John Garfield

John Garfield
Garfield in Tortilla Flat (1942)
Born
Jacob Julius Garfinkle

(1913-03-04)March 4, 1913
New York City, U.S.
DiedMay 21, 1952(1952-05-21) (aged 39)
New York City, U.S.
Resting placeWestchester Hills Cemetery
OccupationActor
Years active1932–1952
Spouse
Roberta Seidman
(m. 1935)
Children3

John Garfield (born Jacob Julius Garfinkle; March 4, 1913 – May 21, 1952) was an American actor who played brooding, rebellious, working-class characters.[1] He grew up in poverty in New York City. In the early 1930s, he became a member of the Group Theatre. In 1937, he moved to Hollywood, eventually becoming one of Warner Bros.' stars. He received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Four Daughters (1938) and Body and Soul (1947).

Called to testify before the U.S. Congressional House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC), he denied communist affiliation and refused to "name names", effectively ending his film career. Some have alleged that the stress of this persecution led to his premature death at 39 from a heart attack.[2] Garfield is acknowledged as a predecessor of such Method actors as Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, and James Dean.

  1. ^ "John Garfield Dies in N.Y. Home of Actress". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 22, 1952. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  2. ^ Beaver, Jim (1978). John Garfield: His Life and Films. Cranbury, NJ: A.S. Barnes & Co. pp. 42–43. ISBN 978-0498018909.