FRED MACMURRAY
BIRTHDATE: August 30, 1908
DEATH: November 5, 1991
AGED: 83 yrs
DIED FROM: Pneumonia but was dealing with leukemia plus other ailments
MARRIED: twice with the 2nd being the actress, June Haver
CHILDREN: 4 all adopted. The first 2 with his first wife; twins with June
NICKNAME: Bud
TALENT: Star athlete in High School(football); saxophone player; Singer; excellent in leather crafts like saddles.
KNOWN FOR: his extreme stinginess; the model for Capt. Marvel!; golfing; Republican
This is a forgotten star in many ways although he did many films, starred with many a leading lady, including 7 times with Claudette Colbert. He started off singing and dancing in theatre but became most famous for his less than nice characters in “ Double Indemnity” and “The Apartment” but also his affable, nice guy roles especially in his many Disney movies in the late 50s and 60s and his famous TV role as widower, Steve Douglas in “ My 3 Sons” that ran for 12 years. He was not one to bed every leading lady or starlet although I am certain he was not virginal but he seemed to be true to his 2 wives. His first wife died of cancer in 1953 and he met ( through John Wayne) and married June Haver (after she left the nunnery) in 1954 and stayed with her until his death. He loved his hometown of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin mentioning it almost every time he was interviewed and even had it in some of his movies. He refused to be a bad guy in any more film roles when he was slapped by a woman while at Disneyland with his family. She took her kids to see "The Apartment" not thinking it was a film where he played a real jerk. Suffice to say tgatcwoman was an idiot.
He bought a large piece of land where he raised cattle and farmed enjoying this country life. This land is now owned by the Gallo family, famous for the wine and his daughter lives there and promotes what her dad started. At one point, due to his shrewdness in real estate, he was the 4th richest person in the United States. In fact, this man knew how to shove a coal up his ass and have it come out a Diamond. His stinginess was legendary often bringing his lunch to work and tipping spariningly.
When he started his TV venture, he orchestrated a great contract, not only money wise, but he wanted all his scenes filmed first. This meant that he only worked 65 days in a year so he could play golf and be on his farm with his family. The other players on this TV series had to play to someone off screen when talking to “dad” and had to act around what Fred wanted.
His later years was marked with much illness from emphysema, ( he was a huge smoker) a severe stroke, leukaemia and finally pneumonia.
He may not be one of NY all time favourites but I think he should be more well known than what he is today.
FILMS
1. The Gilded Lady-1935
2. Alice Adams- 1935
3. Honeymoon in Bali-1939
4. The Lady is Willing-1942
5. Double Indemnity- 1944
6. The Egg and I- 1947
7. Never a Dull Moment- 1950
8. The Caine Mutiny-1954
9. Good Day for a Hanging-1959
10. The Apartment- 1960
DISNEY FILMS
1. The Shaggy Dog-1959
2. The Absent-Minded Professor-1961
3. Son of Flubber-1963
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
How are you this week, dear friend? Is my buddy Harley still smelling skunky, or is his coat fresh and sweet as a garden rose?
I was a regular viewer of My Three Sons for the first few seasons, but lost interest when Bill Frawley and Tim Considine left the cast.
On the big screen, I saw Fred MacMurray in the Disney films you listed - Shaggy Dog, Absent Minded Professor and Son Of Flubber. In 1960, I watched Fred along with Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine in Billy Wilder's The Apartment (1960). In 2007, the year I binge watched hundreds of old films, I saw Billy Wilder's 1944 noir drama Double Indemnity and the 1947 romantic comedy The Egg And I. When I was in my teens, I first saw the star-studded 1954 movie Woman's World with Fred joining Van Heflin, Cornel Wilde, Clifton Webb, Lauren Bacall, June Allyson and Arlene Dahl in a drama about three men competing for a top job and the boss (Clif Webb) evaluating them and, equally important, their wives, at a dinner party. SPOILER ALERT: Arlene's sexy character throws herself at Clifton and blows it (the job opportunity) for her hubby.
In your tribute this morning, I was surprised to learn the extent of Fred's stinginess and how much clout he had in Hollywood, being able to dictate terms that suited him while creating challenges for other cast members.
Thanks for the report on Fred MacMurray, dear friend BB. I'll be back to see you tomorrow on Song day!
I remember Fred MacMurray. I thought he was more of a jerk, though. Surprised he wasn't.
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