Ed Wood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ed Wood
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Wood in Glen or Glenda (1953)
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| Born |
Edward Davis Wood Jr.
October 10, 1924 Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S.
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| Died | December 10, 1978 (aged 54) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Other names | Daniel Davis Ann Gora Edward D. Wood Jr. Akdov Telmig Larry Lee Dr. T.K. Peters Peter LaRoche Don Miller |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1947–1978 |
| Spouse(s) |
Norma McCarty
(m. 1956; separated 1956)Kathy O'Hara
(m. 1956–1978) |
| Children | 1 daughter |
Edward Davis Wood Jr. (October 10, 1924 – December 10, 1978) was an American filmmaker, actor, and writer. He is known for directing low-budget science fiction, crime, and horror movies in the 1950s. While his films were not very popular when they first came out, some of them later became cult classics, meaning they gained a strong following over time.
Contents
Early Life and Interests
Edward Wood Jr. was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1924. His father worked for the United States Post Office. Because of his father's job, Ed's family moved around the country many times before settling in Poughkeepsie.
From a young age, Ed was very interested in performing and storytelling. He loved collecting comic books and pulp magazines, which were popular, inexpensive magazines with exciting stories. He also adored movies, especially Westerns, adventure serials, and films about the occult (mysterious or magical things). Two of his earliest heroes were the cowboy actor Buck Jones and the horror movie star Bela Lugosi. Ed often skipped school to watch movies at the local theater. He would even collect old movie pictures that the theater staff threw away.
On his 12th birthday in 1936, Ed received his first movie camera, a Kodak "Cine Special." He was very proud of one of his first films, which showed the famous airship Hindenburg flying over the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie. This was just before its terrible crash in New Jersey. Ed's first paid job was as a cinema usher. He also sang and played drums in a band. Later, he formed his own music group called "Eddie Wood's Little Splinters."
Time in the Military
In 1942, when he was 17, Wood joined the United States Marine Corps. This was just months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served in the 2nd Defense Battalion and became a corporal. He was honorably discharged in 1946 when he was 21 years old.
Career in Hollywood
In 1947, Wood moved to Hollywood, California, to pursue his dreams in filmmaking. He started by writing scripts and directing short films, TV pilots, and commercials. He also made several very low-budget Western movies, but most of these were never sold.
In 1948, Wood wrote, produced, directed, and even starred in a play called The Casual Company. This play was based on his own experiences serving in the United States Marine Corps. It opened in October but received negative reviews. That same year, he also wrote and directed a low-budget Western film called Crossroads of Laredo. This movie was filmed without sound and was not finished during Wood's lifetime.
Wood joined the Screen Actors Guild in 1951, which is a union for actors. He worked briefly as a stuntman and took on other small jobs in the film industry. When he wrote, Wood sometimes used different pen names, such as Ann Gora and Akdov Telmig.
In the 1950s, Wood directed several low-budget films. These movies were often in the science fiction, crime, and horror genres. Some of his most well-known films from this period include Glen or Glenda (1953), Bride of the Monster (1955), Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957), and Night of the Ghouls (1959).
Writing Books and Stories
Starting in 1963 and continuing until his death, Wood wrote many novels. He wrote at least 80 books, along with hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles for magazines and newspapers.
In 1965, Wood wrote a book called Hollywood Rat Race. This book was like a memoir, sharing his experiences in Hollywood. However, it was not published until many years later, in 1998.
Personal Life
Wood had a long-term relationship with actress and songwriter Dolores Fuller. They met in late 1952 and lived together for three years. Wood cast her in three of his films. They broke up in 1955.
In 1956, Wood married actress Norma McCarty, but their marriage lasted only about a month.
Later in 1956, Wood met Kathy O'Hara. They quickly fell in love and were married in Las Vegas. Wood and O'Hara stayed together until his death in December 1978. They had one daughter.
Later Years and Death
By December 1978, Wood and his wife Kathy were struggling financially. They were evicted from their apartment in Hollywood because they couldn't pay their rent. They had to leave behind many of his personal items, including his scrapbooks and unfinished screenplays. The couple then moved into a small apartment belonging to their friend, actor Peter Coe.
On Sunday, December 10, 1978, Wood sadly died from a heart attack around noon.
After his death, Wood was cremated. His ashes were later scattered at sea.
Legacy and Tributes
When Ed Wood died, his name and work were not widely known. Most local newspapers in Los Angeles did not even publish an obituary about him.
However, in 1994, a famous director named Tim Burton made a movie about Wood's life called Ed Wood. The film starred Johnny Depp as Ed Wood and Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi. Landau even won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role. The movie also won an Academy Award for Best Makeup. Ed Wood premiered just ten days before what would have been Wood's 70th birthday. Even though the movie received great reviews, it did not make much money at the box office. However, it has since become a cult classic, gaining many fans over the years.
In 1997, the University of Southern California started an annual Ed Wood Film Festival. In this festival, student teams are challenged to create a short film inspired by Ed Wood's style, based on a specific theme.
See also
