One of the most patriotic and prolific Hollywood actors, Glenn Ford, died on Wednesday in his Beverly Hills, CA, home. He was 90.
During a 53-year career, he starred or appeared in more than 100 films, becoming one of the most enduring stars of the silver screen.
Although Canadian-born, Ford became a US citizen and professed a deep love for the United States. He caught the acting bug at the age of 4-years old.
He had starring roles in director Fritz Lang’s ‘The Big Heat’ (1953), Richard Brooks’ ‘The Blackboard Jungle’ in 1955 and ‘The Teahouse of the August Moon’ (1956) opposite Marlon Brando. He also starred in the original movie-version of ‘Ransom.’
Ford was a versatile actor playing dramatic (‘Gilda,’ ‘Experiment in Terror’) and comedic (‘The Gazebo,’ ‘Blondie’) roles. He was also one of the first people in the US to take up skydiving and led an adventurous life outside of Hollywood.
He was frequently paired with screen legend Rita Hayworth because of their steamy chemistry on the big screen. Hollywood legend has it that when Ford screen tested for a movie role, the director advised him to give up pursuing an acting career.
Ford started his acting career in 1939, but when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, he put his acting career on hold and joined the US Marines eventually rising to the rank of captain. He fought in the Battle of Midway. Later, he served as an officer in the US Navy and did two tours in Vietnam. He was always modest about his military achievements and decorations.
A political conservative, Ford was known in Hollywood as an staunch anti-communist and supporter of American military power.
Glenn Ford never considered himself “special” because he gave up the glitter of Hollywood for a foxhole in the Pacific islands during World War II. He felt he was doing what so many of his colleagues were doing — colleagues such as Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Robert Taylor, Eddie Albert, Lee Marvin, and many others.
Can readers name one Hollywood star who’s put his own career on hold to serve in the US military during the war against Islamic Fascism?
