Jeff Chandler facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jeff Chandler
Chandler in 1958
Born	Ira Grossel (1918-12-15)December 15, 1918 New York City, U.S.
Died	June 17, 1961(1961-06-17) (aged 42) Culver City, California, U.S.
Resting place	Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery, Culver City
Years active	1945–1961
Spouse(s)	Marjorie Hoshelle ​ ​ (m. 1946; div. 1959)​
Children	2

Jeff Chandler (born Ira Grossel; December 15, 1918 – June 17, 1961) was a famous American actor, film producer, and singer. He is most remembered for his role as Cochise in the 1950 movie Broken Arrow. For this role, he was nominated for an Oscar.

Chandler was one of the most popular male stars at Universal Pictures during the 1950s. He also appeared in films like Sword in the Desert (1948) and Away All Boats (1956). Besides movies, he was known for his role as Phillip Boynton in the radio show Our Miss Brooks. He also had a successful career as a singer.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Chandler was born Ira Grossel in Brooklyn, New York. He was the only child of Anna and Phillip Grossel. His parents separated when he was young, and his mother raised him.

He went to Erasmus Hall High School, where he enjoyed acting in school plays. After high school, he worked as a cashier and then as a layout artist. He saved money to study drama at the Feagin School of Dramatic Art in New York.

Chandler worked in radio for a short time. Then, he joined a stock company on Long Island as an actor and stage manager. He spent two years working in these companies. In 1941, he started his own theater company, the Shady Lane Playhouse, in Illinois. They toured the Midwest with plays like The Bad Man.

When World War II began, Chandler joined the army. He served for four years, mostly in the Aleutians, and became a lieutenant.

Radio Star

After leaving the army in December 1945, Chandler moved to Los Angeles. He had a serious car accident soon after arriving, which left a scar on his forehead.

It was hard for Chandler to find acting jobs at first. In May 1946, he got his first radio acting job. He appeared in shows like Escape and Academy Award Theater. He became well-known for playing the main character in Michael Shayne. Chandler was also the first actor to play Chad Remington in Frontier Town.

First Film Roles

Chandler's radio work led him to his first film role. Actor Dick Powell was impressed by him and helped him get a small part in Johnny O'Clock (1947). He played small roles as gangsters in movies like Roses are Red and The Invisible Wall. He also played a policeman in Mr Belvedere Goes to College.

His role as Eve Arden's love interest in the radio show Our Miss Brooks made him very popular. The show started in July 1948 and was a huge success.

Sword in the Desert

Universal Pictures noticed Chandler because of Our Miss Brooks. They were looking for an actor to play an Israeli leader in Sword in the Desert (1949). Chandler got the part in February 1949. He did such a good job that Universal signed him to a seven-year contract. His first film under this contract was a supporting role in Abandoned (1949).

Broken Arrow and Becoming a Star

Jeff Chandler at Capernaum during a visit to Israel in 1959

Director Delmer Daves was looking for an actor to play Cochise in Broken Arrow (1950) for 20th Century Fox. Chandler's performance in Sword of the Desert caught their eye. He was chosen for the role in May 1949. As part of the deal, Chandler agreed to make one film a year for Fox for six years.

Broken Arrow was a big hit. It earned Chandler an Oscar nomination and made him a movie star. He was the first actor to be nominated for an Academy Award for playing an American Indian character.

Even before Broken Arrow was released, Chandler became a leading man at Universal. He played a gangster in Deported, which was filmed in Italy. He then returned to Fox to play a Union cavalryman in Two Flags West.

Back at Universal, Chandler played an adventurer in Smuggler's Island. He liked this role because he felt it was similar to his own personality. Hollywood often cast him in roles of different nationalities because of his unique look.

He worked with Fox and Delmer Daves again, playing a Polynesian chief in Bird of Paradise (1951). This was his last film outside Universal for several years.

At Universal, he played a boxer in Iron Man (1951). He also played an Arab chief in Flame of Araby (1951) with Maureen O'Hara.

Chandler played Cochise again in The Battle at Apache Pass for Universal. He then made a war film, Red Ball Express, and an adventure film, Yankee Buccaneer. He had a small role in Meet Danny Wilson. He also starred with Loretta Young in Because of You, which he later called his favorite role.

In 1952, movie theaters voted Chandler the 22nd most popular star in the U.S. 20th Century-Fox wanted to use him again, but Universal would not let him, as he was one of their biggest stars.

Our Miss Brooks moved to television, but Chandler's contract did not allow him to do TV. He also showed a talent for singing on Peggy Lee's radio show and pursued singing throughout the decade.

New Contract and Busy Years

In July 1952, Chandler signed a new contract with Universal that doubled his salary. His first movie under this new deal was a Western, The Great Sioux Uprising. He then made more adventure films like East of Sumatra and War Arrow.

Chandler played Cochise for the third time in a small role in Taza, Son of Cochise. He also appeared in Yankee Pasha. He began singing in nightclubs. He left the radio show Our Miss Brooks after five years to get some rest.

Chandler appeared in a big Universal movie, playing Emperor Marcian in Sign of the Pagan. He also starred with Jane Russell in Foxfire (1955). He then made Female on the Beach with Joan Crawford and started releasing music records.

Working with Universal and Beyond

In May 1955, Chandler refused a role in Six Bridges to Cross, and Universal temporarily stopped his pay. He was replaced by George Nader. Chandler later made up with Universal and starred in The Spoilers. He then got a lead role in one of the studio's most important films that year, Away All Boats.

In May, Chandler performed at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas. He made a Western, Pillars of the Sky, and then a comedy, The Toy Tiger.

Towards the end of 1955, Chandler started his own production company, Earlmar, with his agent. He planned to continue making films for Universal under a new agreement. He was voted the seventh-most popular star in British cinemas.

Producer and Freelance Work

In 1956, Universal allowed Chandler to make his own movie for Earlmar. In return, Chandler would make two more films for Universal under his old contract, then two films a year for three years under a new deal.

Earlmar signed a deal with United Artists to make six films. Chandler acted in and produced the first Earlmar movie, a Western called Drango. Drango was Earlmar's only film.

After Drango, Chandler made his last two films under his original Universal contract: The Tattered Dress and Man in the Shadow with Orson Welles.

Chandler then moved to Columbia Pictures and acted with Kim Novak in Jeanne Eagels. He made two more films for Universal: The Lady Takes a Flyer with Lana Turner and Raw Wind in Eden with Esther Williams. In 1957, he was listed as the tenth-most popular male star in the U.S.

His next movie for Universal was A Stranger in My Arms with June Allyson. He was supposed to star in Operation Petticoat (1959) but had to withdraw due to illness.

Chandler then made two films for Seven Arts Productions: Ten Seconds to Hell and Thunder in the Sun. He also played villains in Ten Seconds to Hell and The Jayhawkers!. He later said audiences didn't like him playing bad guys.

Chandler formed another production company, August, and made the Western The Plunderers. His next film, The Story of David, was made for American TV but shown in theaters in other countries. It was filmed in London and Israel.

Chandler appeared in Return to Peyton Place for Fox. His last film was Merrill's Marauders for Warner Bros.

Personal Life

Chandler married actress Marjorie Hoshelle in 1946. They had two daughters, Jamie and Dana. They separated and filed for divorce in 1954, but reconciled in 1955. Their divorce was finalized in June 1959. Chandler provided financial support for his ex-wife and daughters.

Chandler was a cousin of actor David Roya. When his friend Sammy Davis Jr. had an accident and was in danger of losing an eye, Chandler offered to donate one of his own eyes.

Chandler was a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. He also represented the Screen Actors Guild during the 1960 actors' strike.

Death

While filming Merrill's Marauders in the Philippines, Chandler injured his back playing baseball on April 15, 1961. He received injections to help with the pain so he could finish the movie.

On May 13, 1961, he had surgery for a spinal disc herniation in a hospital in Culver City, California. There were serious problems during the surgery; an artery was damaged, causing heavy bleeding. He had several emergency operations and received many pints of blood. He died on June 17, 1961, from a blood infection and pneumonia.

At the time of his death, Chandler was in a relationship with British actress Barbara Shelley. Many people attended his funeral, including actors Tony Curtis and Gerald Mohr. He was buried at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City.

An investigation into his death found it was due to medical error. His children later sued the hospital. Chandler's estate, worth $600,000, was left to his daughters.

For his work in movies, Jeff Chandler has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1770 Vine Street.

Filmography

Radio Roles

Chandler had regular roles in several radio shows:

• Michael Shayne (1948–49)
• The New Adventures of Michael Shayne (1949)
• Our Miss Brooks (1948–1953)
• Frontier Town (1952–1953) – billed as "Tex Chandler"

Singing Career

Jeff Chandler also had a career as a singer. He released several albums and performed in nightclubs. In 1955, he was the second star to perform at the Riviera hotel in Las Vegas.

Album Discography

Singles Discography

Awards and Recognition

Theatre Performances

• The Trojan Horse – October 1940 – Long Island
• Meet the World by Peg Fenwick – March 30, 1950 – a play about the United Nations at UCLA
• Newsbeat 1950 by Joseph Roos – March 1950 – a special performance for Jewish welfare organizations
• Pageant of Stars – October 11, 1950

Popularity Rankings

For several years, movie theater owners voted Chandler among the top stars at the box office:

• 1952 – 22nd (US)
• 1953 – 18th (US)
• 1954 – 16th (US)
• 1955 – 20th (US), 7th (UK)
• 1956 – 18th (US), 5th (UK)
• 1957 – 22nd (US), 6th (UK)

Legacy

The character Race Bannon from the animated series Jonny Quest was designed to look like Jeff Chandler.

See also

In Spanish: Jeff Chandler para niños