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 just watch "Gilda" for the first time a couple of days ago. Pretty good flick.
It seems like he was also in a WWII movie like "Midway" or "The Longest Day".
Always liked Ford...he had a friendly face.
RIP to the last actor to play a manly sheepherder.
Yes he did and he had a truly great death scene. He gave a much better performance then Brando who played Superman's real father. Marlon sleepwalked through that film.
sad, one of last old greats gone
One of my favorite Glenn Ford movies was "Tea House of the August Moon", with Marlon Brando (who played an Okinawan house Boy).. This story is based on a True story at the end of WWII, and I've personally dined in that "Tea House" on the Isand of Okinawa. He was also the Commanding officer of a Navy SeaBee unit in Viet Nam during the latter half of the 60's. Semper Fi Mr. Ford.... May you rest in peace forever. Stumpy
Ernest Borgnine, Richard Widmark and Karl Malden are still around though!
"Also present at Normandy was another Ford, Glenn Ford. Born Gwyllyn Ford in Quebec, Canada, on May 1, 1916, Ford is close-mouthed about his combat experience, and modestly states that during the war, while others were fighting the war, he was “making films.” What he fails to mention is that he was in command of a camera crew filming the Normandy landing on D-Day from the beach while under the constant threat of German small arms fire.
Ford enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on Dec. 13, 1942, and completed basic training at San Diego. He was assigned to John Ford’s OSS photographic unit. Ford, a Marine sergeant, was one of the first Americans to enter the concentration camp at Dachau after its liberation by Allied troops. After the war, Ford was discharged from the Marines as a sergeant. His 108 films include 3:10 to Yuma (1957), Imitation General (1958) and Midway (1976)
Ford enlisted in the naval reserve on Dec. 30, 1958. He served as a public affairs officer for the 11th Naval District where he attained the rank of captain, and served on active duty for 30 days when he volunteered with his reserve unit for duty in a forward combat area in Vietnam. He advised Marine combat camera teams filming a documentary in the Mekong Delta. For his actions, Commander Glenn Ford was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, and was decorated with the Vietnamese Legion of Merit First Class by Premier Nguyen Cao Ky on Feb. 4, 1967. He retired from the active reserve on Oct. 1, 1978."
Last night Encore Westerns ran "Cowboy", a film he did with Jack Lemmon in 1958 based on Frank Harris' memoirs and directed by Delmer Daves. It showed him at his best.
Sorry to hear that. He was one of my favorites. RIP Mr. Ford.
He also served in WWII in the Marines. Retained his commission for many years after the war.
Thanks for the assist. It's coming back to me now. He was given the ship Admiral Nimitz (Robert Mitchum) was forced to temporarily give up command of while he recovered from some sort of skin disorder.
I always thought that Rumsfield looks a little like Richard Widmark. Wouldn't have known that he's still around.
What about George Raft?
Boy, you're OLLLLLDDDDDD.
*just kidding. :)
The world is getting much too small these days ...
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