Martin Spellman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Martin Spellman
Spencer Tracy and Spellman in Boys Town (1938)
Born	Martin Spellman IV (1925-10-08)October 8, 1925 Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Died	May 6, 2020(2020-05-06) (aged 94) Vancouver, Washington, U.S.
Occupation	Child actor
Years active	1938–1957

Martin Spellman IV (born October 8, 1925 – died May 6, 2020) was an American child actor. He was famous for his roles in movies during the 1930s and 1940s. He often played young, energetic characters.

Martin Spellman's Life and Career

Early Life and Start in Movies

Martin Spellman IV was born in 1925 in Des Moines, Iowa. When he was a young boy, his family moved to California. At the age of nine, Martin first visited the MGM movie studios. He wasn't there to act at first. Instead, he worked as a newsboy, selling newspapers around the studio.

Martin became a familiar face at MGM. For Christmas in 1937, the studio gave him a special gift. Famous actor Clark Gable invited Martin to work as an extra in the movie Test Pilot. This was his very first experience acting in a film.

Becoming a Child Star

After his small role in Test Pilot, Martin's acting career took off. In 1938, he played the character "Skinny" in the movie Boys Town. This film starred well-known actors Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney.

In 1939, Martin co-starred in Streets of New York with Jackie Cooper. The next year, he had another main role in Son of the Navy. In this movie, he acted alongside Jean Parker and James Dunn.

Life After Acting

Martin Spellman's movie career ended in 1941. After that, he joined the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. This was a very important time in history.

After serving in the military, Martin returned to civilian life. He spent 27 years working in the business world. Later, he worked in automobile finance and insurance. Martin Spellman passed away in Vancouver, Washington in May 2020. He was 94 years old.

Martin Spellman's Movies

Here is a list of the movies Martin Spellman appeared in: