Paul Hartman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paul Hartman
Fay Wray and Hartman in The Pride of the Family (1953)
Born	(1904-03-01)March 1, 1904 San Francisco, California, U.S.
Died	October 2, 1973(1973-10-02) (aged 69) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Stage, film, and television actor
Years active	1932–1972
Spouse(s)	Grace Hartman ​ ​ (m. 1923; div. 1951)​ Ann Buckles ​ ​ (m. 1953; div. 1963)​
Awards	Leading Actor in a Musical 1948 Angel in the Wings

Paul Hartman, Anna Neagle & Ray Bolger in Sunny (1941)

Paul Hartman (born March 1, 1904 – died October 2, 1973) was a talented American dancer, stage performer, and television actor. He was known for his funny dance acts and later for his roles in TV shows.

Early Life and Beginnings

Paul Hartman was born in San Francisco, California. His father, Ferris Hartman, was a famous theater producer. His mother, Josie Hart, was an actress. Paul started dancing with his sister when he was just four years old! He even went to the University of California. After college, he worked for a newspaper in San Francisco. He started as a copy boy and later became a reporter. But he soon left the newspaper to work in theater because it paid more.

A Career in Dance and Comedy

Teaming Up with Grace Hartman

In 1922, Paul teamed up with Grace Barrett for a dancing comedy act. They performed in vaudeville shows. Their act was special because they would both honor and gently make fun of popular dances. They did this for all kinds of dances, from ballet to swing. Paul and Grace got married in 1923.

Broadway Success

Paul and Grace made their first appearance on Broadway in 1932. This was in a show called Ballyhoo of 1932. They even performed alongside famous actors like Bob Hope. A few years later, they were in Cole Porter's musical Red Hot and Blue. They continued to perform on Broadway often. Their act was known for Grace's sharp wit and Paul's funny, clumsy style. They also included many dance and musical comedy routines.

Moving to Hollywood

Later, Paul and Grace went to Hollywood. Paul appeared in the 1943 film Higher and Higher. In this movie, he acted with stars like Frank Sinatra and Victor Borge.

After their time in Hollywood, the Hartmans returned to Broadway. They decided to write their own show. In 1948, they created a musical show called Angel in the Wings. This show was a big hit! Paul and Grace were even named the best lead actor and actress in a musical that year. They won these awards at the second Tony Awards ceremony.

Television and Later Career

After their Broadway success, Paul and Grace were offered a TV show on NBC. The show was called The Hartmans (at Home). It seemed promising at first. However, audiences did not like the show very much. It often used pre-written scripts and did not let the couple show off their dancing and musical talents. So, Paul and Grace went back to Broadway. They spent three more years performing in various shows.

Paul and Grace divorced in 1951. Grace later became ill and passed away in 1955. Paul married actress Ann Buckles in 1953, but they later divorced in 1963.

Television and movies became very popular again. Paul decided to return to Los Angeles. He started appearing in the 1953–1954 ABC TV show The Pride of the Family. He played Albie Morrison, the father of the family. Fay Wray, famous for King Kong, played his wife, Catherine. Their children were played by Natalie Wood and Robert Hyatt.

In 1957, Paul returned to Broadway one last time. But he was over fifty years old and found the busy stage life tiring. He continued to act in small parts in movies and TV shows for the rest of his life. He is most famous for playing Emmett Clark, the handyman, on CBS's The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D.. In these shows, he sometimes showed off his dancing skills, a nod to his earlier career. He also had small roles in many other TV shows, including Petticoat Junction, The Twilight Zone, and Family Affair.

He also appeared in the 1960 film Inherit the Wind. In 1967, he acted with Robert Morse in the movie How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.

Death

Paul Hartman passed away on October 2, 1973. He was 69 years old. He died from a heart attack in Los Angeles.

Filmography