Tab Hunter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tab Hunter
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![]() Hunter in 2008
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Born |
Arthur Andrew Kelm
July 11, 1931 Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
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Died | July 8, 2018 |
(aged 86)
Resting place | Santa Barbara Cemetery, California, U.S. |
Other names | Art Gelien |
Occupation |
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Years active | 1950–2015 |
Spouse(s) |
Allan Glaser
(m. 2013) |
Tab Hunter (born Arthur Andrew Kelm; July 11, 1931 – July 8, 2018) was an American actor, singer, film producer, and writer. He was famous for his good looks and starred in over 40 movies. In the 1950s and 1960s, he was a very popular star in Hollywood.
Some of his well-known films include Battle Cry (1955) and Damn Yankees (1958). Tab Hunter also had a successful music career. In 1957, his song "Young Love" became a number one hit. His book, Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star, was a bestseller.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Arthur Andrew Kelm was born in Manhattan, New York City. His parents divorced when he was very young. He grew up in California with his mother, brother, and grandparents. His mother changed their last name to Gelien.
As a teenager, Arthur Gelien was a talented figure skater. He competed in both singles and pairs. He also joined the United States Coast Guard at age 15, though he was too young. He was known as "Hollywood" because he loved watching movies. When his real age was found out, he left the Coast Guard. Later, he met actor Dick Clayton, who suggested he try acting.
Becoming a Movie Star
Starting in Films
Dick Clayton introduced Arthur Gelien to an agent named Henry Willson. Willson gave him the stage name "Tab Hunter."
Hunter's first small movie role was in The Lawless (1950). His first big role came in Island of Desire (1952). He starred opposite Linda Darnell in this film, which became a hit.
He then appeared in Westerns like Gun Belt (1953). He also starred in the adventure film Return to Treasure Island (1954). Soon after, he signed a contract with Warner Bros..

One of his early films for Warner Bros. was The Sea Chase (1955). He acted alongside famous stars like John Wayne and Lana Turner. His role was small, but the movie was very popular.
Breakthrough Success
Tab Hunter's career really took off with the 1955 World War II movie Battle Cry. He played a young Marine named Danny. This film was one of the biggest hits of the year. It made Hunter one of Hollywood's top young romantic leads.
In 1956, he was voted the "Most Promising New Personality." He even received 62,000 valentines from fans! Warner Bros. tried to make him a famous duo with actress Natalie Wood. They starred together in The Burning Hills (1956) and The Girl He Left Behind (1956). Both movies were very successful. From 1955 to 1959, Tab Hunter was Warner Bros.' most popular male star.

Hunter also received praise for his acting on television. He appeared in the first episode of Playhouse 90 in 1956.
His acting career continued to be very strong. He starred in the war film Lafayette Escadrille (1958). He also made the Western Gunman's Walk (1958), which he was very proud of. In 1958, he starred in the musical film Damn Yankees. He played Joe Hardy, a baseball player. He also had roles in They Came to Cordura (1959) with Gary Cooper and That Kind of Woman (1959) with Sophia Loren.
Music Career Highlights
Tab Hunter had a huge hit song in 1957 called "Young Love." It was number one on the charts for six weeks in the U.S. and seven weeks in the UK. It sold over two million copies!
He had another popular song, "Ninety-Nine Ways," which reached number 11 in the U.S. His success in music led Warner Bros. to create their own record label, Warner Bros. Records, just for him.
Later Career and Projects
Television and Stage
In 1960, Tab Hunter starred in his own weekly television show, The Tab Hunter Show. It ran for one season and was very popular in the United Kingdom.
He also starred in the romantic comedy The Pleasure of His Company (1961). He then played the lead in an Italian adventure film, The Golden Arrow (1962). In 1964, he acted on Broadway in a play called The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore.
Hunter continued to appear in movies like Ride the Wild Surf (1964) and War Gods of the Deep (1965). He also performed in many summer stock and dinner theater shows. For a time, he lived in France and acted in Italian films.
1970s and 1980s Comeback
In the 1970s, Hunter had the main role in the film Sweet Kill (1973). He also had a co-starring role in the Western The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972) with Paul Newman. He appeared in TV shows like Forever Fernwood in 1977.
Tab Hunter's career saw a comeback in the 1980s. He starred in the films Polyester (1981) and Lust in the Dust (1985). He also played Mr. Stuart, the substitute teacher, in the musical Grease 2 (1982).
Final Years and Autobiography
Hunter's last film role was in the horse-themed movie Dark Horse (1992). He loved horses and even wrote the original story for this film. He also co-produced it with his partner, Allan Glaser.
In 2005, Hunter released his autobiography, Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star. It became a New York Times bestseller. A documentary film based on his book, also called Tab Hunter Confidential, was released in 2015. This documentary won awards and was produced by Allan Glaser.
Tab Hunter has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his music. In 2007, he also received a Golden Palm Star in Palm Springs.
Personal Life

Tab Hunter was raised in the Catholic faith and remained a practicing Catholic for most of his life. He was a passionate horse owner. He was in a long-term relationship with film producer Allan Glaser, whom he married in 2013.
Death
Tab Hunter passed away on July 8, 2018, just three days before his 87th birthday. His death was sudden and unexpected.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1950 | The Lawless | Frank O'Brien | also released under the title The Dividing Line |
1952 | The Island of Desire | Marine Corporal Michael J. "Chicken" Dugan | also released under the title Saturday Island |
1953 | Gun Belt | Chip Ringo | |
The Steel Lady | Bill Larson | also released under the title Treasure of Kalifa | |
1954 | Return to Treasure Island | Clive Stone | also narrator |
Track of the Cat | Harold Bridges | ||
1955 | Battle Cry | Danny Forrester | |
The Sea Chase | Cadet Wesser | ||
1956 | The Burning Hills | Trace Jordan | |
The Girl He Left Behind | Andy L. Shaeffer | ||
1958 | Gunman's Walk | Ed Hackett | |
Lafayette Escadrille | Thad Walker | ||
Damn Yankees | Joe Hardy | also released under the title What Lola Wants in the UK | |
1959 | They Came to Cordura | Lt. William Fowler | |
That Kind of Woman | Red | directed by Sidney Lumet | |
1961 | The Pleasure of His Company | Roger Henderson | |
1962 | The Golden Arrow | Hassan | |
1963 | Operation Bikini | Lt. Morgan Hayes | |
1964 | Ride the Wild Surf | Steamer Lane | |
Troubled Waters | Alex Carswell | ||
1965 | City Under the Sea | Ben Harris | released as War Gods of the Deep in the U.S. |
The Loved One | Whispering Glades Tour Guide | ||
1966 | Birds Do It | Lt. Porter | |
1967 | The Fickle Finger of Fate | Jerry | a.k.a. El Dedo del Destino and The Cup of San Sebastian |
Hostile Guns | Mike Reno | ||
1968 | Vengeance Is My Forgiveness | Sheriff Durango | |
The Last Chance | Patrick Harris | ||
1969 | Bridge over the Elbe | Richard | |
1972 | Sweet Kill | Eddie Collins | |
The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean | Sam Dodd | ||
1975 | Timber Tramps | Big Swede | |
1976 | Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood | David Hamilton | |
1981 | Polyester | Todd Tomorrow | |
1982 | Pandemonium | Blue Grange | |
Grease 2 | Mr. Stuart | ||
And They're Off | Henry Barclay | ||
1985 | Lust in the Dust | Abel Wood | Executive producer |
1988 | Out of the Dark | Driver | |
Grotesque | Rod | ||
Cameron's Closet | Owen Lansing | Executive producer | |
1992 | Dark Horse | Perkins | Executive producer and film story credit |
2015 | Tab Hunter Confidential | Self | Autobiographical documentary |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1955 | Ford Television Theatre | Gig Spevvy | Episode: "While We're Young" |
1955; 1957 | Climax! | Jimmy Piersall |
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1956 | Conflict | Donald McQuade | Episode: "The People Against McQuade" |
1956; 1958 | Playhouse 90 | Donald Bashor / Stanley Smith |
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1958 | Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates | Hans Brinker | TV film |
1959 | General Electric Theater | Daniel | Episode: "Disaster" |
1960–61 | The Tab Hunter Show | Paul Morgan | 32 episodes; Title character and producer |
1962 | Saints and Sinners | Sergeant Eddie Manzak | Episode: "Three Columns of Anger" |
Combat! | Del Packer | Episode: "The Celebrity" | |
1964 | Burke's Law | Barney Blake | 1 episode |
1970 | San Francisco International Airport | Stayczek | 1 episode |
The Virginian | Cart Banner | Episode: "The Gift" | |
1971 | Disneyland | Tim Andrews | Episode: "Hacksaw"; Rebroadcast and syndicated as two episodes. |
1972 | Cannon | Bob Neal | Episode: "Treasure of St. Ignacio" |
Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law | Howard Reimer | Episode: "Starting Over Again" | |
1973 | Ghost Story | Bob Herrick | Episode: "The Ghost of Potter's Field" |
1975 | The Six Million Dollar Man | Arnold Blake | Episode: "The Cross-Country Kidnap" |
1976 | Ellery Queen | John Randall | Episode: "The Adventure of the Black Falcon" |
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman | George Shumway #2 | Several un-credited cameo appearances | |
McMillan & Wife | Roger Thornton | Episode: "Greed" | |
1977 | The Love Boat | Dave King | Episode: "The Joker Is Mild/Take My Granddaughter, Please/First Time Out" |
Forever Fernwood | George Shumway | 1 episode; several un-credited cameo appearances | |
1978 | Hawaii Five-O | Mel Burgess | 1 episode |
Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold | Elliot Bender | TV film | |
Police Woman | Martin Quinn | "Blind Terror" | |
1979 | The Kid from Left Field | Bill Lorant | TV film |
1979 | Sweepstakes | Chip | 1 episode |
1980 | Charlie's Angels | Bill Maddox | Episode: "Nips and Tucks" |
1981 | Strike Force | Vorhees | Episode: "Night Nurse" |
1982 | Benson | Roy Lucas | season 4 episodes 1 & 2 |
1982 | Fridays | Self-Guest Host | season 3 episode 13 |
1984 | The Fall Guy | Anthony Haley | Episode: "Bite of the Wasp" |
Masquerade | Whitney | Episode: "Spying Down to Rio" | |
1989 | Hollywood on Horses | Self (presenter) | Video documentary; credited as producer |
Discography
Year | Title | Chart positions | |
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US | UK | ||
1957 | "Young Love" | 1 | 1 |
"Red Sails in the Sunset" | 57 | — | |
"Ninety-Nine Ways" | 11 | 5 | |
"Don't Get Around Much Anymore" | 74 | — | |
1958 | "Jealous Heart" | 62 | — |
1959 | "(I'll Be with You) In Apple Blossom Time" | 31 | — |
"There's No Fool Like a Young Fool" | 68 | — |
See also
In Spanish: Tab Hunter para niños