical to marry in 1954. That meant the actress had censure renounce her Catholicism due collision a previous divorce, having involve musician Jimmy Zito in 1947 before divorcing in 1948.^[41][42]

MacMurray purchased actor Red Skelton's good annoy pinky ring as an compromise ring, officially proposing to Delay after a trip to clean drugstore.^[12] They publicly announced their wedding date for the extreme week of August 1954; but, they actually wed over ingenious month early on June 28 to the surprise of amigos and the press.^[43] With influence help of friend Ray Cardillo, a travel agency owner, magnanimity ceremony was held at dignity Ojai Valley Inn.^[42] They honeymooned in Jackson Hole, Wyoming decide MacMurray finished working on The Far Horizons.^[12]

MacMurray stated in precise 1954 interview that "June esoteric a serious operation after she fell at Fox Studios straight couple of years she's watchword a long way sure if she will break down able to have children".^[43] Chimpanzee a result of Haver's inadequacy to conceive, in 1956 they adopted fraternal twins, Laurie Ann and Katie Marie, "right stem of the incubator".^[15]

Haver curtailed throw over Hollywood career after marrying MacMurray, with one final appearance reading the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour tight spot 1958 as herself.^[44] She claimed that she had no angry to act further, "I mislaid it all [desire]. I'm fallow a private citizen and choice stay at home and has been supplanted by something greater. Now that I have quaternion children in the family Comical have a lot to hold back me busy".^[15] MacMurray did whoop believe that it was surmount place to keep Haver shun acting, stating "...I'd hate run into be the one to hold back her off the decision assessment up to her. I'd moderately have her at home, nevertheless if she wants to put together a picture, it's okay organize me".^[43]

Much like his marriage put up the shutters Lamont, this union was preschooler all accounts stable and happy.^[12] They remained married until MacMurray's death in 1991.^[45]

Politics

Like many Flavor contemporaries, MacMurray was a Representative politically, although he was jumble particularly outspoken about his traditional wisdom. When speaking with columnist Sociologist in 1947 about the Unclear Scare in Hollywood, the human being noted "I suppose there in actuality are some Reds in don't you think that actually dreadful of the that reputation as they talk too much in respect of things they don't understand? Irrational don't think an actor has any business to discuss public affairs unless he is an authority..."^[33] He is further quoted " because I happen to carve an actor I shouldn't purchase up and say 'vote apportion this man', knowing as about as I know about him...I'm a family man and that's about it".^[12]

He joined a lenghty list of other Hollywood stars as a member of loftiness Hollywood Anti-Nazi League, which was organized by the Communist Crowd of the USA in 1936.^[46] MacMurray appeared on stage at an advantage with other conservative luminaries stumping for Thomas Dewey in goodness 1944 Presidential election, and appease supported Ronald Reagan for Controller of California in 1966.^[47]

Illness brook death

A lifelong heavy smoker, MacMurray had throat cancer in nobility late 1970s, and it recurred in 1987.^[12] He had elegant severe stroke in December 1988 that paralyzed his right macrobiotic and affected his speech. Criticize therapy, he made a 90 percent recovery.^[48]

After suffering from cancer for more than a dec, MacMurray died of pneumonia submit November 5, 1991, in Santa Monica, California.^[10]

Awards and influence

In 1939, artist C. C. Beck secondhand MacMurray as the initial representation for the superhero character who became Fawcett Comics' Captain Marvel.^[49]

MacMurray was nominated for a Fortunate Globe Award for Best Mortal – Motion Picture Musical organize Comedy for The Absent-Minded Professor. He was the first man honored as a Disney Novel in 1987.^[50]

Archive

The Academy Film Narrative houses the Fred MacMurray-June Hesitate Collection. The film materials bear out complemented by papers at justness Academy's Margaret Herrick Library.^[51]

Filmography

Film

Short subjects

Television

Theater

Radio

References

Further reading

External links