Gig Young facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gig Young
Young in 1953
Born	Byron Elsworth Barr (1913-11-04)November 4, 1913 St. Cloud, Minnesota, U.S.
Died	October 19, 1978(1978-10-19) (aged 64) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1940–1978
Spouse(s)	Sheila Stapler ​ ​ (m. 1940; div. 1947)​ Sophie Rosenstein ​ ​ (m. 1950; died 1952)​ Elizabeth Montgomery ​ ​ (m. 1956; div. 1963)​ Elaine Williams ​ ​ (m. 1963; div. 1966)​ Kim Schmidt ​ ​ (m. 1978; died 1978)​
Children	1

Gig Young (born Byron Elsworth Barr; November 4, 1913 – October 19, 1978) was a famous American actor. He performed in plays, movies, and television shows.

He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor twice. He won this award for his role in the 1969 film They Shoot Horses, Don't They?.

Early Life and Acting Dreams

Byron Elsworth Barr was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He grew up in Washington, D.C. with his parents and older brothers and sisters. His father worked as a chef.

Gig Young loved acting from a young age. He performed in school plays at McKinley High School.

Starting His Acting Career

From Salesman to Stage

After high school, Gig Young worked as a used car salesman. At night, he studied acting. He moved to Hollywood when a friend offered him a ride.

He earned a scholarship to the famous Pasadena Playhouse. He said this training prepared him for his first big acting jobs.

Early Movies at Warner Bros.

Gig Young started his movie career in 1940. His first roles were often uncredited or he was called Byron Barr. He appeared in films like Sergeant York (1941) and Dive Bomber (1941).

He also had a bigger part in a short film called The Tanks Are Coming (1941). This short film was even nominated for an Oscar!

Becoming "Gig Young"

In 1942, Gig Young got his first important role in the movie The Gay Sisters. He played a character named "Gig Young." People who watched the movie really liked the actor "Gig Young."

So, the movie studio decided that Byron Barr should change his professional name to Gig Young. He thought it was a good idea because it would help people remember him. After this, he got better roles, like a co-pilot in Air Force (1943).

Serving His Country

Gig Young paused his acting career to join the United States Coast Guard in 1941. He served as a medic during World War II in the Pacific.

After the war, he returned to acting. He appeared in films like Escape Me Never (1947).

Life After Warner Bros.

After leaving Warner Bros., Gig Young worked for different movie studios. He became known for playing popular and friendly second lead characters. These were often the brothers or friends of the main characters.

He played Porthos in the successful movie The Three Musketeers (1948). He also supported John Wayne in Wake of the Red Witch (1948). In 1951, he had his first main role in a movie called Hunt the Man Down.

He also started appearing on TV shows like The Silver Theatre.

First Oscar Nomination

In 1951, Gig Young received great reviews for his role in the film Come Fill the Cup. He was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.

Working at MGM

Gig Young then signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). He had a main role in the Western film Arena (1953), which was a hit.

He later left MGM and moved to New York to try Broadway plays.

Broadway Success

Gig Young found success on Broadway in the comedy play Oh Men! Oh Women! (1953–54). The play ran for 382 performances, which is a long time!

Even though he was great in comedies on stage, Hollywood still offered him serious roles. During this time, he also appeared on TV shows filmed in New York.

Back to Warner Bros. and TV

After his Broadway play, Gig Young returned to Warner Bros. He appeared in the thriller The Desperate Hours (1955).

From 1955 to 1956, he hosted Warner Bros. Presents, a TV show that featured different mini-series. He also appeared in other TV shows like Studio One in Hollywood, where he met actress Elizabeth Montgomery. They later married in 1956.

Second Oscar Nomination and More Roles

Teacher's Pet and Beyond

In 1958, Gig Young played a charming, smart character in the movie Teacher's Pet. This role earned him his second Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

He continued to appear in many films, often as the second male lead. He was in The Tunnel of Love (1958) and Ask Any Girl (1959).

He also had excellent main roles in TV adaptations of plays like The Philadelphia Story (1959). He even guest-starred in an episode of The Twilight Zone called "Walking Distance."

More Broadway and Movies

Gig Young returned to Broadway in Under the Yum-Yum Tree (1960–61). He played the role that Jack Lemmon later played in the movie version.

He continued to appear in movies like That Touch of Mink (1962) with Cary Grant. He also played Elvis Presley's boxing promoter in Kid Galahad (1962).

The Rogues TV Series

The cast of The Rogues (1964) with Charles Boyer, Gig Young, David Niven, Robert Coote and Gladys Cooper

From 1964 to 1965, Gig Young starred in the NBC TV series The Rogues. He played a charming con man named Tony Fleming. He shared the lead role with David Niven and Charles Boyer.

This was one of Gig Young's favorite roles. Even though the show was popular, it was canceled after one season.

After The Rogues, he toured in a stage musical called The Music Man. He also starred in a British horror film, The Shuttered Room (1967). He had another successful return to Broadway in the comedy There's a Girl in My Soup (1967–68).

Winning an Academy Award

Gig Young won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1969. He won for his role as Rocky in the film They Shoot Horses, Don't They?. Rocky was the master of ceremonies for a dance marathon.

Winning the Oscar was a huge moment for him. He called it "the greatest moment of his life."

After his Oscar win, he had a good role in the popular film Lovers and Other Strangers (1970). He also received an Emmy nomination for his performance in the TV movie The Neon Ceiling (1971).

Later Career

In the 1970s, Gig Young continued to act in movies and TV shows. He had a supporting role in Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974). He also appeared in the horror movie A Black Ribbon for Deborah (1974).

He was in TV movies like The Great Ice Rip-Off (1974). He also had roles in films like The Killer Elite (1975) and The Hindenburg (1975).

His last role was in the 1978 movie Game of Death.

Personal Life

Gig Young was married five times. His first marriage to Sheila Stapler lasted seven years. He later married Sophie Rosenstein, who sadly passed away from cancer.

In 1956, he married actress Elizabeth Montgomery. They divorced in 1963. He then married Elaine Williams, and they had his only child, a daughter named Jennifer, in 1964. They divorced after three years.

In 1978, he married Kim Schmidt.

Death and Legacy

Gig Young passed away on October 19, 1978, in New York City. He was 64 years old.

He was buried in Green Hill Cemetery in Waynesville, North Carolina, under his birth name, Byron E. Barr. His Academy Award was left to his agent, Martin Baum. Later, his daughter Jennifer worked to get the award back, and she received it after Baum's death in 2010.

For his contributions to television, Gig Young has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6821 Hollywood Boulevard.

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Gig Young para niños