Glenn Ford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Glenn Ford
|
|
|---|---|
Ford in 1955
|
|
| Born |
Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Ford
May 1, 1916 Sainte-Christine-d'Auvergne, Quebec, Canada
|
| Died | August 30, 2006 (aged 90) |
| Resting place | Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1937–1991 |
| Spouse(s) |
Cynthia Hayward
(m. 1977; div. 1984)Jeanne Baus
(m. 1993; div. 1994) |
| Children | Peter Ford |
Gwyllyn Samuel Newton "Glenn" Ford (May 1, 1916 – August 30, 2006) was a Canadian-American actor. He was known for playing everyday people in exciting situations. Glenn Ford was very popular during Hollywood's "Golden Age" from the 1940s to the 1960s. His career lasted over 50 years!
He acted in many types of movies. Some of his most famous roles were in Gilda (1946), The Big Heat (1953), and Blackboard Jungle (1955). He also won a Golden Globe Award for his role in the comedy Pocketful of Miracles (1961). Many kids might know him as Jonathan Kent, Clark Kent's adoptive father, in the movie Superman (1978).
Five of his films are considered very important by the Library of Congress. They are kept in the National Film Registry because they are "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant. These films are Gilda (1946), The Big Heat (1953), Blackboard Jungle (1955), 3:10 to Yuma (1957), and Superman (1978).
Contents
Early Life and Dreams
Glenn Ford was born Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Ford on May 1, 1916. He was born in Sainte-Christine-d'Auvergne, Quebec, Canada. His father, Newton Ford, was a railroad engineer. His mother was Hannah Wood. Glenn Ford was related to Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. He was also related to U.S. President Martin Van Buren.
In 1922, when Glenn was six, his family moved to California. They lived first in Venice and then in Santa Monica. His father became a motorman for a tram company.
While at Santa Monica High School, Glenn enjoyed school plays. He acted alongside other future actors. After high school, he worked in small theater groups. He also took odd jobs, including working for Will Rogers. Will Rogers taught him how to ride horses. Glenn's father supported his acting dreams but told him to learn other skills first. He said, "Be able to take a car apart and put it together. Be able to build a house, every bit of it. Then you'll always have something." Glenn followed this advice. Even when he was a famous actor, he often worked on plumbing and wiring at home.
Glenn Ford became a citizen of the United States on November 10, 1939.
Starting His Acting Journey
Glenn Ford performed in theater groups on the West Coast. He had a small role in a short film called Night in Manhattan (1937). In 1939, he joined Columbia Pictures. His stage name, Glenn Ford, came from his father's hometown of Glenford, Alberta.
His first big movie role was in Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence (1939). His first movie for Columbia was My Son Is Guilty (1939). He then appeared in several other movies.
One important early film was The Lady in Question (1940). He starred with Rita Hayworth in this movie. Glenn played a young man who falls in love with Rita Hayworth's character. The director, Charles Vidor, helped them connect instantly.
A Special Role
A famous director, John Cromwell, was impressed by Glenn's acting. He cast Glenn in the drama So Ends Our Night (1941). In this film, Glenn played a 19-year-old German exile hiding in Nazi-occupied Europe.
He worked with famous actors like Fredric March and Margaret Sullavan. Critics praised Glenn's performance. The New York Times called him "a most promising newcomer."
President Franklin D. Roosevelt saw the film and liked it very much. Glenn was even invited to the President's Birthday Ball. He was very impressed by the President and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt.
After this film, Glenn became more famous. Young fans wanted his autograph. However, Columbia Pictures continued to put him in regular films. His next movie, Texas, was his first Western. He would become well-known for Westerns later in his career. In Texas, he worked with William Holden, who became a lifelong friend.
Serving His Country
In 1941, before the United States entered World War II, Glenn Ford joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He trained several nights a week and on weekends.
After the U.S. entered World War II, Glenn continued to make movies. He made Flight Lieutenant (1942). Then, he went on a tour across the country to sell war bonds. These bonds helped fund the war effort. During this tour, he met the famous dancer Eleanor Powell. They fell in love and later married.
On December 13, 1942, Glenn volunteered for the United States Marine Corps Reserve. The movie studio asked the Marines for more time so Glenn could finish filming. Glenn proposed to Eleanor Powell, and she decided to stop acting to be with him.
Glenn and his friend William Holden worried their acting careers might be forgotten while they were serving. Glenn joined the Marines as a private, not an officer, to avoid special treatment. He trained in San Diego and became a sergeant. He was also a skilled marksman.
Glenn was later assigned to the Public Relations Office. He helped with the Marines' radio show. He hoped for combat duty but was hospitalized with stomach ulcers. He received a medical discharge on December 7, 1944. Even without combat, he received several service medals.
After the war, Glenn continued his military service in the Naval Reserve. He served during the Vietnam War and reached the rank of captain. In 1967, he went to Vietnam for a month to help with a training film. He received a Navy Commendation Medal for his service there. He retired from the Naval Reserve in the 1970s.
Becoming a Movie Star
Gilda
Glenn Ford's most memorable early role came in 1946. He starred with Rita Hayworth in the film Gilda. This was their second movie together, and it was directed by Charles Vidor again.
.jpg)
Gilda was shown at the first Cannes Film Festival. Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth became lifelong friends and even next-door neighbors. Gilda is still considered a classic film. In 2013, it was chosen to be kept in the United States National Film Registry.
Leading Star
After Gilda, Glenn Ford was a major star. He played the lead role in many "A" movies. He worked with famous actress Bette Davis in A Stolen Life (1946). He also made a biopic about John Joseph Montgomery called Gallant Journey (1946).
He reunited with Rita Hayworth and director Charles Vidor in The Loves of Carmen (1948). Glenn also starred in the popular Western The Man from Colorado (1948) with his friend William Holden.
Glenn Ford was always busy making movies. He made thrillers, comedies, and more Westerns. He worked for different studios like MGM and RKO.
Famous Movies and Roles
Glenn Ford's career became even more successful with Blackboard Jungle (1955). This film was about challenges in an urban high school. Glenn played an idealistic teacher. The movie featured young actors like Sidney Poitier and Vic Morrow. It was also famous for using Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" at the beginning. This was the first time a rock and roll song was used in a Hollywood movie. The film was a huge success.
MGM signed Glenn Ford to a long contract after Blackboard Jungle. He starred in other successful dramas like Trial (1956) and Ransom! (1956). He also made popular Westerns like Jubal (1956) and The Fastest Gun Alive (1956).
Glenn was also great at comedies. He often played a good-hearted but confused character. In The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956), he played an American soldier in Okinawa. He was sent to teach the locals American ways, but they ended up changing him instead!
Many of his movies during this time were hits. These included the classic Western 3:10 to Yuma (1957) and the comedy Don't Go Near the Water (1957). He also starred with Jack Lemmon in Cowboy (1958). By the end of the 1950s, Glenn Ford was one of Hollywood's biggest stars.
Later Career and TV Shows
In the 1960s, Glenn Ford continued to make movies. Some were very successful, like the thriller Experiment in Terror (1962) and the comedy The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963). He also appeared in many Westerns during this time.
.jpg)
In 1976, Glenn Ford played Admiral Raymond A. Spruance in the movie Midway. In 1978, he had a supporting role in Superman as Clark Kent's adoptive father, Jonathan Kent.
Glenn Ford also starred in television series. In 1971, he played Sheriff Cade in the "modern-day Western" series Cade's County. He also played a preacher in the family drama The Family Holvak (1975–1976). In 1978, he hosted a documentary series called When Havoc Struck.
In 1991, Glenn Ford planned to star in a new TV series called African Skies. However, he developed blood clots in his legs and had to drop out. He recovered, but his health was frail.
The 2006 movie Superman Returns included a special tribute to Glenn Ford. A picture of him as Pa Kent was shown on a mantelpiece.
His Life Off-Screen
Glenn Ford was married four times. His first wife was actress and dancer Eleanor Powell. They were married from 1943 to 1959. They had one son, Peter Ford, who also became an actor. Glenn and Eleanor appeared together in a short film.
He later married actress Kathryn Hays (1966–1969), Cynthia Hayward (1977–1984), and Jeanne Baus (1993–1994). All of his marriages ended in divorce. He also had a long relationship with actress Hope Lange in the 1960s.
Glenn Ford lived in Beverly Hills, California. He once got into trouble for illegally raising 140 chickens there!
Awards and Recognition
Glenn Ford won a Golden Globe Award in 1962 for his role in Pocketful of Miracles. He had been nominated for the award three times.
He was also very popular at the box office. From 1955 to 1964, he was consistently ranked among the top 25 box office stars. In 1958, he was the number one most popular star.
For his contributions to movies, Glenn Ford has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1978, he was added to the Western Performers Hall of Fame. In 1992, he received the Légion d'honneur medal from France for his service in World War II.
In 2006, a special event was planned to celebrate Glenn Ford's 90th birthday. He was too unwell to attend in person, but he recorded a video message for the audience. Friends like Martin Landau and Debbie Reynolds paid tribute to him.
Death
Glenn Ford stopped acting in 1991 when he was 75 years old. He had heart and circulation problems. In the years before his death, he suffered several small strokes. He died at his home in Beverly Hills on August 30, 2006, at the age of 90.
Images for kids
-
Ford and Pilar Pellicer in a publicity photo for the film Day of the Evil Gun (1968)
See also
In Spanish: Glenn Ford para niños
