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Tab Hunter
Tab Hunter 2008.jpg
Hunter in 2008
Born
Arthur Andrew Kelm

(1931-07-11)July 11, 1931
Died July 8, 2018(2018-07-08) (aged 86)
Resting place Santa Barbara Cemetery, California, U.S.
Other names Art Gelien
Occupation
  • Actor
  • singer
  • film producer
  • writer
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.

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..

Natalie Wood and Tab Hunter arriving at the 28th Academy Awards 1956 cropped
Hunter with Natalie Wood at the 28th Academy Awards in 1956

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.

Juke Box Jury May 1957
Hunter (right) with Anthony Perkins and Peter Potter on the TV show Juke Box Jury (1957)

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

TabHUNTER2
Hunter in the 1950s

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

TabHunter
Hunter in 1959

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 and Debbie
Hunter with Debbie Reynolds in January 2016

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
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
1955 Ford Television Theatre Gig Spevvy Episode: "While We're Young"
1955; 1957 Climax! Jimmy Piersall
  • Episode: "Fear Strikes Out" (1955)
  • Episode: "Mask for the Devil" (1957) – No on-screen credit
1956 Conflict Donald McQuade Episode: "The People Against McQuade"
1956; 1958 Playhouse 90 Donald Bashor / Stanley Smith
  • Episode: "Forbidden Area" (1956)
  • Episode: "Portrait of a Murderer" (1958)
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
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

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Tab Hunter para niños

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