Jeff Chandler (actor)
Jeff Chandler (
December 15,
1918 -
June 17,
1961) was a popular
American film actor in the 1950s.
Born
Ira Grossel to a
Jewish family in
Brooklyn, New York, Chandler attended
Erasmus Hall High School, the nucleus of many stage and film personalities. Later, he took a drama course and spent two years in stock companies before serving in
World War II.
After being discharged from the military, he was a busy
radio actor both in drama (such as episodes of
Escape) and comedy (playing bashful biology teacher Phillip Boynton on
Our Miss Brooks). His first film appearance was in
Johnny O'Clock (1947).
In the 1950s, Chandler became a star in western and action movies. His first important role was in
Sword in the Desert (1948), as an
Israeli freedom fighter.
He would be nominated for an
Academy Award for his role as
Cochise in
Broken Arrow (1950), the first of three screen appearances as the legendary
Apache chief, followed by
The Battle of Apache Pass (1952) and
Taza, Son of Cochise (1954).
During the latter part of the decade, Chandler turned into a top leading man. His sex appeal, curiously heightened by his prematurely gray hair and tanned features, would put him into drama and costume movies. Some of his pictures in this period include
Away All Boats,
Toy Tiger,
Drango,
The Tattered Dress,
Man in the Shadow,
Foxfire,
A Stranger in My Arms, and
Thunder in the Sun.
His leading ladies would include
June Allyson,
Joan Crawford,
Rhonda Fleming,
Susan Hayward (a friend from Brooklyn),
Maureen O'Hara,
Jane Russell and
Esther Williams.
In her autobiography, Williams recorded her ongoing affair with the 6'4" Chandler, and her discovery of his alleged predilection for cross-dressing (dressing up as a woman for sexual gratification).
Shortly after completing his role in
Merrill's Marauders (1962), Chandler entered a
Culver City hospital and had surgery for a
herniated spinal disc on May 13, 1961. There were severe complications, an
artery was damaged and Chandler
hemorrhaged. In a seven and a half hour emergency operation over and above the original surgery, he was given an enormous amount of blood, 55 pints. Another operation followed, date unknown, where he received an additional 20 pints of blood. An average adult has about 14 to 18 pints of blood, so his entire blood volume was replaced 4 to 5 times! Chandler fought hard to live, but expired June 17, 1961. His death was deemed
malpractice and resulted in a large lawsuit and settlement for his children.
Tony Curtis was a pallbearer at Chandler's funeral.
He was interred in the
Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in
Culver City, California.
Jeff Chandler is honored with a star in the
Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Further reading:
Jeff Chandler by Marilyn Kirk (2003, 596 pp., 1st Books Library/AuthorHouse, bkorders@authorhouse.com, 888-280-7715);
Jeff Chandler: Film, Record, Radio, Television and Theater Performances by Jeff Wells (2005, 240 pp., McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, www.mcfarlandpub.com, 800-253-2187).
*[
1] Silver Fox - A tribute to Jeff Chandler with bio, filmography and photo sections
