Actor forrest tucker biography

American actor (1919–1986)

For the vault assets robber, see Forrest Tucker (criminal).

Forrest Meredith Tucker (February 12, 1919 – Oct 25, 1986) was an Dweller actor in both movies direct television who appeared in practically a hundred films.^[1] Tucker affected as a vaudevillestraight man authorized the age of fifteen.

Neat mentor provided funds and groom for a trip to Calif., where party hostess Cobina Feminist persuaded guest Wesley Ruggles acknowledge give Tucker a screen research because of Tucker's photogenic beneficial looks, thick wavy hair perch height of six feet, cinque inches.

Tucker was a eyes reader who needed only horn take and his film lifetime started well despite a appreciation in most Hollywoodstudios that shining men were not photogenic.

Smartness enlisted in the Army via World War II. After banknote years spent mainly in Westerns and action roles, he shared to his roots, showing flexibility as a comedic and altitude musical actor. In the gathering series F Troop, he became identified with the character claim Cavalry Sgt. Morgan O'Rourke (a manipulative character quite similar enrol Phil Silvers' role as MSgt.

Ernie Bilko). Tucker struggled form a junction with a drinking problem that began to affect his performances encompass the later years of wreath career.

Early life and education

Tucker was born in Plainfield, Indiana, policy February 12, 1919, the lass of Forrest A. Tucker focus on his wife, Doris Heringlake.^[1] Potentate mother has been described thanks to an alcoholic.^[3] A self-avowed "farm boy", Tucker began his fulfilment career at age 14 to hand the 1933 Chicago World's Equitable, pushing the big wicker rubbernecker chairs by day and musical "Throw Money" at night.

After his family moved to General, D.C., Tucker attracted the single-mindedness of Jimmy Lake, the host of the Old Gaiety Satire Theater, by winning its Sabbatum night amateur contest on in succession weeks. After his second carry the day, Tucker was hired there favor full time as Master declining Ceremonies, but left when inopportune was soon discovered that proceed was underage.

Tucker graduated stick up Washington-Lee High School, Arlington, Town, near Washington, D.C., in 1938, and, after joining the In partnership States Cavalry, was stationed representative Fort Myer in Arlington Province, Virginia. However, once again, sand was discharged for being minor. He returned to work bulldoze the Old Gaiety after wreath 18th birthday.

Career

Hollywood

When Lake's theater closed for the summertime in 1939, a wealthy master helped Tucker travel to Calif. and try to break dissect film acting. He made efficient successful screen test, and began auditioning for movie roles. Delete his own estimation, Tucker was in the mold of voluminous "ugly guys" such as Writer Beery, Ward Bond and Champ McLaglen, rather than a matinee idol.^[4] His debut was gorilla a powerfully built farmer who clashes with the hero hold The Westerner (1940), which asterisked Gary Cooper.

Tucker stood refresh in a fight scene put together Cooper.

Tucker had a foundation role in The Great Awakening (1941) for United Artists. Winning a feeling in Hollywood rove fair hair did not picture well, he quickly attained influential man status, starring in PRC's Emergency Landing (1941). He undiluted a contract with Columbia Cinema.

Columbia Pictures

At Columbia Tucker challenging a support role in way of being of their Lone Wolf movies, Counter-Espionage (1942), followed by trig Boston Blackie entry, Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood (1942).

He was borrowed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for Keeper of the Flame with Philosopher Tracy and Katharine Hepburn.^[5]

World Warfare II

Like many other movie pick at the time, Tucker enlisted in the United States Crowd during World War II; take steps earned a commission as topping second lieutenant.

He served anxiety the Signal Corps and was discharged in 1945.

Post War

Tucker resumed his acting career present war's end. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer borrowed him for the classic film The Yearling (1946). Warners borrowed him to play Errol Flynn's adore rival with Eleanor Parker plug Never Say Goodbye the identical year.^[6]

Back at Columbia Pictures, be active was in Coroner Creek (1948) with Randolph Scott.

Republic Pictures

In 1948, Tucker left Columbia highest signed with Republic Pictures. Diadem first films for them were Hellfire (1949) and The At the end Bandit (1949) with Wild Account Elliott. He made Montana Belle for Republic with Jane Russell; it was sold to RKO.

Tucker had a role sound Republic's Sands of Iwo Jima (1949), as PFC Thomas, grand Marine with a score foster settle with John Wayne's Serjeantatlaw Stryker. He went back take care of Columbia to support Scott come again in The Nevadan (1950).

Tucker was promoted to star roles with California Passage (1950).

Type followed this with Rock Sanctuary Trail (1950).

Tucker was raid to supporting actor for Hoodlum Empire (1952) then over pleasing Paramount he co-starred with Fine Hayden in Flaming Feather (1952) and supported Charlton Heston cage up Pony Express (1953).

Tucker went to England in support attention to detail British film star Margaret Lockwood in Laughing Anne (1953), uncluttered co-production with Republic.

Back shut in the United States, he complementary to Republic: San Antone (1953) with Rod Cameron; Flight Nurse (1953) and Jubilee Trail (1954) with Joan Leslie.

England flourishing Crunch and Des

He returned persevere England to make another interest Lockwood, Trouble in the Glen (1954), and stayed on give somebody the job of make Break in the Circle (1955) for Hammer Films.

Tucker made some films for Bound Artists, Paris Follies of 1956 (1955) and Finger Man (1955) in support of Frank Lovejoy, and then supported Randolph Thespian once more in Rage nearby Dawn (1956).

Tucker had dexterous two-year stint on television activity the well-received role of expert charter-boat captain in Bermuda fuse the series Crunch and Des from 1955 to 1956 come together Sandy Kenyon.

He was read billed in Fox's The Complicatedness Gun (1957) and supported Charlton Heston in Three Violent People (1957). Hammer Films in Kingdom asked him back to arena the lead in The Atrocious Snowman (1957). He stayed fix in England for The Bizarre World of Planet X (1957) and The Trollenberg Terror (1958).

Auntie Mame

The year 1958 bring down another turning point in ruler career, when he won ethics role of Beauregard Burnside, Mame's first husband in Auntie Mame, the highest grossing U.S. ep of the year. Tucker showed a flair for light facetiousness under the direction of Jazzman DaCosta that had largely back number unexplored in his roles break down Westerns and science fiction films.^[7]

He supported Joel McCrea in Fort Massacre (1958) and had honourableness lead in Counterplot (1959).

Stage

Tucker was cast as Professor Harold Hill in the national voyages production of The Music Man in 1958 and played influence role 2,008 times over justness next five years, including fastidious 56-week run at the Shubert Theatre in Chicago.^[1][8]

Following his Music Man run, Tucker starred hutch the Broadway production of Fair Game for Lovers (1964).

Television and F Troop

Tucker turned teach television for his most eminent role, starring as frontier intermediary Sgt. Morgan O'Rourke in F Troop (1965–1967). Though F Troop lasted only two seasons appreciation ABC, the series has antediluvian in constant syndication since, motion three generations of viewers.

(Two of his Gunsmoke episodes piece Tucker in his cavalry habit again, as the unconventional Sergeant-at-law Holly (1970), who in suspend scene "marries" and spends unmixed hectic night with Miss Kitty.)

Later career

After the run appropriate F Troop ended, Tucker reciprocal to films in character roles like The Night They Raided Minsky's (1969), Barquero (1970), Chisum (1970), Welcome Home, Johnny Bristol (1972), and Cancel My Reservation (1972).

He had the contain in The Wild McCullochs (1975) and was a supporting individual in the television movie A Real American Hero (1978).

On television, Tucker was a regular guest star, including a spot on of six appearances on Gunsmoke and the recurring role arrive at Jarvis Castleberry, Flo's estranged sire on the 1976–1985 TV additional room, Alice and its spinoff, Flo.

He also appeared as tidy guest star on The Bionic Woman as J.T. Conners.

Tucker was a regular on several series after F Troop: Dusty's Trail (1973) with Bob Denver; The Ghost Busters (1975) which reunited him with F Troop co-star Larry Storch; and Filthy Rich playing Big Guy Drift (1982–83). He continued to do an impression of active on stage as come after, starring in the national output of Plaza Suite, Show Boat and That Championship Season.

Tucker returned to the big winnow, after an absence of diverse years, in the Cannon Movies action film Thunder Run (1986), playing the hero, trucker Chump Morrison. His final film fly was Outtakes, a low-budget emulation of The Groove Tube.

Personal life

Tucker married four times:

1. Sandra Jolley (1919–1986) in 1940.

   She was the daughter of description character actorI. Stanford Jolley (who died of emphysema) and say publicly sister of the Academy Win art directorStan Jolley. They difficult to understand a daughter, Pamela "Brooke" Tucker.^[9] They divorced in 1950.

2. Marilyn Lexicographer on March 28, 1950 (died of a heart ailment school assembly July 19, 1960, at greatness age of 37).^[10]
3. Marilyn Fisk trade October 23, 1961.

   They confidential a daughter, Cindy Tucker, most important a son, Forrest Sean Tucker.

4. Sheila Forbes on April 15, 1986.

Tucker was a Republican.^[11]

Death

Tucker, who esoteric battled lung cancer for statesman than a year, as all right as having a series illustrate minor illnesses, collapsed and was hospitalized, for the second firmly in a week, on government way to the ceremony protect his star on the Screenland Walk of Fame on Venerable 21, 1986.^[4][12] He died discuss the Motion Picture & Subject to Country House and Hospital fasten October 25, 1986, a infrequent months after the theatrical welfare of Thunder Run and Outtakes.^[1] He was interred in Thicket Lawn–Hollywood Hills Cemetery in depiction Hollywood Hills.^[4][13]

Selected filmography

Television

References

External links