Glenn Ford was a fast gun too......
Posted on 08/30/2006 7:53:46 PM PDT by Borges
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Actor Glenn Ford, who played strong, thoughtful protagonists in films such as "The Blackboard Jungle," "Gilda" and "The Big Heat," died Wednesday, police said. He was 90.
Paramedics called to Ford's home just before 4 p.m. found Ford dead, police Sgt. Terry Nutall said, reading a prepared statement. "They do not suspect foul play," he said.
Ford suffered a series of strokes in the 1990s.
Failing health forced him to skip a 90th birthday tribute on May 1 at Hollywood's historic Grauman's Egyptian Theatre. But he did send greetings via videotape, adding, "I wish I were up and around, but I'm doing the best that I can.... There's so much I have to be grateful for."
At the event, Shirley Jones, who co-starred with him in the comedy "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," called Ford "one of the cornerstones of our industry, and there aren't many left."
Ford appeared in scores of films during his 53-year Hollywood career. The Film Encyclopedia, a reference book, lists 85 films from 1939 to 1991.
He was cast usually as the handsome tough, but his acting talents ranged from romance to comedy. His more famous credits include "Superman," "Gilda," "The Sheepman," "The Gazebo," "Pocketful of Miracles" and "Don't Go Near the Water."
I didn't see the mini seris, though I did read the books. Yes, Ford would have done well as that character.
One of God's best.
Really? His headstone says that? Cool.
Thank you, Suzi. I will check that movie out, sounds good.
I really, really enjoyed his acting. He seemed to be a nice man as well as good actor. There are some of those guys you just think are always going to be around. He was one of them for me.
Love this: "I wish I were up and around, but I'm doing the best that I can.... There's so much I have to be grateful for." Says a lot.
His page at Internet Movie Database -- lists his movies and short bio.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001229/
-PJ
From the Internet Movie Database
Biography for
Glenn Ford
Birth name
Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Ford
Height
5' 11" (1.80 m)
Mini biography
The son of a Canadian railroad executive, his family moved to Santa Monica, California, when he was eight years old. His acting career began with plays at high school, followed by acting in West Coast, a traveling theater company. In 1939 he took a screen test for Columbia Pictures, which won him a contract, although he debuted in 20th-Century-Fox's Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence (1939). His rise to stardom was interrupted by military service during WWII. After the war he jump-started his career with Gilda (1946). His career during the 1940s and 1950s showed that his talents were extensive, playing film noir in The Big Heat (1953), westerns like 3:10 to Yuma (1957) and comedies like The Gazebo (1959) or The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956). He has usually been cast as a calm and collected everyday-hero, showing courage under pressure as in Blackboard Jungle (1955). Since the 1970s he has mainly done supporting roles in mini-series.
IMDb mini-biography by
Mattias Thuresson mattias.thuresson@mbox300.swipnet.se
Mini biography
Legendary actor Glenn Ford was discovered in 1939 by Tom Moore, a talent scout for 20th Century Fox and then consequently signed a contract with Columbia Pictures the same year. Glenn made his official debut in Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence (1939) and continued working in various small roles throughout the 1940s until his movie career was interrupted to join the Marines in World War II. During his service, he helped build safe houses in France for those hiding from the Nazis. In 1943, Glenn married legendary tap dancer, Eleanor Powell and had one son, Peter Ford. After the war, Glenn was able to resume his movie career with the help of Bette Davis who gave Glenn his first break in the 1946 movie A Stolen Life (1946). However, it was not until his acclaimed performance in the 1946 classic film noir, Gilda (1946) with Rita Hayworth that Glenn became a star and the most popular actor of his time. Glenn made many notable films during his prestigious 50 year movie career, but he is best known for his fine westerns such as 3:10 to Yuma, The Rounders, Sheepman and many more fine films. In the 1970s, Glenn made his television debut in the controversial Brotherhood of the Bell and appeared in two fondly-remembered television series: Cade's County and The Family Holvak. During the 1980s and 1990s, Glenn limited his appearance to documentaries and occasional films. To this date, Glenn Ford is remembered fondly by his fans for his more than 100 excellent films and his charismatic silver screen presence.
IMDb mini-biography by annemartel32@yahoo.com
Spouse
Jeanne Baus (5 March 1993 - 1994) (divorced)
Cynthia Hayward (10 September 1977 - ?) (divorced)
Kathryn Hays (28 March 1966 - 1969) (divorced)
Eleanor Powell (24 October 1943 - 23 November 1959) (divorced) 1 child
Trade mark
Western cowboy roles
Trivia
Ford was a US Naval Reserve officer who rose to the rank of Captain
Glenn appeared in 5 movies with classic leading actress, Rita Hayworth: Affair in Trinidad (1952), The Lady in Question (1940), The Loves of Carmen (1948), The Money Trap (1965) and Gilda (1946).
Parents, with Eleanor Powell, of the actor Peter Ford,
U.S. Naval Reserve Officer.
Awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal by the Country of France for his service in World War II. [1992]
Inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame by the Western Heritage Museum. [1978]
Voted the number one box office attraction. [1958]
Often during his career Ford insisted on being shot looking to camera left - he had been kicked in the right side of his jaw by a horse and insisted the left side of his face was his only filmable side.
He is credited with being the fastest "gun" in Hollywood westerns, able to draw and fire in 0.4 seconds, he was faster than James Arness (Matt Dillon of "Gunsmoke" (1955)) and John Wayne.
Related to Sir John A. Macdonald, first Prime Minister of Canada.
Portrayed the title character on NBC Radio's "The Adventures of Christopher London" (1950).
He is a direct descendant of President Martin Van Buren
Grandfather of Aubrey Newton Ford (b. 1977), Ryan Welsie Ford (b. 1984), and Eleanor Powell Ford (b. 1988), whose parents are Ford's son, Peter Ford (b. 5 February 1945), and wife Lynda Gundersen.
Served in Vietnam as a reserve military officer.
Went on a jungle mission with a Special Forces Team during the Vietnam War.
Retired from acting in 1991 following heart and circulatory problems.
On May 1st, 2006, Glenn had a gala 90th birthday celebration at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. There was a showing of a newly restored print of "Gilda" and his son Peter hosted the event. Over 700 tickets went on sale and were quickly sold out.
Ford had been scheduled to make his first public appearance in fifteen years at a 90th birthday tribute gala in his honor hosted by the American Cinematheque at Grauman's Eqyptian Theatre in Hollywood on 1 May 2006, but he was unable to attend. He has suffered a series of minor strokes since his retirement, and is consequently very frail.
Personal quotes
"When I'm on camera, I have to do things pretty much the way I do things in everyday life. It gives the audience someone real to identify with."
"People laugh when I say I'm not an actor, but I'm not, I play myself."
"The Western is a man's world and I love it."
"I've never played anyone but myself on screen."
"If they tried to rush me, I'd always say I've only got one other speed, and it's slower."
You're referring to Dick York. He also had a major role in "Inherit the Wind".
At best it was a semi-epiphany. In his last line of dialog, Ford's character points out that he's broken out of Yuma prison a number of times, and he doesn't expect this latest stay to last much longer than the others.
Sorry to hear of his death, I liked him.
Wonder if he 'aimed' at TV screens...?
Aww Meek!! So good to 'see' you! Thanks so much for pinging me so I knew you were here.
so sad to hear...there was always something about Glenn Ford that made you feel safe and secure....our Hollywood heros are dying...much to our sadness....
You're right, Glenn Ford was a real American and it showed on the screen.
A great flick!
Lash LaRue was faster than Hugh O'Brien - who claimed to be the quickest - That killed Lash's film career!
I last talked to Lash LaRue (drunk as a skunk!) at the State Fair in Tampa when we were showing a Brahma bull that won the Championship
Actually I was/am faster than all of the film gunnies - But I've seen a few women in SASS competion who could draw (a shade) faster than me
I tuned my circa 1898 SA to fan the hammer with a glove on my left hand - Honed/polished cylinder bores to drop a six and reload much faster
Six in a heartbeat
Live .44-40 cartridges
But then - I was a teenage cowboy
And you still are...!
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