Sterling Hayden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sterling Hayden
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Hayden in 1953
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| Born |
Sterling Relyea Walter
March 26, 1916 |
| Died | May 23, 1986 (aged 70) Sausalito, California, U.S.
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| Other names | Sterling Walter Hayden John Hamilton |
| Occupation | |
| Years active | 1941–1982 |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) |
| Spouse(s) | Madeleine Carroll (1942–1946) Betty Ann de Noon (1947–1958) Catherine Devine McConnell (1960–1986) |
| Children | 6 |
| Relatives | Scott McConnell (stepson) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1941-45 |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Unit | Office of Strategic Services |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | List |
Sterling Walter Hayden (born Sterling Relyea Walter; March 26, 1916 – May 23, 1986) was an American actor, writer, and sailor. He was also a brave Marine Corps officer and a secret agent during World War II. Hayden was known for playing main characters in movies, especially westerns and film noir (a type of crime movie).
Some of his famous films from the 1950s include The Asphalt Jungle (1950), Johnny Guitar (1954), and The Killing (1956). In the 1960s, he became well-known for his supporting roles. A memorable one was General Jack D. Ripper in the movie Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964).
Hayden continued acting in the "New Hollywood" era. He played Captain McCluskey in The Godfather (1972) and Roger Wade in The Long Goodbye (1973). Standing at 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) with a deep voice, he had a strong presence on screen.
Contents
Life Story of Sterling Hayden
Early Life and Adventures
Sterling Relyea Walter was born on March 26, 1916, in Upper Montclair, New Jersey. His parents were George and Frances Walter. After his father passed away, James Hayden adopted him at age 9, and his name became Sterling Walter Hayden.
As a child, he lived in many places, including coastal towns in New England. He also lived in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and Maine. He went to Wassookeag School in Dexter, Maine.
Hayden left high school when he was 16. He started working as a mate on a schooner, which is a type of sailing ship. His first trip was from New London, Connecticut, to Newport Beach, California. Later, he worked as a fisherman in Newfoundland. He also ran a charter yacht and worked as a fireman on ships traveling to Cuba.
He became a skipper (captain) of a trading schooner in the Caribbean. He earned his master's license, which allowed him to command large ships. In 1937, he was a mate on a schooner called Yankee that sailed around the world. By age 22, he commanded his first ship, the Florence C. Robinson. He sailed it 7,700 miles from Gloucester, Massachusetts, to Tahiti in 1938.
Starting in Hollywood
In 1938, a photo of Hayden from a fishing race appeared on a magazine cover. This led Paramount Pictures to offer him a screen test. He went to Paramount in May 1940.
The studio called the tall, blond actor "The Most Beautiful Man in the Movies." His first film was Virginia (1941), where he starred with Madeleine Carroll. They later married. He also worked with her and the director Edward H. Griffith again in Bahama Passage (1941).
In December 1941, Hayden decided to leave Hollywood. He said, "I'm no actor! I'm a sailor."
Serving in World War II
After making only two films, Hayden left Hollywood to join the war effort. He first joined the Army but was discharged after breaking his ankle.
He then joined the United States Marine Corps as a private. He used the name John Hamilton, which was an alias. He was recommended for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and became a second lieutenant.
Hayden then became an undercover agent with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). This was a secret intelligence agency during World War II. As OSS agent John Hamilton, he delivered supplies to Yugoslav partisans (resistance fighters) from Italy. He also parachuted into enemy territory in fascist Croatia.
He helped rescue air crews behind enemy lines. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1944 and captain in 1945. Hayden received the Silver Star for his bravery in the Balkans and Mediterranean. He also got a Bronze Arrowhead device for parachuting behind enemy lines. The leader of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito, also honored him. Hayden left active duty in December 1945.
Back to Acting
After the war, Hayden returned to the U.S. He felt movies could help make the country better.
He was cast in an aviation film called Blaze of Noon (1947). He also made two Westerns: El Paso (1949) and Manhandled (1949).
A Difficult Time
Hayden admired the Communist fighters he met during World War II. Because of this, he briefly joined the Communist Party in 1946.
During the "Red Scare" in the U.S., he was called to testify. He appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee. He spoke about his short time in the Communist Party. He later expressed deep regret for his testimony. In his autobiography, he wrote about the "contempt I have had for myself" since that day.
Film Career Highlights
Hayden's acting career got a big boost when he starred in The Asphalt Jungle (1950). This crime thriller made him a leading man.
He played a minister in Journey into Light (1951) and appeared with Bette Davis in The Star (1952). He then made several action films, including Westerns like Denver and Rio Grande (1952) and war films like Flat Top (1952).
In 1953, he starred in So Big with Jane Wyman. He continued making action films and Westerns such as Take Me to Town (1953) and Kansas Pacific (1953). He also appeared in the film noir Crime Wave (1954).
He had a supporting role as Sir Gawain in Prince Valiant (1954). Johnny Guitar (1954), a Western starring Joan Crawford, became a cult favorite. He also made film noirs like Naked Alibi (1954) and Suddenly (1954) with Frank Sinatra.
More action films followed, including Timberjack (1955) and The Eternal Sea (1955). He played Jim Bowie in The Last Command (1955), a story about the Alamo. Hayden also started appearing on TV shows.
The Killing
Hayden starred in the heist film The Killing (1956). This was an early and important movie by director Stanley Kubrick.
He continued to appear in many "B pictures" (lower-budget films). These included crime films like Crime of Passion (1957) and Westerns such as Valerie (1957). He also worked often on television shows like Wagon Train and Playhouse 90.
Life as a Sailor and Writer
Hayden often said he didn't really like acting. He acted mainly to earn money for his ships and travels. In 1958, after a difficult divorce, he was given custody of his four children: Christian, Dana, Gretchen, and Matthew.
He decided to sail to Tahiti with his children, even though a court order said he shouldn't. He planned to film a movie there, but it never happened. A photographer named Dody Weston Thompson documented their trip.
In 1960, he married Catherine Devine McConnell. They had two sons, Andrew and David, and stayed married until his death in 1986.
In the early 1960s, Hayden lived on a retired ferryboat called Berkeley in Sausalito, California. There, he wrote his autobiography, Wanderer, which was published in 1963.
Later Acting Roles
In 1964, Hayden played one of his most famous characters: the intense General Jack D. Ripper in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove.
He bought a canal barge in the Netherlands in 1969 and later moved it to Paris, living on it part-time. He also had a home in Wilton, Connecticut, and an apartment in Sausalito.
He returned to movies with Hard Contract (1969) and Loving (1970). He said he would only go back to Hollywood to earn money.
Hayden made films in Europe, then had small but important roles in The Godfather (1972) and The Long Goodbye (1973). He was offered a role in Jaws (1975) but turned it down.
In the 1970s, after The Godfather, he appeared on TV shows like Tomorrow Show. He talked about how his acting helped fund his travels. He also acted in King of the Gypsies (1978) and 9 to 5 (1980).
Hayden wrote two well-known books: his autobiography Wanderer (1962) and a novel called Voyage (1976). He said they earned him a lot of money. In 1983, he appeared in a documentary about his life called Pharos of Chaos.
Family Life
Sterling Hayden was married three times:
- Madeleine Carroll, from 1942 to 1946.
- Betty Ann de Noon, from 1947 to 1958. They had four children: Christian, Dana, Gretchen, and Matthew.
- Catherine Devine McConnell, from 1960 until his death in 1986. They had two children: Andrew and David.
Death
Sterling Hayden passed away from prostate cancer in Sausalito in 1986. He was 70 years old.
Military Awards
Sterling Hayden received these awards during World War II:
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Silver Star Medal |
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American Campaign Medal |
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European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Device and 1 bronze service star |
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World War II Victory Medal |
See also
In Spanish: Sterling Hayden para niños
- Leuchtturm des Chaos, a 1983 documentary profile of Sterling Hayden
