BORN: August 25, 1916
DIED: December 12, 2008
AGED: 92 yrs-old age
REAL NAME: Charles Van Dell Johnson
MARRIED: Once-Ouch!!!
BEST FRIEND: Keenan Wynn whose wife Van married
AFFAIRS: Keenan Wynn...maybe-rumours
FAMOUS PARTNER: June Allyson
Freckle-faced boy next door. Almost died in a bad car accident and almost lost his dream part but Spencer Tracy saved the day. The rumour mill is that Van was gay and had an affair with Keenan Wynn who was also his best friend. To quell the rumours Keenan divorced his wife and 4 hrs later she married Van. Unfortunately it did not end well. The marriage ended on a bad note and she got a lot of his money. Oh my oh my...
FILMS: A Guy Named Joe, 30 Seconds Over Tokyo, In The Good Ole Summertime, Two Girls and a Sailor, The Caine Mutiny,
I didn't know about all this but I have a feeling the rumors were true. Interesting!
ReplyDeleteYes the rumours seem to be getting stronger and stronger
Delete4 hours? Wow. Must be some kind of record. I had heard rumors of him being gay but never paid much attention to the details.
ReplyDeleteI know-Seems a little desperate and why the rush??? They had to do it though-wonder why though:)
Deletethank you for the post on van j...
ReplyDeleteThank you for being part of the "AtoZ Challenge", please stop on over to my site[s] and say "Hello"!
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Jeremy [Retro]
AtoZ Challenge Co-Host [2014]
Old is the New Cool...
[Being-Retro]
Glad you like the post
DeleteEven though I consider myself a cinephile and a lover of classic cinema, I really haven't followed much of Van Johnson's career. I've like everything I've seen him in, but he never excited me like other stars of the day. Heck, thanks to Van Heflin, he wasn't even my favourite Van.
ReplyDeleteSee ya 'round the web. All Things Kevyn.
hahahahaha...that's why I wrote about poor Van Johnson-he was such a bobby soxer swoon fest but not much is talked about with him now. Maybe the clean cut image got in the way and he is not a Mr. Rugged he-man type.
DeleteI remember when I was little Van Johnson was considered a heartthrob by the moms and grandmas. Funny how so many of these early Hollywood actors were actually gay. It's all coming out now but back then it was very hush hush. You have a very intriguing blog here! Following from the A to Z Challenge. I look forward to more!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yes he was a heart throb in his day and the studios protected all of them
DeleteGreat post, i love old hollywood. Glad i checked out your blog . Be back tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThanks and thanks for looking:)
DeleteDid not know he was still alive. Sad that life did not go well for him marriage-wise, but typical of Hollywood actors. Yes oh yes, he was very much the 'boy next door' and such a nice guy. Thanks, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteShells–Tales–Sails
he is dead:) If he was gay had to hide it or else
DeleteIt's a shame someone in Hollywood had to live in the closet, assuming he was gay. I think there are still closeted actors today, but it would be nice if people could just be who they are without it harming their careers.
ReplyDeleteyes-well back then they could have been jailed and it would have ruined their careers
DeleteHa! He and the Mama share a birthday and he died on one of my birthdays. How's that for a Van Johnson trivia....He was not one of my favorite actors. Don't know if he seemed to play his characters arrogantly or his arrogance (or perhaps bitterness) shown through his acting.
ReplyDeletevery astute! I saw him in interviews and he always came across a little fake but i liked him in the I Love Lucy Episode. What a connection to your family:)
Delete4 hours later??? Sheesh! I don't know, something is definitely fishy about that.
ReplyDeleteisn't it though?
DeleteI loved watching him in the old black and whites. And I adored June Allyson, too :) Interesting scoop ;) http://untetheredrealms.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteWho cares, what does it matter if whether he is, or isn't? That was nice for his friend and wife to do that for him though. I think all that matters is how well he plays the parts! : )
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing is, back then, it could ruin careers and some could have been jailed. It is speculation with him so who knows. I felt bad for him that his wife became bitter and took him to the cleaners. he is not one of my favs for acting but he still needs to be known
DeleteCain Mutiny - he did an awesome job there.I think he also appeared in a few episodes of Murder She Wrote...
ReplyDeletehugs, Asha
He did appear in Murder she wrote and was very appreciative to Angela Landsbury who gave roles to people from yesteryear. he was excellent in Caine Mutiny
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