John Forsythe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Forsythe
Forsythe in 1957
Born	(1918-01-29)January 29, 1918 Penns Grove, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	April 1, 2010(2010-04-01) (aged 92) Santa Ynez, California, U.S.
Resting place	Oak Hill Cemetery, Ballard, California, U.S.
Alma mater	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Occupation	Actor producer narrator drama teacher philanthropist
Years active	1943–2006
Spouse(s)	Parker Worthington McCormick ​ ​ (m. 1939; div. 1943)​ Julie (Wagner) Warren ​ ​ (m. 1943; died 1994)​ Nicole Carter ​ (m. 2002)​
Children	3
Awards	Golden Globe Award (1983, 1984); Golden Apple Award (1984); Soap Opera Digest Award (1984); TV Land Award (2007); Walk of Fame (Television, 1960)

John Forsythe (born January 29, 1918 – died April 1, 2010) was a famous American actor. He also worked as a producer, narrator, and drama teacher. His career in entertainment lasted for more than 60 years!

John Forsythe was known for starring in three popular TV shows. He played a single dad in the comedy Bachelor Father. He was the voice of the mysterious millionaire Charles Townsend in the crime drama Charlie's Angels. Later, he became famous as the wealthy family leader Blake Carrington in Dynasty. He even appeared in movies based on Charlie's Angels.

Early Life and Family

John Forsythe was born John Lincoln Freund on January 29, 1918. His birthplace was Penns Grove, New Jersey. He was the oldest of three children.

He grew up in Brooklyn, New York. His father worked on Wall Street during the Great Depression in the 1930s. John finished Abraham Lincoln High School when he was 16. After that, he went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

When he was 18, in 1936, John got a job. He was the public address announcer for the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team. This job showed his love for baseball, which he had since he was a child.

Starting His Acting Career

The handprints of John Forsythe in front of The Great Movie Ride at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park.

John Forsythe began acting because his father suggested it. He started his movie career in 1943. One of his first small roles was in the film Destination Tokyo.

During World War II, he left his movie career to join the United States Army Air Forces. He acted in a play made by the Army called Winged Victory. He also helped soldiers who had trouble speaking.

In 1939, John married actress Parker Worthington McCormick. They had a son named Dall. They later divorced in 1943. In the same year, 1943, John met Julie Warren. She was also an actress. They got married and had two daughters in the early 1950s.

After the war, John joined the first class of the Actors Studio in 1947. There, he met other famous actors like Marlon Brando. He also performed on Broadway in plays like Mister Roberts.

In 1955, famous director Alfred Hitchcock cast John in the movie The Trouble with Harry. He also appeared in another Hitchcock film, Topaz, in 1969.

Television Success

Throughout the 1950s, John Forsythe became very successful in television. He appeared as a guest star on many shows. One notable appearance was in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

He also starred in an episode of Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre in 1957. This episode was filmed outdoors in California. One of the oak trees used in the filming became known as the Forsythe Oak, named after him!

Bachelor Father

With Noreen Corcoran in Bachelor Father (1957–1962)

In 1957, John Forsythe got a main role in the TV comedy Bachelor Father. He played Bentley Gregg, a lawyer who suddenly had to raise his niece, Kelly. Kelly was played by Noreen Corcoran.

The show was very popular right away. It moved to different TV networks during its run. John worked with many young actresses on the show, including Mary Tyler Moore and Linda Evans. Bachelor Father ran until 1962.

After Bachelor Father

In the 1960s, John continued to act in movies like In Cold Blood (1967). He also starred in See How They Run in 1964. This was special because it was one of the first movies ever made specifically for television.

He tried two new TV shows: The John Forsythe Show (1965–1966) and To Rome with Love (1969–1971). From 1971 to 1977, he was the narrator for a nature TV series called World of Survival. He was also the voice for Michelob beer commercials.

Charlie's Angels

In 1976, John Forsythe started working with producer Aaron Spelling. He was cast as the voice of Charles Townsend in the crime drama Charlie's Angels. His character, Charlie, was a mysterious millionaire private investigator. The show starred Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith, and Farrah Fawcett.

John became one of the highest-paid actors on TV for his role. While the actresses on the show worked long hours, John would record his lines for an entire episode in just a few minutes!

During this time, John invested a lot of money in Thoroughbred horse racing. This was a hobby he loved. He even served on the board of directors at the Hollywood Park Racetrack for over 25 years.

In 1979, John had heart surgery. He recovered well and returned to Charlie's Angels. He also appeared in the movie ...And Justice for All that same year.

Dynasty

In 1981, as Charlie's Angels was ending, John Forsythe got another big role. He was chosen to play Blake Carrington in the TV show Dynasty. This show was also produced by Aaron Spelling. Dynasty was a very popular show about a wealthy family.

The series brought John back together with Linda Evans, who had been a guest star on Bachelor Father. In Dynasty, she played Blake's wife, Krystle. John was the only actor to appear in all 220 episodes of Dynasty. The show ended in 1989 after nine seasons.

John was nominated for several awards for his role as Blake Carrington. He won two Golden Globe Awards and two Soap Opera Digest Awards.

Later TV Work and Life

In 1992, John Forsythe returned to TV in a comedy called The Powers That Be.

John's second wife, Julie Warren, passed away in 1994 after being very ill. In 2002, John married businesswoman Nicole Carter. They were married until his death. Nicole Carter Forsythe passed away just five weeks after her husband.

John reprised his role as the voice of Charlie for the movies Charlie's Angels (2000) and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003). After these movies, he retired from acting.

Besides acting, John enjoyed spending time with his family and owned an art gallery. In 2006, he appeared in a TV special called Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar with his former co-stars. He also enjoyed reading to children during a Christmas program near his home.

John Forsythe had cancer treatment in 2006. The surgery was successful, and his cancer was in remission when he passed away.

Death

John Forsythe died on April 1, 2010, from pneumonia. He was 92 years old. He was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Ballard, California.

Thoroughbred Horse Racing

John Forsythe loved horse racing. He owned and bred Thoroughbred racehorses for many years. He was also a member of the board of directors at Hollywood Park Racetrack.

He had several successful racehorses. He won the 1976 Longacres Mile with a horse named Yu Wipi. He also won the 1982 Sixty Sails Handicap with Targa, and the 1993 La Brea Stakes with Targa's daughter, Mamselle Bebette. He raced his horses under the name of his stable, Big Train Farm. He named it after the famous baseball pitcher, Walter Johnson.

John Forsythe also hosted the annual Eclipse Awards in the 1980s. These awards honor the best in horse racing. In 1988, he received the Eclipse Award of Merit for helping to promote the sport of Thoroughbred racing.

Filmography

Films

Television

Web

Radio Appearances

See also

In Spanish: John Forsythe para niños