John Archer (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Archer
Archer in The Big Trees (1952)
Born	Ralph Bowman (1915-05-08)May 8, 1915 Osceola, Nebraska, U.S.
Died	December 3, 1999(1999-12-03) (aged 84) Redmond, Washington, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1938–1996
Spouse(s)	Marjorie Lord ​ ​ (m. 1941; div. 1955)​ Ann Leddy ​ ​ (m. 1956)​
Children	4, including Anne Archer
Relatives	Tommy Davis (grandson)

John Archer (born Ralph Bowman; May 8, 1915 – December 3, 1999) was a talented American actor. He starred in many movies and TV shows. He was active in Hollywood for nearly 60 years.

Early Life and Education

John Archer was born Ralph Bowman in Osceola, Nebraska. When he was five years old, his family moved to California. He went to Hollywood High School. Later, he studied cinematography at the University of Southern California. He thought he would work behind the camera, making movies.

From Radio to the Stage

It was hard to find work in filmmaking. So, John Archer started acting instead. He worked as a radio announcer and actor. For one year, starting in 1944, he played Lamont Cranston. This was the main character in a popular radio show called The Shadow. A famous actor named Orson Welles had played the role before him.

Archer also improved his acting skills in plays. He performed on Broadway, which is a famous theater district in New York City. Some of the plays he appeared in were The Odds on Mrs. Oakley (1944) and The Day Before Spring (1945-1946).

Movie Career

John Archer made his first movie in 1938. At first, he used his birth name, Ralph Bowman. He worked for movie studios like Universal and Republic.

He won a radio contest sponsored by Jesse L. Lasky. The prize was a contract with RKO Pictures. This is when he started using the name "John Archer." He appeared in many films, including:

• Hello, Frisco, Hello
• Guadalcanal Diary
• White Heat
• Destination Moon (a science fiction movie)
• Rock Around the Clock (a movie about early rock and roll music)
• Blue Hawaii (a musical film with Elvis Presley)

Television Appearances

John Archer was also a familiar face on television. He appeared in many popular TV series. Some of these shows include:

• Rescue 8
• Science Fiction Theatre
• The Loretta Young Show
• The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
• Sea Hunt
• Wagon Train
• Bonanza

He made five guest appearances on the detective show Perry Mason. He played different characters in these episodes. He also appeared seven times on Lassie.

Personal Life and Family

John Archer was married twice. His first wife was actress Marjorie Lord. They were married from 1941 to 1955. They had two children together. One of their children is the actress Anne Archer.

He married his second wife, Ann Leddy, in 1956. They had two children together. John Archer was also the grandfather of Tommy Davis.

John Archer passed away on December 3, 1999, in Redmond, Washington. He was 84 years old.

Selected Filmography